THE WHATS and WHYS of IDME
Infant Developmental Movement Education (IDME) is a holistic and child-centered approach designed to observe and facilitate normal movement patterns in infants.
IDME helps caregivers support the early physical, emotional, and intellectual development of babies by encouraging curiosity, comfort, and exploration.
Supporting Your Baby’s Unique Development
At the heart of IDME is a commitment to meeting each baby where they are, tailoring the experience to the child’s individual needs. Through gentle and engaging practices, IDMEs help parents and caregivers workshop how to create a nurturing environment where their unique baby feels safe, curious, and supported in their movement journey.
IDME supports caregivers in:
Recognizing and responding to their baby’s cues regarding timing and rhythm.
Safely holding, carrying, picking up, and setting down their infant.
Supporting their baby in feeling comfortable in various positions.
Encouraging their baby’s natural curiosity and drive to explore their environment.
Why Movement Matters in Early Development
In the first year of life, an infant’s nervous system and movement patterns are rapidly developing. The ways in which a baby moves and interacts with their environment directly affect their physical, emotional, and cognitive growth. Early movement experiences shape the foundation for:
Bonding and emotional well-being.
Perception and sensory processing.
Cognitive functioning and problem-solving skills.
Physical agility and coordination.
When babies are supported in their movement, they develop the confidence and ease to explore their world. IDME recognizes the plasticity of the infant’s nervous system and uses this critical time to gently guide optimal movement development.
A Gentle and Strengths-Based Approach
IDME is not about reaching milestones on a fixed timeline; it’s about fostering a loving relationship with between child and caregiver as they discover movement at their own pace. IDME focuses on engaging your child’s inherent curiosity, gently enticing them to explore new movements without imposing external demands. IDMEs work closely with both infants and their grown-ups to ensure their whole care system feels supported in this interactive learning process.
Infant Developmental Movement Education (IDME) is rooted in the principles of Body-Mind Centering® (BMC).
A somatic education method developed by occupational therapist Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen in the 1970s, BMC explores the relationship between body, mind, and movement, focusing on how early physical experiences shape a person’s emotional, cognitive, and physical development. IDME was created as a specialized branch of BMC to address the unique developmental needs of infants, using gentle, child-centered techniques to facilitate natural movement patterns and support healthy growth during a baby’s critical first year of life.