About Dr Zilibowitz

Dr Michael Zilibowitz is a developmental and behavioural paediatrician who has dedicated more than four decades to supporting children, parents and families.

After beginning his medical career in South Africa, Dr Zilibowitz came to Australia in 1975 and went on to work extensively across Sydney’s Northern Beaches. His clinical work has focused on child development, behaviour, early intervention and the wellbeing of children and families. He has worked with hundreds of families and led multidisciplinary child and family health services within the Northern Sydney Local Health District.

Dr Zilibowitz has had a particular interest in early brain development, developmental and behavioural difficulties, and the ways parents and children connect and communicate. His approach has consistently recognised the importance of understanding the child as an individual and supporting parents to become more attuned to their child’s needs.

It was through this work that Dr Zilibowitz adapted Watch Wait Wonder, an infant-led approach originally developed within infant-parent psychotherapy. His modified version was designed to make the approach more accessible to a wider range of families, extending it beyond a specialist clinical intervention into a practical approach that could be used more broadly by parents.

At the heart of Dr Zilibowitz’s work is a simple idea: when parents slow down, observe their child and allow the child to lead, they can discover more about who their child is, strengthen their connection and create space for the child’s own curiosity, creativity and independence.

Today, Watch Wait Wonder continues to share this child-led philosophy with parents and professionals, reflecting Dr Zilibowitz’s longstanding commitment to helping children and families thrive.