Brazelton (Part 1), The Basic Needs of Children
Summary
TLDRIn this insightful episode of 'Policy Watch,' Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, a renowned pediatrician and child development expert, joins host Doug Bazarov to discuss the challenges faced by new parents in dual-income families. Brazelton emphasizes the importance of respecting newborns' individuality and the impact of parental involvement on child development. He highlights the stressors modern parents face, such as balancing work and family life, and advocates for improved childcare and support systems to foster healthy child development and family dynamics.
Takeaways
- 👨👩👧👦 The increasing need for dual-income families is a significant trend affecting childhood development and family dynamics.
- 👶 Dr. T. Berry Brazelton emphasizes the importance of respecting newborn babies and their individuality from the start, which was a groundbreaking concept in the 1950s.
- 👨⚕️ Pediatricians and child development experts like Dr. Brazelton are crucial in guiding parents to understand and respect their newborn's unique characteristics.
- 🏡 The home environment and the interaction between parents and children are vital for a child's development, more so than previously blamed parental shortcomings.
- 🤝 Dr. Brazelton highlights the importance of involving fathers in child care, challenging the traditional roles and encouraging a team approach between parents.
- 👩💼 The dual roles of women as successful professionals and primary caregivers at home create significant stress, affecting both parents and children.
- 🤱 The early attachment between parents and newborns is critical, and support systems, such as optimal childcare, are essential for this bonding process.
- 🌐 There is a notable difference in childcare quality and support for parents between the United States and other regions like Europe and Asia.
- 🚼 Institutional childcare often lacks the individualized care and attention that children need, with some programs not providing enough freedom and risk-taking opportunities for children.
- 💼 Employers have a role to play in supporting parents by providing flexible work arrangements and understanding the importance of family time and child development.
- 🌱 The emotional and physical well-being of parents, particularly new mothers, is crucial, and society should provide more support to help manage the stresses of modern parenting.
Q & A
What is the main focus of the Norman and Florence Brodie Family Foundation?
-The Norman and Florence Brodie Family Foundation is dedicated to exploring topics of national and international importance.
What is the significance of the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale mentioned in the script?
-The Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale is a tool used to assess the behavior and physical responses of newborns, helping to capture parents' attention towards their babies and promoting early attachment.
How does Dr. T. Berry Brazelton describe the interaction between newborns and adults?
-Dr. T. Berry Brazelton describes newborns as being highly interactive, responsive to voices, and capable of recognizing their parents' voices, which helps in building an early bond and connection.
What was the common misconception about children's development in the 1950s that Dr. Brazelton addresses?
-In the 1950s, parents were often blamed for their children's developmental issues instead of considering the interaction between the child and the environment as the main potential for the baby's future.
Why does Dr. Brazelton emphasize the importance of respecting the newborn's individuality?
-Dr. Brazelton emphasizes respecting the newborn's individuality because it helps parents understand their baby's unique characteristics and needs, which is crucial for proper nurturing and development.
What are some of the stressors that new parents face today according to Dr. Brazelton?
-Some of the stressors new parents face include the dual roles of women in the workforce and at home, the need for dual income families, and the challenges of balancing work and family life.
What suggestions does Dr. Brazelton offer to support working parents?
-Dr. Brazelton suggests that businesses should provide support to working parents, such as allowing time off for family events and providing recovery time from stress. At home, he recommends the use of a rocking chair as a calming center for family interactions.
How does Dr. Brazelton view the role of fathers in child development?
-Dr. Brazelton views fathers as critical actors in child development and emphasizes the importance of including them in the child's caretaking process to foster a strong bond and support the child's growth.
What is Dr. Brazelton's perspective on the importance of early attachment between parents and their newborns?
-Dr. Brazelton believes that early attachment is crucial for the child's development, self-esteem, and readiness to learn, and he encourages parents to make this initial bonding a priority.
Why does Dr. Brazelton advocate for improved childcare?
