Handling Practices: Some Historical Context

If you’re familiar at all with our approach to supporting infant movement development, you’re likely aware that a main focus of our work is teaching infant touch and handling skills to parents and other caregivers. (If you’re not familiar, read more about our Preparing for Caring project.)

We’d like to share a bit of context and history about our handling suggestions. Where did they come from? The short answer is that we didn’t make them up! There’s history behind them, though we do like to think we’ve honed, curated and elaborated upon them over the years.

The longer story … Read more

 *  *  *

Chaos Theory & Babies

…development is the outcome of the self-organizing processes of continually active living systems

…development does not “know” where it is going from the start

…the very nature of development itself — its contingent, evolving, emergent nature

(Esther Thelen, 1941-2004)

We’re inspired by the writing of Esther Thelen, a developmental psychologist and multidisciplinary out-of-the-box thinker who applied chaos theory (or dynamic systems theory) to infant development. Per a colleague’s tribute, Thelen “saw a child’s development more akin to a jazz improvisation than to a biological process driven by genes.”

Esther Thelen’s approach and research ring true for us: it … Read more

 *  *  *

Q&A: Follow-up about tummy time

In our previous Q&A post, we responded to a mother’s question about whether we recommend tummy time on a pillow for her 4-month-old. Our short answer was that we don’t think propping a baby on a pillow is particularly helpful for their movement development. What we encourage instead is supporting a baby to develop their midline and hands skills so they can spend time on their belly while engaged in play with an object.

We’ve since heard back from the parent, who sent new photos of their now 5-month-old engaged with toys on her belly and for contrast, propped … Read more

 *  *  *

Q&A: Tummy time on a pillow?

Question from a mother of a 4-month-old: Someone told me that it’s good to put babies on top of pillows (on the floor) so they can get perspective and help them develop. I am a bit hesitant but wanted to hear your thoughts on this.

Our response: Thanks for asking for our perspective – we’re happy to share our thoughts on the topic!

In short, we’re not huge fans of the practice of using pillows when positioning babies prone (on their belly). We don’t agree with what seem to be the reasons behind it – particularly focussing on strengthening muscles … Read more

 *  *  *

Big News

We’re writing to share BIG news with you: we are moving out of our beloved space in Manhattan at the end of March 2023.

Babies Project is not closing! We’re just giving up having a dedicated space.

First, our apologies for the late notice: we waited to be certain about the timing before making a public announcement. We long ago decided not to renew our lease, which ends in April, and now we’ve come to an agreement with our landlord to move out a month early.

As for so many, the pandemic has had a seismic effect on our operations: … Read more

 *  *  *

Baby Ball: A Responsive Container

This is the second of four in a series of companion articles and recorded zoom sessions. It is part of our Preparing for Caring Project to build awareness and educate about the importance of handling skills in caring for a baby. Read more about how these ideas play out in practical suggestions.

Variations of “baby ball” Illustrations by Joanna Cotler

Having laid out our guiding principles of safety, orientation, comfort, bonding and curiosity in our previous post, we’ll now begin looking at the practical suggestions that follow from these principles.

At Babies Project, we often say that if we … Read more

 *  *  *

Guiding Principles: Safety, Orientation, Comfort, Bonding and Curiosity

This is the first of four in a series of companion articles and recorded zoom sessions. It is part of our Preparing for Caring Project to build awareness and educate about the importance of handling skills in caring for a baby. Read more about how these ideas play out in practical suggestions.

We have built our work at Babies Project around the progressive states of safety, orientation, comfort, bonding and curiosity. While it is similar to Maslow’s “hierarchy of needs”, this layering of ideas comes out of a Body-Mind Centering® approach to developmental movement.*

Watch a recorded Zoom session
Read more

 *  *  *

NOBL Change at Work Conference

We’re honored to have been included in a virtual conference hosted by NOBL, an organizational design firm, called Change at Work: Leadership, Resilience, and Remote Work in a Post-COVID World. We talked about our philosophy and values, and our focus on teaching touch and handling skills to parents and other caregivers.

It was inspiring to be part of a bigger conversation in this potent moment of change and uncertainty. We were heartened to be among people who made the principles that underlie our work with caregivers and babies immediately relevant to their personal and work lives. And we’re … Read more

 *  *  *

Coronavirus Updates

(as of April 6)

At Babies Project, we talk (a lot) to parents and other caregivers about the importance of helping their babies transition from their active periods, where their attention is directed outward, to a more inner focus, where they can rest and integrate their experiences. We teach them “baby ball,” a way of holding their baby to support them in this cycling inward. In baby ball, a baby can gather into themself within the enveloping, living container of their caregiver’s body and arms.

As always, what we teach about babies applies to humans at every stage of development. … Read more

 *  *  *

Update: Preparing for Caring at Early Head Start

Our project with Ellyce DiPaola, IDME and EdD candidate at Teacher’s College, Columbia University, which involves offering our Preparing for Caring: Touch, Handling & Bonding Practices (PFC) workshop to an Early Head Start community in NYC, continues.

  • In March 2019, we held a focus group with prospective participants and received valuable feedback about how we can best present the material to suit the population.
  • The three of us (Ellyce, Amy and Sarah) gave a presentation titled Preparing for Caring: Circles of Support about the project at the Body-Mind Centering Association annual conference in July 2019. We were heartened by the
Read more

 *  *  *