s a parent, you will no doubt make hundreds— probably thousands— of important decisions.

But before you get to the question of where your child should attend school, you'll probably make a few early decisions that will shape your parenting style. Co-sleeping or sleep training? Strollers or slings? Breastfeeding or formula?

When it comes to child rearing, how you raise your little one is a personal decision every parent must make. While many parents don’t follow any particular method, there are a few popular philosophies that have been helpful to a great many new moms and dads.

ATTACHMENT PARENTING
RIE (RESOURCES FOR INFANT EDUCARERS)
NATURAL/ALTERNATIVE PARENTING

Attachment Parenting

This philosophy, started by famed pediatrician Dr. William Sears, encourages moms and dads to nurture and create strong emotional bonds by being “responsive” or “instinctive” parents. Starting right at birth, attachment parenting encourages the “7 Baby B’s”:

• Birth Bonding
  Start holding, loving and snuggling right from the beginning — stay close!

• Breastfeeding
  To help read your baby’s cues and to promote the “right chemistry” between mother and baby — bring on the breast milk.

• Baby Wearing
  Because “closeness promotes familiarity” — break out the sling and wear that baby for hours a day.

• Bedding Close to Baby
  To keep you connected to your infant at night — either in the same bed or within close touching distance.

• Belief in the Language Value of Your Baby’s Cry
  Helps build trust when parents respond sensitively to their baby’s cry— hey, they’re just trying to communicate.

• Beware of Baby Trainers
  Let yourself be the expert in your baby — steer clear of rigid styles and schedules

• Balance
  Keep in mind the needs of yourself and your partnership — give baby lots of attention, but try not to neglect you and/or your sweetie.

In a nutshell:  If you dig the idea of breastfeeding, wearing your baby all day, and sleeping with them at night, then attach away! You may want to hold off on investing in that crib, stroller and bouncy chair, too.

RIE

RIE, which stands for Resources for Infant Educarers, is all about raising self-confident babies.

Based on respect, it encourages:

• Letting the child be an initiator and self learner.
  Sit back and just watch — don’t interfere with their play time — let your baby take the lead.

• Making time for uninterrupted play.
  Shhhh— stop talking and let them do their thing.

• Telling your baby your intentions and allowing them to respond.
  Before diapering, feeding or bathing, tell them what you’re about to do— don’t do it to them, do it with them.

• Create a safe, simple environment with limits.
  Plug up those outlets and hold off on noisy toys that light up. Instead, break out the Tupperware, or just let them observe the sunlight.

• Don’t put them in positions they can’t get into themselves.
  It's tempting to put them in a sitting position to see the world, but unless they can do it on their own, hold off.

• Refrain from saying praise words such as “good job.”
  Just comment on what is happening without judgment, i.e., "I see that you're feeding yourself with a spoon."

In a nutshell: Stay out of their way and trust that they’ll learn to do things on their own. If you love observing, this style is the right fit.

Natural Parenting/Alternative Parenting

If you like to live “green,” natural parenting may be a “natural fit” for you.

Unique to each family, it’s about creating a non-toxic lifestyle and making healthy choices for your little ones by choosing things such as:

• Homeopathic medicine
• Cloth diapers
• Eco-friendly laundry detergent
• Fresh, organic, whole baby foods
• Wood toys

In a nutshell: If you prefer acupuncture to antibiotics, going “au natural” could be up your alley.

Of course, there's no "right" way to parent. And whether you find the right fit with one or more of these theories or create your own approach by combining parts of each, what feels right for you will be right for your child.