-Dr. Brazelton advocates for improved childcare because he believes it should provide a supportive and nurturing environment that respects and cares for children, allowing them the freedom and independence needed for optimal development.
What does Dr. Brazelton suggest as a way for parents to cope with the stress of balancing work and childcare?
-Dr. Brazelton suggests that parents should seek optimal childcare that respects and cares for their children, and also encourages parents to share the challenges and joys of parenting to maintain a strong family bond.
Outlines
👶 The Importance of Respecting Newborns
The first paragraph introduces Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, a renowned pediatrician and child development expert, who emphasizes the importance of respecting newborns. He criticizes the 1950s approach that blamed parents for their children's issues and instead advocates for understanding the interaction between parent and child. Dr. Brazelton shares his experiences with newborns, highlighting their innate abilities to interact and connect with adults, particularly their parents. He discusses how these early interactions are crucial for a child's development and the parents' understanding of their child's individuality.
👨👩👧👦 The Evolution of Parenting and Child Development
Paragraph two delves into the evolution of parenting and child development. Dr. Brazelton discusses his newborn assessment scale, which is widely used globally to help parents understand their babies' individual personalities. He stresses the importance of parents respecting their newborns' unique characteristics from the outset. The conversation also touches on the societal shift where parents, particularly mothers, are expected to balance work and family life, leading to increased stress and the need for support. Dr. Brazelton suggests that professionals like pediatricians should provide guidance to new parents to help them understand their child's needs and build a strong foundation for the child's emotional and cognitive development.
🤱 Balancing Work and Family Life: A New Challenge for Parents
In the third paragraph, the discussion focuses on the modern challenges faced by parents, especially dual-income families. Dr. Brazelton identifies 12 significant stressors that new parents face today, such as the expectation for women to be successful in the workforce and manage family responsibilities. He suggests that businesses should support women by providing flexible schedules and time off for family commitments. Additionally, he recommends that new parents be given the space and support to bond with their babies, which can help alleviate stress and strengthen family dynamics. The conversation underscores the need for a new balance in parental roles and the importance of recognizing and supporting the critical roles that both mothers and fathers play in a child's life.
👨👩👧👦 The Role of Fathers in Childcare and Development
Paragraph four explores the role of fathers in childcare and child development. Dr. Brazelton discusses the importance of including fathers in the care of their children from an early stage, emphasizing that they are critical actors in a child's life. He talks about the competitive nature that can exist between parents over their child's care and the need to establish a team approach to parenting. The conversation also touches on the societal changes in the past 30 to 40 years, particularly the increase in mothers working outside the home, and how this has impacted family dynamics. Dr. Brazelton provides guidance on how to navigate these changes and stresses the importance of making decisions that prioritize the well-being of the child.
🏡 The Impact of Childcare on Child Development
The fifth paragraph addresses the impact of childcare on child development. Dr. Brazelton expresses concern over the lack of optimal childcare in the United States and compares it unfavorably to systems in Europe and Asia. He discusses the importance of having childcare providers who are well-compensated and respected for their role in children's lives. He also emphasizes the need for childcare environments that allow for freedom and independence similar to what children experience at home. The conversation highlights the emotional toll that the current state of childcare takes on parents and the need for systemic changes to better support families and the development of children.
🌐 Global Perspectives on Childcare and the Future
In the final paragraph, the conversation turns to a global perspective on childcare and the future. Dr. Brazelton laments the lack of attention and support for childcare in the United States compared to other countries. He calls for a national commitment to improving childcare and supporting families, warning of the long-term consequences if these issues are not addressed. The discussion concludes with a call to action, urging viewers to consider the importance of investing in children and families for the betterment of society as a whole.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Dual Income Families
💡Child Development
💡Pediatrics
💡Respect for Newborns
💡Parent-Child Interaction
💡Childcare
💡Stressors
💡Attachment Process
💡Emotional Learning
💡Optimal Childcare
Highlights
The Norman and Florence Brodie Family Foundation supports exploring topics of national and international importance.
Policy Watch discusses the impact of dual income families on childhood development.
Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, a leading expert on pediatrics and child development, joins the show.
Dr. Brazelton emphasizes the importance of respecting newborn babies and their individuality.
In the 1950s, parents were often blamed for their children's issues instead of looking at the child-parent interaction.
Dr. Brazelton shares his experience of working with children on the autistic spectrum and the shift in understanding.
Newborns demonstrate interactive abilities, such as turning towards voices and faces.
The Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) is used worldwide to assess newborn behavior.
Parents need to be cued to recognize their newborn's individual traits and behaviors.
The importance of sensitive nurturing care for building trust, empathy, and compassion in children.
Dr. Brazelton discusses the stressors faced by new parents, particularly dual-income families.
The expectation for women to succeed in the workforce and manage family responsibilities is a significant stressor.
Businesses should support women by providing flexibility for family commitments.
Dr. Brazelton suggests the importance of fathers being included in child care from the beginning.
The need for optimal childcare that respects and nurtures children's development.
Childcare workers should be valued and supported for their crucial role in child development.
The importance of risk-taking and independence in child development, even in childcare settings.
Dr. Brazelton calls for national attention to the state of childcare and support for parents.
The program concludes with a call to action for improved childcare and support for families.
Transcripts
the Norman and Florence Brodie family
foundation is dedicated to exploring
topics of national and international
importance and is proud to support
policy watch with Doug Bazarov at the
University of Maryland from the
University of Maryland this is policy
watch with dr. Shuren as a new
generation of parents struggles to
balance home and work obligations the
need for dual income families is
ever-increasing what will the effects of
this trend be on childhood development
to find out policy watch is joined by
dr. T berry Brazelton a leading expert
on pediatrics and child development and
now the host of policy watch Doug Besser
of P berry Brazelton welcome to policy
watch and the University of Maryland
thank you - great to be here I'd like to
read something that you wrote just to
start us going because it was so
striking to me I'd like them to remember
me that's you as somebody who respected
newborn babies and broke through a time
in the 1950s when we were blaming
parents for everything instead of
looking at the interaction as the main
potential for the baby's future first
tell me about respect the baby well I
think what when I started my work as I
finished my training at Children's
Hospital in Boston and didn't know a
thing about babies and certainly less
about parity this was training to be a
pediatrician that's right and all I knew
about was disease or disorders or what
was wrong with people and then I went in
a child psychiatry thinking maybe I'd
learn more about children and about
families I didn't it was another failure
system you only got to psychiatry
if you failed and the children we were
looking at were three four and five they
were in retrospect they were on the
autistic spectrum but we didn't know
that much about autism and and we were
blaming parents for these children's
failures and that seems so terrible
these parents were ready to take it they
were ready to blame themselves and they
got into therapy for a year after year
but it didn't do any good and I thought
well now these kids don't look quite
right to me as a pediatrician I can see
that many of them had really dyskinetic
features and so forth so I began to
think maybe the child is part of this
problem not just the problem parents and
so I began to play with newborn babies
and began to realize how really
wonderful they are
by golly when you pick up a newborn and
then you look in your face baby comes
alive sits up straighter you follow your
face back and forth if you hold him up
like this and see that newborn baby will
turn to your voice arch and look in your
face and if I put a mother over there
and I'm over here and we both talk any
newborn will choose the female voice
turn to her look her in the face and
automatically she grabs her newborn you
know me already and now I do it with
fathers if you were game we could play
this game or the newborn baby and 80% of
kids turn to their father's voice
instead of mine isn't that amazing and
the other 20% I tip their heads
and at that point every father says you
know me like it was a miracle and you
know I think golly this is really what
the baby brings brings this capacity to
capture parents for them and isn't this
fun you know what our audience the TV
audience can't pick this not but there
are a number of women in the room who I
know are mothers newly mothers of
children in fact they have one infant in
the room and you should have seen the
mother's faces as Barry was talking that
way it was a smile of recognition and it
was really quite striking how early on
will a child react that way to an adult
his mother or father but also any adult
when can someone expect that kind of
reaction from a baby from a new from a
