What is Attachment Parenting, Anyway?

I've been trying to find a resource that narrows down for me the basics of attachment parenting.
Alas, I have found it.
Turns out, I was looking in the wrong places.
The answers lie in this great book:

(taken from Amazon.com)

Ha! Go figure.

Anyway, for those of you who may be wondering, here is what I found:
1. Bond with your baby in the early days.
(this includes a gentle, natural birth, with lots of skin-to-skin contact in the first few days)
2. Breastfeed your baby.
(breastfeeding is about much more than nutrition)
3. Practice responsive caregiving.
(follow your baby's cues to identify and fulfill his needs)
4. Sleep with or very near your young baby or child.
(parents who practice this experience more restful sleep)
5. Carry, hold, or wear your baby.
"This allows busy parents to get things done while offering their babies the physical closeness that they need."

6. Respect your child as an individual right from the start.
(allow your child to have his/her own developmental timetable)

The book goes on to explain that...
1. Attachment parenting is flexible
2. Attachment parenting is about mothering AND fathering
3. Attachment parenting doesn't turn parents into martyrs.
4. Attachment parenting can be the "easy" way for busy, modern parents.
5. Attachment parenting is family-centered, not child-centered.
6. Attachment parenting assists with your gentle guidance (aka: discipline) of your child.

This book offers so much great information about breastfeeding, caring for newborns, nighttime parenting, and more. It's a quick read and even a good skim, for those already well-versed on this topic.

Here is my hubby "wearing" our little guy. :)