Being With Infants

Feeding an infant a bottle is individualized and should be done on the lap of the primary caregiver who observes and responds to the infant during the bottle feeding process.

The seven basic principles originated by RIE(tm) founder Magda Gerber promotes a respectful approach to raising young children and includes a basic trust to believe in the infant's safe and developmentally appropriate environment. A time for uninterrupted play, a freedom to explore and interact with other infants and for the infant to be an active participant in his care routines.

Caregiving routines occur during the intimate relationship between the infant and adult during times when the infant needs to eat, sleep, or have a diaper change.

It is a time for the infant to receive full attention from the adult with no agenda, or plans, but to be available to be with the infant.

Infants are intrinsically motivated to move based on their own self initiation and readiness, which allows the infant to develop his skill in his own time and way.

Babies need reliable routines for sleep that they learn from and can count on to ensure their proper rest. The ability of the adult to read and respond to the baby's sleep cues accurately, will aid the infant's ability to rest peacefully.