bit yeah new boy baby right out of the
uterus you have to get them I I work
with newborns all the time who are
either addicted or not addicted because
of their parents addiction and the
addicted babies show the same sort of
attempt to master themselves a baby
who's been in optimal conditions in the
uterus will rouse themselves from sleep
and as they come up from sleep they get
more and more alert and if they can't
control themselves their work to get
your throne from now then they'll look
up like this and all of this behavior is
right there to be captured right from
the first in fact we have I have a
newborn assessment scale it very proud
called the Brazelton yeah and it's in
use pretty much around the world now to
capture parents for their babies and we
have oh I don't know seven hundred
papers showing that if you show a
newborn baby to new parents there
which is right there ready gets centered
on that baby as a person and you say
respect well the baby tells you is sort
of what kind of baby they're going to be
quiet gentle are active and like this
and the parent learns to respect that
baby's individuality right from the
first this is something that often comes
as a surprise to parents and and and my
sense from having chatted with you and
reading your material often parents have
to be cued to see what they're seeing
well it certainly helps and I'm sure it
has to do with having a professional
share things with them and I don't mean
just a doctor I think it can be a nurse
a midwife a therapist of any kind but
sure it takes the translation of isn't
that wonderful that you bring as a
professional and then the parent dares
to let their defenses down their passion
surge to the surface and they're ready
and they start off with that baby as a
person with respect well in your book
that you did with Stan Greensburg the
irreducible needs of children there's a
line right now children are learning
more about frogs and other non-human
species than they are about human beings
and what I was thinking about here it's
not so much anything negative but that
we don't do enough helping all
prospective parents understand what this
new person in their life is going to be
like well I certainly could agree with
that I wish that every new parent had a
chance to share that new baby with
somebody who could interpret for him and
this has been my dream that someday
every newborn place around the world
would would share that
maybe with with the new parent because
it makes a significant difference in
their attachment process all the way
along and of course in the baby's
self-esteem and readiness to pick up on
learning to feel good about themselves
all of the things we dream about wanting
I'm not a psychologist or a psychiatrist
but also to create a feedback write loop
as one is encouraging the other well you
mentioned a moment ago about how when
you got your medical training you didn't
know that much about children has that
changed the pediatricians now have a
better idea not enough we're trying to
change it we're working about with about
five medical schools now trying to give
them this sort of message that the most
important language a pediatrician or a
nurse or a nurse midwife has is her
language about the baby because the
parents are absolutely starving for it
they're just hungry for it and if you
can reinforce it early you keep it alive
right straight through and again any
reducible needs you talk about how
children require I'm reading it here
it's sensitive nurturing care to build
capacities for trust empathy and
compassion and also for learning no this
is not just about emotional health these
are all connected no we think we there's
a new sort of phrase called effective
learning emotional learning and I think
it really talks about how learning goes
on in the context of feeling good about
yourself and feeling related to other
people and without that why you can
still learn obviously but it's a
different kind of learning kind of
learning I'm talking about is a child
who works works works it's something in
them and he gets it
I just did it and then he looks to his
parent for did you see what I just did
and without saying it that parent
automatically says hey that was great
and you've got two sources of fuel for
the development of that child and you
also do that with the parents don't you
when when the parents succeed you give
them you point out that they've
succeeded for the very same reason I
think they need it so much these days
the kind of stresses that are there I
have 12 stresses that I think new
parents are going through today that are
significantly more than they were when
we were raising our children 30 years
ago let's talk about that you started
practicing in Cambridge Massachusetts
1950 and you just mentioned that you've
identified I think it's 12 stressors
talk about a few of them the biggest one
is the what we've asked women to do we
have split women into in this country
and we've asked them to be successful in
the workforce and we've made it begun to
make it possible
begun and we've asked them to go home at
night and take care of the whole family
well my golly those are two important
roles and women live up to that they
feel it and their husbands are now
trying to help out and trying to help
live help them live up to this but their
two major roles now I think we have the
