Anna - I think of it more as instinctive parenting as opposed to gentle or natural parenting. Both gentle, natural and attatchment parenting styles have their "criteria" where as instinctive parenting is doing what feels right for your family. We borrow lots of ideas from all the schools of parenting but ultimately it is our style of parenting in the end as we pick and choose what we want.

Having said all that in answer to your original question gentle parenting is calm and gentle, it is considerate of everyones feelings including babies which means they have the right to express themselves if they want to cry infrustration but not to cry because their basic human need for comfort and attention aren't being met. It also mean clear and firm guidelines and discipline with explations and consequense that suit the behaviour rather than smacking, screaming and things like that.