It's not many children who have had the privilege to say that he or she was a true Pikler baby. But Ágnes Szántó-Féder, was not only such a child, but also one who had an ongoing relationship - working and otherwise - with the celebrated pediatrician, Dr. Emmi Pikler (1902-1984). Indeed, Ágnes had been so profoundly affected by the woman who revolutionized infant and early childhood care that she, too, devoted her life's work to the philosophy known as the Pikler(R) Pedagogical Approach. This book will allow the reader to see infants and young children through a lens of competence. Because of this singular approach, youngsters are not coerced or forced to be - or to become - anyone other than who they truly are. This, in a nutshell, is the core Piklerian philosophy, something that is so very simple yet also undeniably deep. Ágnes's acute observational skills guide the reader to understand at a much greater level, what freedom and autonomy actually means for an infant. One of the author's answers lies in the power of "balance; balance (in physical sense) of the infant in their self-initiated gross motor development, and balance in their caring and nurturing relationship with the adult who cares for them." This jewel of a book should be required reading for any parent, policy maker, early childcare professional or any such person advocating for the health of young children around the world... Elsa Chahin President & CEO Pikler/Lóczy USA