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News on... World Breastfeeding Week and all the associated news, API's stance on reality shows, spanking and psychological abuse, fostering empathy, and more.

New Reality Show on "Extreme Parenting"
A new television program called "Extreme Parenting" is being developed by the same team that's behind shows like "Dance Moms" and "Bridezillas," so they're no stranger to controversial topics. What type of "extreme" practices will the show cover? Brace yourself. Breastfeeding a baby after the first birthday! Even more shocking? Sharing a family bed!

API does not support any reality programs as healthy for children or adults, or as even representative of reality. API has received numerous requests to participate but chooses rather to focus on its mission educating and supporting families. API has, of course, urged producers to consider the families' wellbeing and extensive evidence supporting attachment parenting.

Why Does Everyone Pretend There's a "Spanking Debate"?
Some questions really don't have two sides. "Is it okay to do something to your child that would land you in jail if you did it to a stranger on the street?" is one of those. You can phrase it other ways too - like "Is it okay to hurt a child because it serves your immediate goal when science shows it can lead to long-term harm?" But there is still just one answer.

Attachment Parenting: Can Baby Be Too Attached?
Forget the naughty step: the new trend in parenting is for baby-wearing, bed-sharing and breastfeeding. But could constantly giving in to an infant's needs be harmful?

Midwife Movement
"Your body is not a lemon. It's as well made as other mammals. We just worry more." Ina May Gaskin, esteemed for her work in midwifery and natural birth, has been recognized in a new lauded documentary, "Birth Story." Learn more about her valuable contributions.

Economic Challenges Affect Parenting
"Unless we make sure children grow up in households and communities where they are nurtured, we won't be successful as a country," he says. "I think people understand education is a piece of the puzzle, and I think there's increasing awareness we have to do more than just focus on schools." "McCarthy says addressing the needs of children has to include expanding and maintaining services to parents." And more on how poverty affects mothers.

When Becoming a New Mother is Painful
Experts say 10% to 20% of new mothers experience it: a steep drop in mood that's far more devastating and lasts far longer than two or three weeks of the so-called baby blues.

On the API Blog

Crying as Sport?

Helping Older Kids Adjust to a New Baby

Extra Pair of Eyes

Mayor Bloomberg Gives Breastfeeding a Chance
"When it goes into effect in September, nurses in participating hospitals will be instructed not to give formula to babies unless there's a medical reason to do so or unless moms specifically request it... Formula will be locked away like medication, and staff will be required to sign it out, track its distribution and report those figures to the Health Department... Twenty-seven of the city's 40 hospitals have agreed to participate."

Increasing Breastfeeding Duration: One Sling at a Time!
This study surprised even a sling-wearing, card-carrying member of the babywearing fan club!

Breastfeeding Cuts Obesity Risk Decades Later
Childbirth and breastfeeding have significant, but opposite, effects on long-term weight. Scientists found that the more children a woman has, the heavier she was likely to be in later life. But average BMI was lower in women who breastfed, irrespective of how many times they had given birth.

False Infant Formula Claims: FDA Concludes Whey-Protein Partially Hydrolyzed Baby Formulas Are Not Hypoallergenic
Despite claims by manufacturers that 100 percent whey-protein partially hydrolyzed infant formula is a hypoallergenic alternative for babies who are allergic to milk or babies with existing milk allergy symptoms, the FDA concluded that such claims are not backed up by legitimate research.

Attached at the Heart's New Facebook Page

Pediatricians Align to Renounce Formula Gift Bags in Their Practices
American Academy of Pediatrics Breastfeeding website announces today adoption of a resolution passed last month regarding formula "gift bags": "...gifts via commercial infant formula marketing implicitly endorses formula feeding and creates the impression that clinicians favor formula feeding over breastfeeding, and research demonstrates that this activity decreases exclusivity and duration of breastfeeding, therefore be it RESOLVED, that the Academy advise pediatricians not to provide formula company gift bags, coupons, and industry-authored handouts to the parents of newborns and infants in office and clinic settings."

Breastfeeding Rates Continue to Rise!
Check out the stats for your state, including the number of La Leche League Leaders per live births and other indicators for available breastfeeding assistance. We know API Support Groups also help contribute to supporting breastfeeding rates!

World Breastfeeding Week/
U.S. National Breastfeeding Month
Nurse Ins and Latch Ons marked World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) this past week, along with increased media attention on all matters breastfeeding. Dr. William Sears discusses breastfeeding in honor of WBW. WABA and La Leche League celebrate the 20th WBW.

The Breastfeeding Hotline
The breastfeeding community throughout the United States has access to a toll-free helpline service by calling 877 4 LA LECHE (1-877-452-5324). This helpline provides information, education, and support for women who want to breastfeed, to healthcare providers and others. Please share the free breastfeeding helpline in your community, and consider making a donation. Here's the donate information for the LLL Breastfeeding Helpline in the United States so you can help support this important effort.

A Connection Between Fathers and Child Behavior
"We found that children whose fathers were more engaged in the interactions had better outcomes, with fewer subsequent behavioural problems. At the other end of the scale children tended to have greater behavioural problems when their fathers were more remote and lost in their own thoughts, or when their fathers interacted less with them," explains Dr Ramchandani. "This association tended to be stronger for boys than for girls, suggesting that perhaps boys are more susceptible to the influence of their father from a very early age."

