Leave the baby on the floor!

Leave the Baby on the Floor: The Pikler Method, presented by Veronica Crombie, was a gentle

and deeply meaningful introduction to the Pikler approach to infant care. From the moment we walked into the room, there was already a quiet sense of what the day would hold. The chairs had been set in a circle, which made the space feel welcoming and connected. In the centre stood a beautiful vase of flowers, and beside it, on a soft blanket, lay a small Waldorf doll. Before Veronica had said a word about Pikler, we were already being invited to simply look: a child lying on the floor, held by calm and care.

Veronica began by asking each of us to introduce ourselves and share what had brought us there. It was a lovely way to begin. A sense of connection grew within the group, and it was

interesting to hear the many different paths that had led people to the same room. She then slowly drew us into the principles of the Pikler approach, with respect for the infant and young child at its heart. She spoke about trusting the child's own innate capacity for movement and development, rather than placing a child in positions they have not yet found their own way into. She also shared something of the history of the approach: the work of Emmi Pikler, the children cared for at the institute in Hungary, and her own experience of visiting and learn there.

For me, one of the most powerful moments of the workshop was a guided imagination Veronica led us through. We closed our eyes and pictured a very young child being cared for. The child was approached gently, spoken to before being lifted, and told what was about to happen. The

changing space had been thoughtfully prepared, and every movement of the adult was unhurried, respectful and attentive. Afterwards, the child was carried back into the room, laid gently on the floor, and told that the adult would now be attending to something nearby.

At first, as I listened, I found myself picturing the scene through the eyes of the mother or carer. Then Veronica asked us to live the same moment again, this time from the child's side. That changed everything for me. To imagine being that infant, handled so tenderly, spoken to with such respect, and then laid down on the floor in a safe and trusted place, was deeply moving. It brought home to me that respect does not begin when a child is old enough to understand our words. It can be there from the very start, in the way we touch, speak, wait and respond.

Afterwards, Veronica invited us to write quietly about what we had experienced and to keep those reflections for ourselves. It gave the workshop a very personal, contemplative quality.

Later, in small groups, we considered what a truly safe and supportive environment might look like for an infant lying on the floor, and how that space would need to change as the child begins rolling, crawling and moving more freely. This helped to bring the principles down to earth, into something practical for both the home and early childhood settings. Veronica also shared some beautiful photographs of babies who had been cared for in this way. What struck me most was the confidence, openness and security in these children. The images seemed to echo everything she had been describing: that when a child is given time, trust, respectful care and freedom of movement within a safe environment, something quite particular can grow in their relationship with themselves and with the world around them.

For me, the workshop was a wonderful introduction to the Pikler approach. Veronica created a

calm and thoughtful space in which we were not simply handed information, but invited to experience something of the child's perspective for ourselves. She encouraged us to stay in touch, and let us know that further workshops will be offered through Bridget's Hearth for anyone wishing to go deeper.

I came away with many questions, but in the best possible sense. Rather than feeling the subject had been wrapped up, I felt curious to understand more. The workshop opened a door into a way of seeing the infant that rests on trust, dignity and a deep respect for the child's own unfolding.

Leave the Baby on the Floor: The Pikler Method, with Veronica Crombie

Written by Samantha de Leca, conference attendee, Waldorf teacher, mentor, and Development Support for Bláthú