Emmi Pikler (born Emilie Madleine Reich; January 9, 1902 – June 6, 1984) was a Hungarian pediatrician who introduced new theories of infant education, and put them into practice at an orphanage she ran.

With the help of the parents of the children she cared for, Pikler and her family survived the persecution of Jews during World War II.

She sought to establish a comforting atmosphere, including careful selection of the staff, to allow children at the orphanage to grow up without the usual institutional damage.

Gindler and Jacoby explained that traditional infant and early childhood education damaged the initiative of children and stunted their development.

Pikler's methods of raising infants and young children have been popularized in the United States by her student Magda Gerber.