Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, Who Explored Babies’ Mental Growth, Dies at 99

Both Dr. Spock and Dr. Brazelton were hugely influential to me as a new mother in the 80s. I didn't even know he had a television program, but I read his work and kept up. Young parents today take for granted caring for your child, attempting to understand their needs and leanings, and essentially just being invested in them -- but yes, it was quite a difference from the way I (a 50s' baby) was raised, and yes, our three children are amazingly confident, healthy, and contributing adults today. I'm so sorry he's passed, but I'm so thankful for what he gave. Rest in peace, Dr. B.

I still remember reading how t berry yearned for the days when his daughter would wake him up for a glass of water. It turned my fatigue and resentment into a blessed ritual. Later, when my middle schooler littered the house with origami, I would say, “I will miss this one day.” And indeed I do.

"Parents, he said, need as much support as their babies do." And yet the word 'father' does not appear even once in the entire article. This mother centric mentality continues to this day. Thanks loads, Dr. Brazelton.

I was one of a few pediatric nurse practitioners in the 90s who were part of a pilot program for his “Touchpoints” program. We were lucky to spend as much time as we did with Dr. Brazelton, a doctor who deeply respected nurses and nurse practitioners. The knowledge that he gladly shared will not be forgotten. Godspeed, Dr. B.

Even though his advice on raising children was written long ago, his books taught me a lot and gave me confidence in my natural abilities to mother my first born. Thank you, Doctor B.

He was a great man who helped many women along their path to motherhood. My children certainly benefited from his advice. Dr. Brazelton will be missed.

Born (‘57) when sputnik was flung into space, I was not coddled and kept warm by anything but a catholic baby machine, probably a member of the “No nothing party”. I did have some self preservation though – at least as for the formation of my robust immune system - to break every last one of those autoclave sterilizable glass ba bas! So, even if I was born later, and with the good doctors wisdom at hand, I probably would not have benefited from his or even Dr. Spock’s kind guidance, as so many of the commenters give belated praise for. I read this obituary in envy, wondering what self actualized child I might’ve grown up to be, And concur with all those who gave praise to Dr. Brazelton.

Just seeing the photographs of Dr. Brazelton made me smile and brought back fond memories. What Every Baby Knows was my daily lifeline while raising my son in the 80’s and 90’s. His calm reassurance and his radiant joy in his interactions with babies and children were exactly what I needed as I navigated the choppy waters of life as a new mom. My belated and heartfelt thanks to Dr. Brazelton. He made me a better mom and my now grown 34 year old son is a wonderful father who, unbeknownst to him, has Dr. Brazelton to thank as well. My deepest condolences to Dr. B’s family.

I listened to him all the time in the 1980s when my twin daughters were infants and toddlers. He gave me so much support and guidance! Loved him.

Dr. Brazelton broke the cycle of violence in my family. I never hit my children and learned from him that if I were an adult I could think of more effective non-violent ways of raising my children. The payoff is to see my grown well-adjusted adult children using the same effective, loving techniques I used to raise their children. Thank you Dr. Brazelton!

Thank you Doctor for understanding that infants are malleable and that the environment surrounding them matters. This fact needs to be much more widely disseminated and championed.

A life well lived. Thank you, Dr. Brazelton, for your wisdom and kindness. You and your books made a real difference to so many of us, making us better parents.

As a mom of young kids in the 1990s, he was my favorite child rearing guide. I found his advice very reassuring. Thank you Dr. Brazelton! A beautiful legacy.

Thank goodness for Dr. Brazelton's humanity and lifelong promotion of emotional wellness and humane child care methods. He helped remedy our sick civilization that before Brazelton believed "babies do not feel pain." In those days they circumcized babies without anesthetic! The insane sociopathic callousness and dissociation from feelings is still a huge problem in our civilization today. This emotional disconnect is also part of patriarchy and unhealthy macho masculinity. Gradually many generations of hard work to change our society and culture to be more emotionally intelligent, empathic and smart about co-creating a healthy society is still ongoing. Hopefully we have enough time to self-correct before destroying ourselves and the planet. It is all interconnected.

He was Mister Rogers for parents. What a heart, and what a mind! We learned so much from him.

In the 60s and 70s, Dr. Brazelton shared a practice in Cambridge, MA with two other doctors. He was not my children’s primary care physician, but would often step in when our pediatrician was not available. When my third baby was born, it was Dr Brazelton who stepped in for the first few routine appointments. We sat facing each other with the baby in a small cradle next to him, so he could rock the cradle and smile at the baby while we talked. When the baby was ready for his first immunizations, Dr. Brazelton told me that the nurse would give injections and while she did, he would leave the room because he could couldn’t stand by and watch a baby cry. He was a vey sweet man in addition to a grand pediatrician.

Dr. Brazelton was a great man way ahead of his time. His gentle guidance impacted innumerable families. He taught us to care for our children with kindness instead of rigid scheduling. He taught us to listen to our children with all our senses to determine their needs. Vaya con Dios, Dr. Brazelton. You will be missed.

I loved Dr. Brazelton !!! I was a Dr. Spock baby born in 1962 and my son was firmly a Dr. Brazelton baby born in 1989. I held him as much as I was able to and fed him on demand. I was a new mother without my own family nearby. I pretty much survived those first exhausting months by watching Dr. Brazelton on TV. I'm happy and proud to say that my 28 year old son turned out very well indeed.

As a new mother in the 1980's, I looked to Dr. Brazelton's work to guide me and it worked! His observations regarding children's development were insightful and his advice on child-rearing was both sensitive and wise. His was a life well-spent. Thank you, Dr. Brazelton.

How beautifully ironic that Dr. Brazelton, truly gifted with his insight and devotion to improving the lives of children, passed away at the same time that a "Forever" stamp of Fred Rogers is about to be released. As a parent of 2 whose child rearing was deeply influenced both by men, my heartfelt gratitude for their special gifts and timeless wisdom.

“He put the baby at the center of the universe” YES! How could they not be? Both our children were at the center of our universe and they thrived thoughout childhood into adulthood. They are both loving, caring, politically involved, and full of empathy for others and totally engaged in life. Best thing that ever happened to our lives. We never thought of raising our children as "work". It was a pure joy. I always told them they were my greatest teachers in life. They still are. Thank you Dr. Brazelton for your wonderful loving work and understanding. RIP.

My mother's generation read Spock. Mine, at least the mom's I hung with, read Brazelton. He was our Bible. Reading this makes me proud that he was my guide during the crazy time of being a new mom. Thank you Dr. Brazelton.