Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, child care expert and pediatrician, dies at 99

[DesertRat]

Wonderful summary of the life of a great man. Dr. Brazelton's contributions and legacy will live on forever.

Trained in pediatrics and child psychiatry and endowed with an innate empathy for newborns and their often bewildered, guilt-ridden parents, T. Berry Brazelton devoted more than half a century to studying, nurturing, counseling, and advocating on behalf of young children and their families.

Through his clinical work, research papers, best-selling books, syndicated columns, television broadcasts, and popular lectures, Dr. Brazelton fundamentally changed the way pediatric care and child development are practiced and taught around the globe, from Boston’s renowned Children’s Hospital to remote corners of the Third World.

“He revolutionized the way we think about families, particularly around the birth of a child,” said J. Kevin Nugent, a longtime colleague and friend who directs the Brazelton Institute in the Division of Developmental Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital. “He affected so many people around the world.”

Dr. Brazelton’s focus on the overall health of babies and young children — their emotional well-being as well as their physical vitality — informed every aspect of his professional life. His ability to connect with them one-on-one, even at a preverbal level, was extraordinary, earning him the affectionate nickname “baby whisperer.”

Retired from practice for many years yet continuing to publish and lecture well into his 90s, Dr. Brazelton, who held the title of clinical professor of pediatrics emeritus at Boston Children’s Hospital, died Tuesday morning at his Barnstable home at the age of 99, his daughter, Stina Brazelton confirmed. The cause of death wasn’t disclosed.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/obituaries/2018/03/13/world-renown-child-expert-and-pediatrician-berry-brazelton-dead/3gATokk3PhL8t4GuQH7MlI/story.html

[elleng]

1. Sad, but a long life.

A wonderful pic, with the story.

[DesertRat]

2. Yes, and he was still lecturing in his 90's

A wonderful life. Godspeed, Dr. Brazelton.

[EllieBC]

3. He had a television show in the 80s. My mom used to watch it.

He was pretty awesome.

[cyclonefence]

4. My generation's Dr. Spock

A lovely, lovely man.

[LeftInTX]

6. I used to watch his show

[eleny]

5. I used to watch his shows

And we don't have kids. But he was so interesting and calm. I loved his shows. RIP dear Dr. B.

[nolabear]

7. He was the one helped me raise my babies.

A wonderful, warm man who understood the bonds of attachment and how we become loving, secure human beings through them.

A good, good man.

[Greybnk48]

8. I absolutely loved him, and counted on his

advice to raise my kids too! Especially my first girl who I had at 23 when I lived far away from my mom and long-distance calls cost a fortune!

He was a Dr. Spock apostle, a solid gold credential, and Dr. Spock's grandkids were his patients when they were young.

[3catwoman3]

9. Dr. Brazelton had a humorous take on what it might feel like...

...for your first kid when your second one appears on the scene. (This is likely at last a partial paraphrase because it has been years since I first heard this.)

"Imagine your husband/wife comes home and says, "Honey, it's been such fun being married to you that I thought a second wife/husband would be even more fun. She'll/ He'll be joining us in a few weeks, but don't worry - I'll still love you just as much and we'll still have plenty of time together."

You'd be giving your spouse the stink eye, and thinking, "The hell you say." (These last few are my words, not his.)

I use this little illustration frequently at the pediatric office when parents come in with their second baby and I inquire as to how adjustment to "siblinghood" is going for child #1. It always gets a chuckle, so, thank you, Dr. Brazelton.

[DesertRat]

11. I remember that! He was wonderful

His teachings live on.
https://www.brazeltontouchpoints.org/about/our-founder/

[elleng]

13. Thanks for this great recollection!

[MuseRider]

10. I watched him

and I bought a book, maybe 2 I don't remember. He was so good, so kind and fit my sensibilities raising my 2 boys. I watched him every time I could find him. He was so calm and sensible. This makes me so sad. I was just talking about him to my husband last week. He kinda remembered his name coming up. He was my rock during that time.

[DesertRat]

12. The world has lost a true champion for babies, young children, and families.

His work will live on at his Brazelton Touchpoints center. Here's a video to his life, work and legacy:
http://www.brazeltontouchpoints.org/media/online-video/