solution to each of these dresses I
don't know whether you was there yeah
that'd be great right the one in the
workforce is I would say that businesses
ought to be aware of the importance of
what women need to back them up to be
good at family support they ought to be
allowed to go out to the churun soccer
games they ought to be given times to be
away when they can recover from all of
the stress they're under and you know
businesses ought to be helping if at
home I
suggest one thing every new parent ought
to have be given a great big rocking
chair and when she gets home at night
she knows everybody in the family is
gonna fall apart all the kids are gonna
start screaming at her her husband's
gonna come in saying where is everything
I everything's not ready for dinner
tonight and you know that they're all
gonna fall apart
never hurts every as you walk in the
door instead of going to the toilet or
to the bed to make it just gather
everybody up and sit down in this
rocking chair and Rock and everybody's
gonna be bitching at you the whole time
but when you they finally relax and your
arms look down and say how is your game
and the baby goes well mine was - I
missed you so much and you're how is
your dad you'll say Oh awful but mine
was - but now we're a family again and
then take them in the kitchen and let
them help you you know let them become
part of a working family and you know
this could bring back the feeling that
we're all together in this and I think
this is what we've been losing out on so
we can do it well what you just said
raises many questions but the first one
I have to ask you because I don't want
to be inundated with mail or emails why
the mother right why not the father
right well you you saw by my playing
with babies that I believe in the father
and that I think the father is a
critical actor in this particularly in
this day and time and father's respect
that seconds you give them
oh and okay - go ahead they are ready
they are all ready what we haven't
really realized is that there's bound to
be gatekeeping between two adults who
care about the same child I call it
keeping competition and of course a
mother and a father
are in competition with each other for
that baby of course if we don't give
father's permission by including them in
their child's caretaking and all the
interviewing then they're not going to
get into that role because they see the
mother feeling very protective and they
just don't get in we have four killed
Rijn my wife says she has five and I
have four and they're not saying
cheering at all
I wouldn't race the churun like she
racism I'd be rezian differently I want
to write a book that's right so we talk
every week about how competitive we feel
it's rid of it helps it you talk about
though the fact that we're working
towards a new balance between the
fathers and the mothers I don't want to
reflect some kind of gender bias to say
with any two people somebody has to
break the tie whether it's who's gonna
stay home who's gonna make decisions
where do you see that new balance going
I see it as a team working together and
I think that the parents to whom you can
give this kind of challenge and keep it
alive over the child's development it is
it is more like a team than it used to
be you know I turned over our children
to my wife and then bitched and you
probably did too I can tell by your face
every day
well I'm very jealous of how close she
is to well much of what's happened is a
question of the increase in mother's
work this is the change that's happened
in the last 30 or 40 years
and I know that you don't give people
advice but when a young woman or a young
couple come to you and say we're
thinking of having a baby and we're
think trying to decide about who works
how what do you what do you either say
or what questions do you ask or how do
you guide them to their own decision
well I'd like to see my patients in
pregnancy so they can unload with me two
questions all pregnant women have
pregnant women and then have one is how
will I ever get to be a parent I don't
want to be like my parent because for
sure and yet they know they will be so
that's the conflict and then the other
is what kind of baby can i nurture and
then they'll describe the perfect baby
that looks in their face and his hair
and a perfect face you know as a
three-month-old baby and then they'll
describe if you ask them to the impaired
baby that they might have and then
you've got them talking about something
very deep-seated and if parents together
can begin to share that impaired baby
that everybody dreams about before
delivery then they'll tell you all sorts
of things and I think parents are ready
then to start thinking with you you know
what's most important in our lives is it
money is it you know all of the things
we blame women for and women can even
begin to think you know it's gonna be
important for me to stay home for a
while and if I can keep them home and I
don't tell them but I listen and Riaan
encourage for the first few months so
they can make that initial attachment to
their babies it goes so much more easily
then and then they'll fight for what
they need in the way of you know if
they're breastfeeding their fight too
get milk to bring home to their babies
things like that and I think we need to
really think how hard it is for parents
