RIE: Resources for infant educarers
A Guide for New Parents
Welcoming a new baby into the world is a joyous and transformative experience. As parents, you want to provide the best care and nurturing for your little one. One approach to consider is the RIE philosophy, which stands for Resources for Infant Educarers. RIE is a respected method of infant care that emphasizes respect, trust, and natural development. In this blog post, we'll introduce you to the core principles of RIE and share simple practices to begin your journey towards respectful parenting.
What is RIE? RIE, which stands for Resources for Infant Educarers, is an approach to infant care and education developed by the educator Magda Gerber and pediatric neurologist Tom Forrest in the 1970s. It's based on the idea that treating infants with respect and trusting them as competent individuals is the foundation for healthy development. RIE encourages parents to observe and respond to their babies' cues and foster independence, respect, and trust from the very beginning.
Principle 1: Speak to Your Baby
One of the fundamental principles of RIE is the importance of engaging in meaningful, respectful communication with your infant. From day one, talk to your baby as if they can understand you. Describe what you're doing, your intentions, and your observations. This verbal interaction is not just about teaching language; it's a way to include your baby in your world and build a deep connection.
Principle 2: Floor Time
To promote natural muscle development, RIE encourages allowing your baby plenty of time on the floor when they are awake. Begin by placing your baby on their back for a few minutes at a time starting at 6 weeks of age. This position helps babies strengthen their neck, back, and core muscles, ultimately facilitating their motor development. This is essential to offer a chance for your baby to lift their legs and arms, move their head from side to side, explore their surroundings, and build core muscles for rolling over onto their tummy. When your baby has developed the strength in their neck, arm, leg, and core, they will be able to roll over on their own. Do not do “tummy time” with your baby and allow them to get onto their tummy on their own when they figure out how to roll over. Once your baby has rolled to their tummy on their own, they will begin working on rolling from tummy to back. Once they have this mastered, they will work on getting up on all fours, sitting, crawling, standing, then walking. Their body knows just what to do, without intervention from you.
Getting Started with RIE:
Observe Your Baby: Take time to watch your baby closely and learn to recognize their unique cues and signals. This deepens your understanding of their needs and desires. Count to “10” before you respond to give time for your baby to figure something out on their own. Do not “come to the rescue” so quickly.
Respect and Trust: RIE teaches parents to respect their baby's capabilities and trust that they are competent individuals, even in their early days.
Speak with Intention: Begin talking to your baby with purpose and respect. Describe your actions and surroundings as it relates to their body to include them in your world.
Floor Time: Start incorporating supervised floor time into your baby's daily rhythm beginning at six weeks. This position is essential for natural muscle development.
Connect with a RIE Community: Join RIE-focused parent groups or find a RIE educator to further support your journey into respectful infant education.
RIE offers a refreshing perspective on infant care and education, emphasizing respect, trust, and physiologically natural development. By speaking to your baby with intention and providing opportunities for floor time, you can lay the foundation for a respectful and nurturing parenting approach. Embracing RIE principles not only fosters healthy development but also builds strong bonds of trust and respect between you and your baby, setting the stage for a beautiful parenting journey ahead.