Being With Infants

Infants need a respectful care giving approach around body care from a sensitive adult who pays full attention during the care process.

The basis for the infant curriculum includes a sensitive response and reciprocal relationship that occurs between the infant and adult, especially during caregiving routines where the infant is fueled by the intimacy between themselves and the adult.

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.

Hands constitute the infant's first encounter with the adult, which either teaches peace our advocates violence, depending on the quality and sensitivity that hands convey.

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.

To be authentic means to be true to yourself by understanding both your abilities and limitations, as well as being real to yourself without having to play a role for others.

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.

The weaning environment for infants depends on the infant's ability to use his fingers to pick up food and to sit up completely on his own at a small table for individual feeding, as well as when the infant is psychologically ready to comfortably demonstrate more independence off the adult's lap.

Solid feeding needs to be initially on the lap of the adult with familiar food items before transferring to an independent weaning table, where the adult sits with the infant, to be available to assist the infant if necessary.

Babies cry for many different reasons and it is a form of communication. Helping babies to understand their different cries is part of the adult role. Responding to a baby's cry tells the baby he has been heard and provides tuned in and sensitive care.

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.

The lap Feeding of solids is an intimate process that occurs between the infant and the adult caregiver while on the lap. This in depth look is key to understanding the process.

The lap Feeding of bottles is an intimate process that occurs between the infant and the adult caregiver while on the lap. This in depth look is key to understanding the process.

Play is what an infant does when he is not engaged in care routines and when an infant learns important skills that teach him about his world and how it works.

Observation is a skill that develops over time and with repeated experiences where the adult learns valuable information about the infant and the best way to know and care for that individual baby.

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