I attachment parent. We cosleep, though the kids also have their own toddler bed. Some nights they just need to be with us - we don't fight it. I breastfed long term. Any time they wanted to nurse, they did. I weaned my eldest around Nov-December last year (2 yrs some odd months old), and my youngest weaned at 16 months. It was not my choice, but he wanted to wean, I let him. I'd nursed non stop for 3 whole years.
We babywear, or did, before I got very sick - but I find that babywearing increases the bond with parents, as well as making the babies feel well attached in their early years, and secure in their position in the family. We did not do it all the time, but when they needed to be held and I had other things to do around the house or shopping etc.
I read several books, but I know how I was raised (non-attachment, punitive, Babywise-ish/Dobson-ish/Pearl-ish) and I do NOT want that at all for my children. I just went with my gut and a lot of prayer. I thought some of it was weird before being a parent (cosleeping), but I realised after having a baby for 9 months inside of me, I was not secure having the baby far away. I learned later on the reasons for this, and that we are made to sleep beside our babies to watch for health issues (apnea, security, hunger, etc) and it actually helps a mama well adjust after having a baby.
I read medical articles, and other materials related to parenting as well as relying on what G-d says Himself about how He parents us in the Bible, and how other parents parented their children. IMHO, a lot of the stuff that has come about in the middle and upper classes since the 17-1900s is not really good interventions in the family. They just aren't for us. However, I am thankful for playpens. They keep mommy sane and baby safe when she is unable to carry them.
My 18 month old is only a head shorter than my 3 yr old and just as heavy. I'd be breaking my back to wear him *all* the time when he misbehaves.
I grew up thinking children needed their own rooms and space etc etc, and I'm starting to think that's all well and good, but there was a good thing going with communal houses for all those centuries. We have only a 2bdr house, so our 2nd bedroom is for guests. The children, DH and I prefer it that way. When they are older and express they would like their own bedroom, we will do our best to work something out for them. Until then, they're little and need our help, comfort and supervision.
I don't much like labels, but "attachment parenting" and "Continuum Parenting" do sort of fit us. Well, "Gentle Parenting" tends to work better... but yeah.
You really just have to work with your own child's personality. Personally, both of mine are VERY high needs, so we just went with the flow. Out of the two, my youngest is not as high needs as the oldest MOST of the day (nap time). However, in their waking hours, I am on my toes all day long. It's been that way since day 1. #2 rested more and was relaxed in that sense, but he had to always be with me, DH or my mom or MIL/FIL when he was somewhere. He was ok to be put down, but we had to be within x amount of feet of him to feel secure and safe.
#1 would move and make noise all his waking hours. When he could crawl, that's all that he did. As soon as he walked, he began climbing and running. He has not stopped since. However, he has had a lot of need (and still does) to be held. It's next to impossible to go shopping with two toddler/preschoolers and two strollers, so we did the next best thing - we invested in a ring sling and a couple mei-tais. We take one stroller and a mei tai along when we leave the house. If we leave the strollers due to needing our back of the van storage space - we bring two methods of carry, or DH carries one of the children on his shoulders.
It's just easier than trying to drag a screaming child who insists on being held, or needing massage therapy for all the pain of carrying a 30+ pound child around in arms on your hip or on your shoulders and neck. It's ergonomic, it fits the children well, and it supports their back and neck well. Considering the problems many children here have with hip dysplasia, babywearing/carrying works out well to further develop the hips and back in a safe manner.
I don't "know it all", but I feel pretty confident with our choices. To one of our pediatricians however; I'm "
That American" - you know, the one that's über-crunchy and has the "strange parenting choices".
They might be "strange" to her, but they are pretty normal from what I am hearing from other German parents. :shrug:
They just play forever, and never sleep. 
