Respecting Babies: A New Look at Magda Gerber's Rie Approach

This is truly an excellent book! As an Infant and Toddler coordinator at a small center, I can not say enough wonderful things about this book. You will love the common sense approach to childcare and the respectful way the very young are treated with this method. If you have never heard of the RIE method, then this is an awesome introduction. Some of the topics discussed in this book include: care routines, how to make the environment your partner,literacy,setting limits, freedom of movement and self-awareness, among others. I am a supporter, user and student of this method. I am also a teacher trainer, and I would be missing so much, without the knowledge of this method.

Ruth Anne Hammond brings a wonderful overview and insight into caring for and relating to babies! A MUST READ for ANYONE & EVERYONE caring for the newest members of our species, whether you're a new parent or a seasoned caregiver, there's wisdom here!!!

Ruth Ann Hammond does a wonderful job of interpreting Magda Gerber's approach to being with babies. I recommend this book to all educarers, including families with young children or families considering having a baby.

Everything as expected

After hearing so much about the RIE approach and realizing that I was naturally inclined towards some of these methods, I decided to purchase this book for deeper insight. While the book is well written and informative, I think it's greatly overpriced for the information it provides. I was also surprised at how much time was devoted to teaching how to partner with caretakers (nannies, daycare, etc) to make sure everyone was on the same page in how to care for the child. I understand that a lot of families are dual income, but I would have liked at least an even approach between working moms and stay at home moms. My child is with me all the time and is only left with a babysitter for the occasional date night or long errand - and she's watched by family. Additionally, all the moms I know who are inclined to this approach are also stay at home moms, so it only added to my surprise at how the book felt geared toward the working mom. That's the only reasoning for a 4 star review instead of a 5. I am skilled enough to sift through information and glean what applies to my situation, but it would have been nice to have more tips or advice based on my situation instead of feeling like the assumption was that I worked and left my child with a caretaker all day.

Excellent!

I'm a nanny and RIE student, and I loved this book! Ruth Anne has such a lovely, peaceful, and nonjudgmental tone. My favorite parts are when she describes how the way you touch (rushed? slow? gentle? rough?) impacts a child's view of the world, and when she describes walks led at a child's pace. Both of these sections were so well written I could really see the poetry in going at a child's pace and moving with respect. I hope Ruth Anne's work can inspire more caregivers to instill that kind of peace in their children's lives. This book also helped remind me to not only let the child know everything I am doing, but to then WAIT for the child's response. I've heard it so many times, but it takes a lot of practice to make it a habit, so thank you! I've shared this book with people that are less familiar with RIE and they also appreciated it and took lots of direction from it. It's a great book to introduce caregivers to RIE methods. Parents, this book has lots of useful suggestions to help you through the first few years of your baby's life. I've worked with dozens of children from many kinds of families. The families with the most RIE practices always have the most content, creative, independent, secure, and interactive children. It is especially stunning to me how dramatically different children's quality of movement is when they have been allowed freedom of movement and haven't been placed in positions (like sitting) that they can't get into on their own. All the RIE and Loczy books say that you can tell by a child's quality of movement if they have been placed in exersaucers, propped sitting, led by the hands when walking etc. I didn't believe it would really be that obvious, but it's true! Children really are the only ones who know when and how they need to learn and develop. All we have to do is provide a supportive environment, a responsive relationship, and leave the rest to them!

How do you describe RIE, by way of the written word, to someone who has never been in a RIE class before and really convey deep understanding not just dogmatic information? As a RIE mom twice over and a student of RIE, if I hadn't read it with my own two eyes, I would have said it wasn't possible. Yet, this is exactly what Ruth Anne Hammond has done. This isn't just a how-to book on the RIE philosophy--though it does explain the RIE approach. This book's real strength, is that it communicates the "why" behind the RIE approach. Understanding this "why" is what elevates Ruth Anne's discussion of the RIE philosophy. Ruth Anne seamlessly moves in and out of explaining care providing rituals and the pearls of wisdom that inform them, which I believe transforms what some see as a "technique" into the respectful, authentic caregiving that it is. Ruth Anne writes, "Because Magda was so eloquent, so wise and so beloved, it is tempting to try to freeze her teachings into some sort of template for perfection. However, this would not be in the spirit of her intentions...Magda meant for her students to find their own way of being authentic." (p.5) This book is empowering. It is supportive and respectful to both parent and baby. It's, also, an enjoyable read! This is the overall best book on RIE that I've read.