The Continuum Concept
Jean Liedloff
Based on her time living with Indigenous communities in the Venezuelan jungle, Jean Liedloff presents a compelling argument that Western parenting has lost touch with our evolutionary instincts. She advocates for practices such as babywearing, breastfeeding on cue, co-sleeping, and constant physical contact as part of a child’s “continuum” needs for optimal emotional development.
Why It’s Included:
This book has been profoundly influential in shaping modern attachment parenting philosophy. While some parts reflect dated language or limited cross-cultural analysis, its core message — that babies thrive when cared for responsively, in arms, and in relationship — deeply aligns with our values.
“For many of us, this is the seminal book which leads up towards a more gentle style of parenting. When you remove the trappings of post-industrial western society, religious teachings and beliefs and the behaviourist approach to raising children; what is left is the examples of those people still living the traditional hunter-gatherer or subsistent farming human lifestyles. And their approach to raising children is enlightening.”
Who It’s For:
Best for reflective parents and professionals interested in the philosophical roots of natural parenting. Not a practical how-to guide, but a thought-provoking text that invites readers to question Western norms around independence, crying, and infant care.
Further Reading:
The World Until Yesterday: What Can We Learn from Traditional Societies? – Jared Diamond
The Anthropology of Childhood: Cherubs, Chattel, Changelings – David F. Lancy
Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives – Stuart-Macadam & Dettwyler
Our Babies, Ourselves: How Biology and Culture Shape the Way We Parent – Meredith Small
