Baby Knows Best - by Deborah Carlisle Solomon (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Raise self-confident, self-reliant children using the RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers) Approach.

Your baby knows more than you think. That's the heart of the principles and teachings of Magda Gerber, founder of RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers), and Educaring. Baby Knows Best is based on Gerber's belief in babies' natural abilities to develop at their own pace, without coaxing from helicoptering or hovering parents. The Educaring Approach helps parents see their infants as competent people with a growing ability to communicate, problem-solve, and self-soothe.

Baby Knows Best is a comprehensive resource that shows parents how to respond to their babies' cues and signals; how to develop healthy sleep habits; why babies need uninterrupted playtime; and how to set clear, consistent limits. The result? More relaxed parents and more confident, self-reliant children.

Review Quotes

"A quietly brilliant parenting book, full of wisdom and calm guidance."--Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

"How to be attentive but not intrusive, loving but not smothering, kind but not indulging, guiding but not controlling, strict but not rigid--all this is wonderfully laid out in RIE's Educaring Approach."--Hank Azaria, actor

"I think RIE should be a national program so that parents all over the country can have the opportunity that my family had."--Dee Dee Myers, former White House Press Secretary

"Invaluable...A refreshing departure from the didactic, overly prescriptive books that seem to dominate the parenting literature. I strongly recommend it."--Alicia Lieberman, PhD, author of The Emotional Life of the Toddler

"One of the best things that ever happened to me as a mother was discovering RIE. Even though my daughter is now nine, she is still a RIE baby at heart: calm, confident, and self-motivated. Baby Knows Best is a treasure of insights and wisdom. I will be giving this invaluable book to every new mother I know."--Maria Semple, author of Where'd You Go, Bernadette

"Outstanding! Absorbing and powerful. Loaded with potent new ideas--Easy to read, eye-opening, hard to forget!"--Janet Gonzalez-Mena, co-author of Infants, Toddlers, and Caregivers

"RIE gave us a loving methodology for how to do the most important thing in the world--understand and nurture our babies. It fostered a communication and interplay that we've built upon all their lives. This was invaluable and loving knowledge."--Jason Alexander, actor

"RIE has been a blessing in our lives, giving us the chance to learn that our baby can teach us best when we observe carefully. We've learned to respect him as he expresses his needs."--Gustavo Dudamel, music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and his wife, Eloísa Maturén

"The RIE program is the single most relatable, intuitive, and common-sense approach to the modern-day conundrum of parenting. Baby Knows Best is the guidebook. It helps you get back to basics and makes you a better, more confident parent. A must-have."--Jamie Lee Curtis, actress

"This terrific book is written by someone who really understands daily life with a baby. Deborah Carlisle Solomon shows how you can build an enjoyable relationship with your baby through the power of observation."--Sue Gerhardt, author of Why Love Matters

About the Author

Deborah Carlisle Solomon is an infant/toddler educator and speaker. She works with parents, caregivers, early interventionists and other professionals to help them to "see infants with new eyes," and to create relationships with babies and young children based on understanding and respect. She was RIE Executive director from 2006 to 2014 and has addressed national and international infancy and early childhood conferences workshops. Deborah lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son.