Last night I posted a short article and video about how ignoring your baby can visibily upset and confuse them. The video demonstrates how a baby reacts when their Mother ignores them, as is advised when practising CIO (cry it out) techniques.

Within an hour, over 50 people had 'liked' the post, over 10 people had 'shared' and several comments appeared about how they felt terrible for the baby and couldn't imagine behaving like this with their own child.

BUT. I also had 2 people unfollow and the following message in my inbox:

''Really disappointing that you've turned a welcoming group to a wide range of mums into AP central''

I hate confrontation. And I hate knowing that someone might be upset with me or what I am doing. So of course I wanted to respond. Here is what I said:

''Hi xxx, thanks for your message.

Our page and group is, and always be, open and welcome to all Mums from all backgrounds. Our Mummy Meetings that we organise mean that a variety of Mums will be meeting each other, and not parenting the same way as each other, but hopefully supporting each other, educating each other and being open minded to one another.

But we'll never apologise for creating awareness about how damaging CIO techniques can be.

I'm pretty sure not every page you follow posts things that you agree with, that's just life. We plan on positing a wide variety of content and maintaining support for Mums, whilst encouraging gentle parenting - so yes that does mean anti CIO and anti smacking.

I'm sorry if you or anyone else feels judged by using these techniques (not saying that you do, obviously I don't know you) but what we are trying to do is just make people see how it so badly affects the most important little things in our life - our babies.

Hope you understand, if you need to unfollow then of course that is your choice.

Regards, AMM''

Are we 'AP central'? No, I don't think so. But yes, our emphasis is on gentle parenting - which does cover a wide range of things. Some Mums breastfeed, others don't. Some believe in the naughty step, others don't. Some believe in firm routines, others are baby led and feed on demand. Some co-sleep, others don't. Some love slings and skin to skin, others don't. And don't even start about vaccinations! The list goes on and on and we all know that our choices are questioned all the time by family, friends and media.

AMM accepts parents from all walks of life with all different beliefs as that is human nature. But we will never advocate or encourage CIO and/ or harsh discipline that involves smacking.

And that's just that. We are not an 'extremist' page by any means.

We thank everyone for their support and hope you find our new page and website informative, valuable and supportive to the overall concept of being gentle. As a Mother. And as a person.

Encouraging supported, instinctive and gentle parenting,
AMM.