Little babies have no concept of time and to them a minute is forever, but as they grow older they become better able to wait for things. They have leaned to trust their mommy and have been learning since birth that their needs will be met. Also, as babies grow older, attached mothers will sense that some cries don't need to be answered as immediately as others. They can often tell when their baby is just fussing a wee bit to let off a little steam while trying to learn a new task, and when their baby needs assistance. They know that an older baby can sometimes be told, "Mommy'll help you in just a minute!" while she finishes rinsing off the cooked noodles in the strainer.
Attachment parenting does not equal permissive parenting. Perhaps some people feel that it does because ap parents answer their baby's cries so freely that they may seem to be able to get away with whatever they want. But as seen above, the responses evolve as a baby gets older and as his needs change.
It's arguably easiest to practice attachment parenting with a little baby because they are so helpless and it's easy to believe the truth that one so needy and fresh from the womb could never manipulate his parents. In the beginning his needs and his wants are synonymous, so mothers can respond to their baby's cries without ever worrying about spoiling their baby. They can carry their baby for long periods of time and when they lay him down he stays put and can't crawl yet or get into things he's not supposed to.
But as babies get older they start exploring and their curiosity often gets them into interesting situations. Attached parents are very involved parents who are not afraid to offer their child loving guidance and gentle discipline when needed. Knowing their baby well and being in tune to his needs are crucial to making the right choices for their child. An attached parent and child have a relationship built on trust. A child who trusts his parents is more willing to listen to what his parents tell him and try to please them. Attachment parenting helps parents to become familiar with their child's cues so they can tell when he is acting tired or hungry. They know when he is getting frustrated. They know when he needs some quiet time away from the bustling crowds at the mall. They can sense when he is hungry for more attention from mommy.