today if they don't get the backup that
urging we mentioned about those first
few weeks and I've had a number of young
people working for me who women who I'm
quite sure did not expect to go right
back I did not expect to stay home with
their babies even for a few months and
the phrase I've heard is I fell in love
with my baby what is that all about is
that well look at you smile look at your
eyes so to get dimmed as you talk about
babies you know what I'm talking about
but a baby looks you in the face your
heart starts going like this your whole
body begins to soften and you get when
that baby smiles at you it's it's like a
love you never it doesn't matter how
much you care about your spouse it's a
different kind of love a different kind
of commitment that I think just happens
around a baby so I'm gonna go to I'm
gonna push this a little bit now let's
assume that the world is changing which
is good women have more choices but when
both parents are working what I read
tells me for example that both of them
but especially the mothers have
difficulty setting limits they come home
they've been away so let's talk about
those kinds we hope they have great
childcare we hope that were their
employers are supportive oak is not
enough we need to have optimal childcare
and there are places in this country
that have faced that governor hunt in
North Carolina has optimal childcare
around North Carolina California is
using tobacco money to improve childcare
Maine has just made a big statement
about childcare Miami Florida is
beginning people
do it we got to have optimal child care
and we don't have it now that is so true
now I've seen you've written about
institutional care as in child care what
kinds of things do you want child care
programs to do that they don't do today
well I want child care people who have
gone into this because they care about
children to be backed up with decent
salaries with positions where people
really respect them I want parents to
realize they're not just babysitters
that these people really care about
their kids and then to reinforce that
and so that there's the the child care
person looks in a baby
I tell mothers our fathers when they
come to me about what to look for in
child care if this person looks at this
baby the way you feel like you do or if
this person begins to imitate the baby's
rhythms you're already talking about
somebody who cares about the children so
I would look for that first if I were
looking for a job here it looks to me
that it's extremely difficult to get all
the things one once in an institutional
setting I was walking in the park one
day and there were two mothers with
their children I don't remember whether
the children couldn't tell whether they
were four three or whatever and one
little girl was walking along it was a
little bridge Oh 2x4 nope no fence and
the little girl walks along on that
two-by-four I on one side is the bridge
and on the other side is a five foot
drop that mother is looking very
carefully at her daughter but she's
gonna let her she was letting her do it
was quite clear she was ready to jump
but she wanted her daughter to have that
kind of independence I see that and then
I see the young children
being brought out from some of the
daycare centers and I'm sure there are
wonderful ones but I see them all you
know tied together or in these strollers
where there are six babies and and one
caretaker and I say whatever that and I
watched your face get a little worried
about that child walking on but I say
you know that's we want without risks we
want that kind of freedom for the
children in care as well as at home and
I don't know how we're gonna get to that
kind of more flexible I don't either
Doug but I agree with you I wish we had
that as a major goal in this country we
know what to do for children and for
parents parents are grieving just as
much as you and I are about what they're
having to do today in terms of leaving
their kids without that kind of
opportunity now you see that in your
practice course but heavens people who
know they're gonna have to leave their
child to go back to work start grieving
in pregnancy it's there people are
suffering and we are not doing a damn
thing at a national level it's time we
took it back and said our children are
our future if we don't pay attention to
what they're going through the way of
institutionalizing women who we split
into we and we are gonna pay a terrible
price we're already paying it I keep
going to what's happening now as opposed
to the better world because people will
be watching this program for many years
and I hope child care will improve but
it's going to take many years so let me
go back again well then Europe has
already done it
Europe has wonderful child care most
parts of Europe and even Asia many parts
of Asia have superb child care you know
what's wrong with a country like ours
that doesn't pay attention to
is T berry Brazelton thank you very much
for being with us great thank you
[Applause]
[Music]
this program was produced by the
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responsible for its content the Norman
and Florence Brody family foundation is
dedicated to exploring topics of
national and international importance
and is proud to support policy watch
with Doug Vetrov at the University of
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