“Caring about a baby is intuitive.  Caring for a baby is not. Luckily it's a set of skills that can be learned.”

~Amy Matthews, IDME and Co-Founder & Owner of Babies Project NYC

What is an IDME?

An Infant Developmental Movement Educator (IDME) is a professional trained in developmental movement and theory, including the study of primitive reflexes, righting reactions, and equilibrium responses in humans. IDMEs work alongside caregivers and babies to support the natural progression of movement and relational development during early growth.

As an IDME, I’m interested in the intersection of ancient human wisdom and modern scientific discoveries. This blend helps babies develop self-regulation skills, learning, and growth through supportive relationships with their caregivers. In this, IDME work comes from the basic perspective that as  adults, we are a baby's environment.  How we are being is as important as what we are (or are not) doing.

IDMEs support both babies and caregivers in a variety of ways:

• Providing access to comfort and "baby ball" as home base
• Offering ways to engage with the baby and enter their world
• Demonstrating nuanced techniques for picking up and putting down the baby to support sensory development
• Using handling techniques to shift the baby’s tone, support, movement choices, plus support their movement development
• Assisting with balance in the limbs and supporting the development of right/left coordination
• Supporting babies as they find their way to standing
• Supporting caregivers in recognizing the natural, self-guided process of a baby learning to walk—because walking sooner is not necessarily better! Babies have been figuring this out for millennia!

Join me for Community Baby classes—sessions where you’ll be with your baby in a space of total presence, free of agenda. This time allows for deep connection and supports the baby’s curiosity and development. As an IDME, I’ll be available to answer any questions about your baby’s developmental progress. I’ll share insights into developmental processes and offer practical tips on how to best support your baby’s natural movement patterns. These classes also provide a space for caregivers to check in with their own well-being, since a baby’s growth is deeply tied to the caregiver’s state.

Infant Developmental Movement

Developmental movement refers to the stages babies go through from birth to walking, with a significant foundation laid in the womb. How a baby is handled and supported plays a major role in the success of their developmental process. This is where my work as an Infant Developmental Movement Educator (IDME) comes in.

Developmental Theory

Developmental theory explores how humans grow and change from birth to walking. From an IDME perspective, the process is complex, systematic, and layered—particularly as it pertains to primitive reflexes, righting reactions, and sensory integration. Supporting this natural developmental journey is key to ensuring a baby’s healthy growth. However, there are many ways development can be disrupted, and many of them stem from the way a baby is handled and supported.

Caregivers are a baby’s environment, and the way we meet a baby’s needs directly shapes their development. Supporting the baby in finding their own way, in their own time, through everyday movements, is essential—but it’s not always easy. The conventional baby care culture doesn’t always align with what we know about natural infant development.

Reflexes & Developmental Patterns

These reflexes and developmental patterns aren’t just for babies! As adults, many of us missed out on or overlooked some of these early movement pathways. The good news is that we can re-learn or re-pattern them. By engaging in somatic practices, such as rolling, crawling, dancing, or retracing reflexes, we can reconnect with the body’s natural intelligence. Whether as a baby or an adult, tapping into these early movement patterns helps us cultivate a more integrated, comfortable body-mind connection.

For You, Your Baby, or Both!

Whether you’re seeking support for your baby, yourself, or both of you together, my work as an IDME offers pathways to help babies and caregivers find ease, connection, and a more harmonious developmental experience. It’s all about supporting the natural unfolding of life’s most essential movements—one step at a time.

...for you, or for your baby and you, or just for your baby (and you)!

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The Infant Developmental Movement Education program is a product and curriculum of
The School of Body-Mind Centering (BMC)™
The IDME program is offered by Sonder (a licensed org of BMC™)

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