It starts the second we find out we are pregnant, researching all the latest contraptions and must have items for babies. Followed by baby showers and other mom’s recommendations for what provided them sanity in their new sleep deprived state. We want to know what will make life easier?!? The tricky part is since all children are different, there really is no one item that works for all babies.
I loved learning about RIE because it throws out the need for all those contraptions and attempts to trust that babies will innately learn what they need on their own time. Only laying children on their backs until they learn to roll over on their own. Letting them discover what is around them and to trust control of their own body movements. I have to admit, following a RIE approach to infant care has been increasingly more difficult as a parent then as a teacher. In a classroom setting RIE was just the philosophy we followed, the set up allowed for it, all the teachers involved had a commitment to the process.
As a new mom, I found myself struggling with how to juggle at home life routines with providing 24 hours of RIE approved care. Let’s just say, I was not successful 100% of the time. My ideals certainly ran into road blocks and I admit to using a swing, and a baby Bjorn bouncer in order to try and cook or take a shower. I even used a Rock n’ Play once after being told by many moms it was the only way they got their baby to sleep. I needed sleep. So when I talk about the ideals of using a RIE approach I talk about it as both a teacher but also as a mom. A mom that certainly understands sometimes in a sleep deprived, all encompassing world of having a new baby, we just need anything to work which keeps our child safe.
All that being said, I believe there are so many benefits to using Magda Gerber’s philosophy with infants. Something feels right to me about respecting infants and young children as individuals, not using childism and letting their bodies move freely. Using RIE with children is a constant journey and learning process for me. It takes practice in a culture where we often use high pitched voices with babies, move them around quickly, or interrupt their discoveries. If we are not mindful of taking a second to observe what they are doing and recognizing it might be a meaningful learning experience they are immersed in, we may disturb or stop all together that process in order to achieve our own agenda.
To learn more on this topic. Visit Sitting Babies Up.
Play Space Early Learning Center 