Baby Knows Best

Starred review from November 4, 2013
"Observe more, do less," advised Magda Gerber, founder of Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE), a series of classes and books for parents and babies to help them learn from each other. In this book, Solomon, executive director of RIE, continues Gerber's work (she died in 2007), teaching parents to respect the abilities, intellect, and autonomy of their children. Solomon encourages parents to let children play an active role, from lifting up their bottoms during a diaper change to pouring their own water at the table. Parents may find it difficult to relinquish control over their baby's environment, to watch without interrupting, and to slow down. The book is not always trendy, advising against time-outs: "Just when need a loving adult to help them to regulate, they're banished to a chair in the corner or to their room, alone.... child who is in disequilibrium needs your attention and loving kindness." As for a parent's urge to jump into the fray when one child takes a toy from another, Solomon urges parents to hold back and allow the children to observe each other and themselvesâ"how her behavior affects another⦠how much the object means to herâ¦negotiation and compromise." This is a quietly brilliant parenting book, full of wisdom and calm guidance. 16 b&w photos. Agent: Meg Thompson, Einstein Thompson Agency.