Attachment Parenting Debate / 'Dancing with the Stars' Castoff / Co-Host Rebecca Romijn
It’s the controversial Time magazine story that sparked a national debate about attachment parenting. The mother featured on the cover joins the conversation to talk about the photo, and if she’s surprised it has ignited a passionate discussion about parenting.
"Big Bang Theory" star and attachment parenting advocate Mayim Bialik weighs in on how old is too old to breastfeed, and whether parents should share a bed with their children. Mayim talks about her new book, “Beyond the Sling: A Real-Life Guide to Raising Confident, Loving Children the Attachment Parenting Way.”
Then, the latest “Dancing with the Stars” castoff and “Extra” host Maria Menounos talks about her experience on the hit reality show and what it was like working with dancing partner Derek Hough. She’s also talks about why she was recently spotted in Times Square in a bikini.
Actress Rebecca Romijn joins for Co-Host Monday and opens up about being married to actor Jerry O’Connell, and a mother to twins Dolly and Charlie.
Plus, actor Billy Bob Thornton joins to talk about his new book, "The Billy Bob Tapes: A Cave Full of Ghosts."
Thousands entered... today, find out the winner of Anderson's Nissan Altima Giveaway!
Comments
I saw your show today on Time Mag cover... and sleeping with babies in bed,, if you watched the E channel there is a couple that is up for murder for doing that twice and both times their babies were smothered, you need to investigate this topic and do a SHOW on this subject. Literally smothering your children is not healthy in any aspect!!
RE: Attachment Parenting...I parented my kids this way, people were on my case because i nursed my boys for 18-20 months. In the book, "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" (which i used as a guideline) I saw what i wanted to do so my kids would know they were safe, secure and they are independent when they need to be. We are much too focused and in too much of a hurry to make our kids "independent" when they need us. They aren't going to be "walking down the aisle" this way...we had them crawl into bed with us when they needed us, and when they wanted to go to their own rooms, they did. We are a very close-knit family and I'm glad i did what I did. Our sexual relationship was fine. Our kids knew they could come to be with us if they were scared, and our relationship is stronger because they have always known we are there for them. To this day we're there if they need us, but our kids are independent, incredible young people. I feel very blessed. I think what happens is people take the exception and make it "the rule" and assume that's what "attachment parenting" is about. Not so.
I nursed my first child for 17months. One day he woke up he gave up nursing, naps and sleeping in a crib on the same day. My second child I nursed for 3 1/2 years and only stopped because I had to take a medicine that could show up in breast milk. That time with them was the best time of my life, they are now both healthy, secure adults. I think breastfeeding is given up too soon by most women because it is difficult and can be painful at first. New mothers need more support from society and family than they get. Time magazine was just looking to shock people.
breast feeding later than three i dont really agree on cause a four year old is big enough to start feeding them self with the plates and cups
Yes I think its ok to breastfeed a toddler however after awhile if u want your child to still benefit from the nutrients of Breastmilk extracted the milk and give it to them in a cup!!!!
Hi there i just wanted to comment to the topic about breast feeding,i have been breast feed till i was 3 years old.And that actually has saved my live,when i was 2 years old i poisend my self with a mix of gasoline and motor oil,my cousin has cleanaed his motor cycle and has used my sand box pail for the cleaning and left it standing there when i drank from it.When i got brought to the hospital i wasn't in a stable conditon,a couple days later i was doing better! when the nurse came into the room and saw my mother breast feeding me she said that,that has actually saved my live,so here i am 28 years later doing great,so i dont think breast feeding to a later stage of the child is harmfull in any way.
I believe the issue is not breast feeding or attachment parenting but the tone of the Time magazine cover photo, which in my opinion projects sexuality not parenting. If she wanted to champion breast feeding and attachment parenting, why pose in such a provocative way? My negative reaction was not because of the breast feeding issues, but because it was so provocatively presented. While breastfeeding is healthy and nothing to be ashamed of, the Time magazine cover photo made it look provocative rather than wholesome. Sex is healthy and nothing to be ashamed of, but we don't post photos of it on the cover of Time magazine.
I love Anderson Cooper's show I try to watch it everyday if possible.He has so many interesting things and people and he truly cares about people.Thank you Anderson.
