from django.db import models class ParentManager(models.Manager): def get_by_natural_key(self, parent_data): return self.get(parent_data=parent_data) class Parent(models.Model): parent_data = models.CharField(max_length=30, unique=True) parent_m2m = models.ManyToManyField('self') objects = ParentManager() def natural_key(self): return (self.parent_data,) class Child(Parent): child_data = models.CharField(max_length=30, unique=True)