Notes on Baby Knows Best by Deborah Solomon

Continuing with my self-made RIE reading curriculum, I read Baby Knows Best: Raising a Confident and Resourceful Child, the RIE™ Way by Deborah Carlisle Solomon. It was a nice overview of how all the various principles applied to different parts of a child's life. I did take note of some nice phrasings of effective responses to different situations.

Below are my full notes.




​Intro
Observe more do less
 
1 RIE way
See who ur child is becoming instead of trying to mold them yourself
RIE principles
 
2 at home with newborn
You're really crying. I hear you. 
No on swaddling. Sleep sack better but only for a few months.
 
3 care for your baby
Chances for connection
Tarry time to give chance to process
Feeding
 
4 sleep
Wait and then wait a little longer
 
5 free to move
Crawl down stairs head first ok
More language acquisition with rear racing stroller 
Allow falls for learning
 
6 play
Set up play area with same objects in same locations each day
List of good objects
Praise only for social adaptation for something that's really hard
Just describe what they accomplished
 
7 learning limits
Modeling
Comfort both kids during conflict
Natural consequences vs punishment
 
8 toddlers
Don't end sentences with “ok?”
State facts about what will happen
When I get back, it'll be time to go home
Allow choosing bibs and socks and walking vs hopping
Toilet learning. Encourage so baby does own work of taking off clothes and wiping even if takes longer. Loose and easy to drop pants. No fuss during accidents. Extra layers of waterproof sheets in bed. 
 
9 as baby and family grow
Constant change and adaption
 
10 child care
Slow moving caregiver
 
11 parenting support
Form own playgroup of 4 families in same weekly home

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