Sharon
I have two grown well adjusted well educated children.Yes they were both breast feel until after 3! Also did both sleep with us.Did I make a mistake? Not for me or my husband that is anyway.I worked full time and felt that was a way I could keep some of what I felt I missed by doing what I did.I never left them in the evenings or on weekends either.Some would have called this crazy and that for me was a good soloution to a big problem.Why do women stay home? To be with the kids? Or is it to nuture them? After thinking of this I figure it is the same tihing I did.As long as you and the children grow and they are from what you learn and they are well-adjusted adults it worked out? Why can people say it did not?
Since when did Anderson start this co-host. I think it a bad idea. He is great by himself.
Even though it is a parent's choice to breastfeed for however long she chooses, I feel that it is really unnecessary to do so past a year. Formula has the same nutrients and vitamins. I didn't get to nurse my twins (who are now 14 months old) and they have never caught a cold, been sick with anything, nor have they had ear infections. This is just another fad for parenting and for people to come out of the woodworks to make a buck.
After watching your show on Attachment Parenting I realized that I had raised my son in this manner. I breastfed up until he was not interested anymore which for him was before 2 years old. I took him most places with me, he would come to sleep with me up until he was 10 or 11, he was always very affectionate, liked to cuddle while watching TV. He is now 22 and a fiercely independent person. He still hugs me everytime he sees me.
He is very nuturing for a man and has always helped anyone in need that he could. My son just became a father and he has taken the role very seriously not only supporting his son financially but he is very hands on when at home--feeding, changing diapers, holding him and singing him to sleep.
I was a single mom and raised my child in a way that felt right to me. At that time noone had a lable for the "type" of parenting I was doing, but if other children raised with Attachment Parenting turn out as good as my son ----I am all for it.
Why not nurse your child until he/she is ready to move on? Why force an issue? I nursed my son until he was four. By that time it was just for his security and one night he decided he was ready to sleep without it. He grew up to be a very independent successful young man. Our culture has a real hang up about this.
I have a two sided coin. My son was a dream. He self soothed, he slept all night at 7 weeks & easily went from the breast to formula when I went back to work at 13 weeks. He was CONSTANTLY sick. He had an ear infection at almost all times. He spent two days in the hospital with complications from asthma. Now for arguments sake we can all assume this was because he went to daycare.
When my daughter was born she was completely opposite. By this time I was a stay at home mom so I chose to nurse her. She needed held constantly. She was awake nearly 20 hours a day. She wouldn't take a pacifier. She hated her swing, bouncy seat & exersaucer. I got to the point of feeling rage. I spoke to a doula friend of mine who told me about attachment parenting. I was 100% against it. I wanted my child to be independent, not even more dependent. It honestly seemed like the only thing worse than living on 4 hours of broken sleep every night. By the time she was 7 months old & after doing hours & hours of research, I came to realize that my child was born this way. She was a high needs baby. It wasn't anything I was doing but it was what she needed that I wasnt doing. So I did it. I wondered every day if what i was doing was more harmful. At 11 months I decided to see if she would self soothe. I put her in her crib, gave her hugs & kisses & walked out of the room. Within 2 minutes... Just 120 seconds, she stopped crying & was asleep. She's now nearly three years old & still goes down twice a day the same way & has slept all night since. I nursed her until she weaned herself at 16 months. She's never been sick more than a sniffle in winter. I would like to think that even at nearly three years old if she hadn't weaned herself thenthat id still be nursing today.
I can honestly say that all babies are different. I didn't choose attachment parenting, it chose me. My daughter is the most independent child ive ever seen... Far more than my son who was not attached.
To Rebecca, A sorrowful mindset you have about being a mother. Being a mother is the supreme act of co-creation with our Lord, that many parents these days negate as something you are in control of --being your own little gods. Your precious little babies were called forth and named by God before time began. You are the chosen mother of your twins to cherish, love, and sacrifice for them the rest of your life the supreme and magnanimus privilege. You are responsible for their life after this life-an eternity to hopefully see the face of God. Woe to those who do not reverence their children and bring them up to reverence, honor and obey God. It is so unbelievebly heart wrenching to see young mothers today who have been sold a "bill of goods" about how they are to be vapid godesses, self absorbed, immodestly dressed, inattentive to their precious children. Many young women have no clue how loved they are by our Lord, leaving them bereft in how to genuinely love and nurture their babies. Just know you are loved by our Lord more than you know, May you place yourself and your blessed babies in the heart of Jesus with all humility and dependence on HIM.