Arguing Beneficial in Parent-Teen Relationships
It can really try your nerves but see a new side to arguments with your teen as "research has found that teens who learn how to argue effectively by practicing on their parents are far more likely to be able to resist peer pressure down the line. Psychologist Joseph P. Allen and his team at the University of Virginia published the findings of their study of parents and teens, called “Predictors of Susceptibility to Peer Influence Regarding Substance Use in Adolescence.”

Effects of Severe Social and Physical Neglect on the Brain
"Kids who are neglected, growing up without normal emotional and social interaction, have measurably different brain structure from other kids, according to a new study from researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital.... “These differences in brain structure appear to account for previously observed, but unexplained, differences in brain function,” lead researcher Margaret Sheridan told reporters."

Nurturing Empathy in Children
"Early attachments during infancy lay the groundwork for children to learn how to comfort themselves as well as others...Children who know they can count on a parent or caregiver for emotional support and physical affection are more likely to offer help to others. Studies show that children have a greater capacity for empathy when their own emotional needs are met at home."

Platypus Media Announces new Safe Sleep Resources page<

• An extensive FAQ list covering questions that may arise as parents weigh their infant sleep options

• A Compiled Cosleeping Resource List that offers a variety of research and knowledge covering an array of safe sleep topics in a concise format

• Safe Sleep Checklists from expert doctors and professional medical organizations to ensure a safe sleeping environment for an infant

• Dia's Safe Infant Sleep PowerPoint which presents learning about cosleeping in a more engaging format (Dia is the founder and president of Platypus Media - she speaks frequently on parenting topics. This ppt. covers many of the issues that arise in safe infant sleep discussions.)

• And several ad and flyer samples showing how different cities promote and discourage cosleeping

API's Safe Sleep Brochure is available for free download and to order from API. Coming soon: API's Safe Sleep Brochure in Spanish.

Advocating Attachment Parenting
It wasn’t easy for Eileen Lian to fully breastfeed her daughter Andrea. When they dined out, Lian breastfed in public toilets until her friend gave her a sling, which allowed her some privacy. That was 16 years ago, long before the recent furor over the practice of attachment parenting.

Take the AP Survey! Forward it to your friends!
This may be the first survey of attachment parenting practices by attachment parents aimed at helping medical professionals understand the AP culture. We encourage all AP to take the survey and forward it to other AP far and wide! Responses are confidential and will serve as an opportunity to establish a more accurate set of descriptions about who AP are and our motivations in choosing the parenting practices we do. The research is being conducted through the University of Arkansas Little-Rock and responses are confidential.

Early Relationships, Not Brainpower, Key to Adult Happiness
"Positive social relationships in childhood and adolescence are key to adult well-being. In contrast, academic achievement appears to have little effect on adult well-being."

Caring for Our Children - API's free digital magazine available now
"Beyond the Mommy Wars," "Breastfeeding and Family Leave Is a Right, Not a Privilege," "Is Preschool Necessary?," "Daddy Matters," 
and much more.
Members (use login information provided in your email notice or visit the API Member Forum). Not a member? Join today . It's free.

API Has a YouTube Channel!

View and share API's YouTube Channel.

Presbyterian Church Says "No" to Spanking Kids
The nation's largest Presbyterian denomination says it's wrong to spank children.

Spanking May Lead to Adult Mental Illness
"Frequent spanking and physical corporal punishment that hurts the child or creates fear in the child enormously raises the risk of that child developing mental health issues later in life," affirms Lu Hanessian, API Advisory Board Member.... The analyzed data was from multiple government surveys of more than 35,000 U.S. adults. Hanessian says the report is based on scientific data that shows a direct link to increased odds of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, alcohol and drug abuse and several personality disorders."

The Unspoken Fallout of Spanking
"I’m not going to argue the spanking debate. It’s no longer a real conversation. There’s an ocean of science, cognitive, emotional, neurobiological, interpersonal, developmental and more…showing us what effects crying it out, spanking, harsh verbal tones, yelling, grabbing, pushing, pulling, paddling in schools, belting, have on the brain and system... I suggest that we stop parsing the language and splitting syllables over whether tapping and bopping is the same as hitting or beating. It’s not really relevant anymore. Instead of pointing fingers, we can offer our hand to support each other. But as long as we argue about words and good intentions and intensity of impact and degrees of violence, we are simply speaking in defensive terms."

Increased Attention on Psychological Maltreatment as Abuse
"The high prevalence of psychological abuse in advanced Western societies, along with the serious consequences, point to the importance of effective management." "Psychological or emotional maltreatment of children may be the most challenging and prevalent form of child abuse and neglect. Caregiver behaviors include acts of omission (ignoring need for social interactions) or commission (spurning, terrorizing); may be verbal or nonverbal, active or passive, and with or without intent to harm; and negatively affect the child’s cognitive, social, emotional, and/or physical development."

Changing Parenting Landscape for a Variety of Factors
"The number of young adults ages 20 to 34 who lived with their parents jumped from 17% in 1980 to 24% in 2007-09..."

What is Most Important for Becoming an Adult?
Emerging adults say it is accepting responsibility for yourself. But do they feel they are reaching that milestone?

CEO Moms
"The physiological changes that go hand-in-hand with motherhood may in fact help her be a better boss. The neurochemical changes that go on in a mother to make her more sensitive and make better decisions for the benefit of the baby carry over into helping her be more keenly aware and make better decisions as a CEO." ~Dr. Sears

Increasing Empathy
Have your child interview you - sharing with intention.

Empathy Building Books
Favorites to read and discuss.

Empathy Building Scenarios
Stories to move you and your child.

These ideas are brought to you by the new Ashoka empathy building initiative, Start Empathy.