T. Berry Brazelton is Clinical Professor of Pediatrics Emeritus at Harvard Medical School and Professor of Pediatrics and Human Development at Brown University. A practicing pediatrician for more than 45 years, he introduced the concept of anticipatory guidance for parents into pediatric training. He has written over 200 scholarly papers and 30 books for both professional and lay audiences.
In this accessible and sprightly memoir, Brazelton tells the story of his life and work. Dubbed by The New York Times as "probably the nation's most trusted pediatrician," he was born in Waco, Texas, and attended Princeton, followed by medical school at Columbia University. After military service in the Navy, Brazelton became a pediatrics intern at Massachusetts General Hospital. His hero Benjamin Spock helped him see that parents needed more help dealing with infant children.
Brazelton's contributions to the health and well-being of newborns can be seen in his development of The Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale and his creation of Touchpoints — a mapping of the behavioral and emotional developments from birth to early childhood. As host of the cable television program "What Every Baby Knows," Brazelton reached a very large audience with parental guidance and tips. He also proved himself to be a lively and passionate advocate for children when testifying before Congress.
