2.8: 1940s: Spock

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Benjamin Spock: A Child-Centered Approach

A photo of the front cover of one of Dr. Spocks book entitled Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care

Figure 1. An example of one of Dr. Spock’s published books on child care. (Image source: Flickr, CC by 2.0)

Benjamin Spock was the first American pediatrician to study psychoanalysis in an attempt to understand children’s needs and family dynamics.^[1] His ideas about childcare significantly changed overall attitudes toward the rearing of infants and children via his book, The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care (1946), one of the best selling volumes in history. The book’s premises to parents are that “you know more than you think you do,” and if you “feel like comforting the child, do it.”^[2] He encouraged parents to be more flexible and affectionate with their children and to treat them as individuals.

Spock’s first edition advised mothers to indulge their own impulses and as well as their children’s, assuring them on the basis of the latest scientific studies that it was safe to do so. In the process, the book changed child-rearing advice from the previous generation and authorized mothers to express their “natural” feelings toward their children. However, his theories were criticized by colleagues for relying too heavily on anecdotal evidence rather than academic research.^[3] Spock recommended spontaneity, warmth, and a fair amount of fun for parents and children.

A black and white photo of Dr Spock, an old man, holding a baby.

Figure 2. A photograph of Dr. Spock holding an infant

In subsequent editions of his book, Spock also included fathers in the contexts of childcare and child-rearing, acknowledged gender roles, and addressed divorce and single parenting.^[4]

Overall, Spock’s advice encouraged caregivers to help children fit into the current needs of society and become contributing members of that society. He highly advocated for caregivers to instill values of cooperativeness and congeniality and help their child be likable. Spock was one of the most notable American authors of child-rearing advice during the twentieth century due to publications in contemporary, mainstream magazines.

Key Takeaways

Parents should be adaptable, loving and encourage individuality within each child.
Parents should have balanced relationships with their children composed of spontaneity, warmth, and fun.
Parents should help children become contributing members of society by teaching cooperativeness and congeniality.
The first American pediatrician to study psychoanalysis to understand children’s needs and family dynamics.