Hello,
Thank you for asking this question. I feel very strongly about this.
I reject the concept of a philosophy or system for parenting.
Parenting is a perfectly proper subject for scientific study, so there’s no need for philosophies.
Instead of gurus people should be finding out verifiable reproducible scientific facts.

This debate reminds me of the debate between Copernicus who believed that the planets orbited around the sun, and the Church authorities at the time, who believed that the sun and other heavenly bodies went around the earth. Controversial – yes.

Compare parenting to other fields of medicine, for example, psychiatry, oncology, cardiology.

Practitioners of these specialties are not using textbooks unchanged since the 1950s. They change their practice according to up to date results of clinical trials which they, with their colleagues have read and understood. They have evaluated the evidence available to them.

If I gave a patient chemotherapy from the 1950s even though currently available treatments are proven to be better, I would expect to be struck off.

Beware of anyone who expresses opinions on a matter of fact.

As you’re a concerned Dad, I’ll offer some pointers if I may.

Find out as much as you can: a lot of advances in knowledge have been made since we were babies. Look for books and articles that mention research evidence – for example, describing a scientific study or giving a reference – when they make assertions. If their opinion is based on the author’s personal experience, or on patients they have seen, they should say so, as this is helpful. Look for authoritative sources of advice such as the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, The Foundation for the study of Infant Deaths, etc above that of any Guru or any commercial interest.

I was determined to fully breast feed according to WHO guidelines, carry my baby close to me and respond sensitively to his cries because each of these measures has been shown to be beneficial to his health and well-being, and NOT because I have espoused any philosophy.

I hope this is helpful, and wish you good luck with your baby.