Infant and child care

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Infant and Child Care (1952 also: Dein Kind - dein Glück ; English original title: The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care ) is an educational guide by the American pediatrician Benjamin Spock .

First published in 1946, it is considered the best-selling book of the 20th century in the United States after the Bible . Up to Spock's death in 1998 alone, it had been translated into 42 languages ​​and had a total circulation of almost 50 million copies worldwide. The book has been available in German translation since 1952.

Spock's infant and child care is considered a milestone in a fundamental revision of the care and upbringing of infants and toddlers practiced in the middle class in the western world . After authors such as the pediatrician L. Emmett Holt and the psychologist John B. Watson had successfully promoted in the first half of the century that babies should have as little physical contact as possible and should be fed and brought up to cleanliness according to a strict schedule , Spock taught, whose scientific background was Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis , from the end of the Second World War , that parents should, on the contrary, raise their child with love and warmth and rely on their intuition.

Over the decades, the work has been revised, updated and reissued under different titles. The more recent editions (since 1985) were created with the participation of various co-authors (Michael B. Rothenberg, Steven Parker and Robert Needlman).

Development context and theoretical foundations

Benjamin Spock with his granddaughter Susannah in 1967

When Spock wrote his book, educational attitudes like those of Emmett Holt and John Watson prevailed in the United States. Watson had advised parents in 1928: “There is a sensible way of treating children. Never hug or kiss her, never let her sit on your lap. If you have to, kiss them once on the forehead when you say goodnight and shake their hand in the morning. ” Instead of the breast, Holt recommended bottle-feeding at stubborn 4-hour intervals, and one advised against using it Weighed in and warned strongly against lifting a screaming child out of bed.

Spock, who described his own mother as affectionate but tyrannical and oppressive, had an inherent aversion to strict parenting methods. His own concept of upbringing is influenced by Sigmund Freud. Spock's infant and child care played a major role in the fact that Freudian ideas - without the author explicitly referring to psychoanalytic theory - were widely disseminated and recognized in the USA; This is particularly true of Freud's idea that early childhood experiences and suppressed sexual needs lead to unhappiness in adulthood, but also, for example, of Freud's conviction that punishment is not a suitable means of controlling a child's social behavior for the better. It is characteristic of Spock that he  sought the answers to a multitude of questions and problems - such as feeding, weaning and bed-wetting - in psychoanalytic theory.

John Dewey and William Heard Kilpatrick inspired Spock with their democratic education theory.

Contents of the 1st edition (1946)

Spock introduced the book with the words: “Trust yourself. You know more than you think. (…) Don't take everything the neighbors say too seriously. Don't be too impressed by what the experts say. Do not be afraid to use your common sense. ” He did not forget to note that even what he wrote himself never claimed the rank of irrefutable truth and finality.

Care and treatment of the infant

The first part of the book is mainly devoted to the practical and physical side of becoming a parent and baby care. a. To-do lists with purchases and arrangements that should be done before the child is born, as well as weighing up the advantages and disadvantages of hospital birth , home birth and circumcision . In the very detailed section on infant nutrition, Spock is particularly concerned with sensitizing the parents to their own instincts so that, contrary to their own better feelings, they do not put the child on a strict feeding regime with a stopwatch and scales; Spock recommends breastfeeding , but leaves the choice of breast or bottle to the mother. Personal hygiene, clothing, diapers , digestion, sleep, teething , motor development of the child, possible causes of their crying , vaccinations and trivial health problems are also dealt with in detail . In the classic Freudian subjects of thumb sucking , feeding and toilet training , Spock teaches how to treat the child in a relaxed, empathetic and judicious manner, but - as in the rest of the book - consistently dispenses with any excursions into psychoanalytic theory. Spock's biographer Thomas Maier wrote that Spock had mastered the art of infiltrating his educational philosophy in a Freudian way and at the same time concealing it so that America would accept it.

The psychological topics covered in the first part include the involvement of the father, the mother's baby blues, and the general way of dealing with an infant. Spock assures the parents that - in contrast to what is otherwise taught - they do not have to carry out a mechanical training program, but rather respond to the child lovingly and empathetically from the start and react to their signs of life spontaneously, responsively and with carefree physical contact . Similar to Jesper Juul - who, 49 years later, presented this knowledge as a brand new educational paradigm - Spock emphasizes that the child is by no means a little barbarian who must be trained as quickly as possible, but an already complete human being with ideas, Intelligence, seriousness and an independent will.

Problems of childhood and adolescence

The middle part of the book deals in detail with the psychology and social psychology of children from toddler age to puberty. Spock proves to be a dedicated advocate of an authoritative style of upbringing , which always shows parents how they can play an undisputed leading role towards their child and yet behave consistently empathic and tactful. The topics of child safety at home, sleep, nutrition, toys, sex education , preschool and school are also dealt with .

Spock reassures parents that from infancy, children take an interest in their genitals , masturbate and occasionally play with other children's genitals. With the exception of a minority of very tense children, this is not a cause for concern, but a completely normal part of development. Spock recommends that parents neither ostracize nor punish doctor games and childish masturbation, but rather ignore them. Masturbation is perfectly natural for adolescents anyway.

Diseases and first aid

The last part of the book is a compendium on medical topics as well as some special topics.

It starts with common development problems of the child, such as eating disorders , picky eaters, underweight and overweight , testicular dystopia and poor posture . In the next sections, the care of the sick child and the most common diseases of the child are presented: common colds and infectious diseases , allergies , main problems, " childhood diseases " such as measles , chickenpox , etc., some other diseases that were still widespread in the post-war period ( Diphtheria , polio , tuberculosis , rheumatic fever ), as well as bladder problems , bed-wetting , stomach ache , appendicitis , worm diseases , hernias , eye diseases and seizures . A section on “ First Aid ” follows .

In the final “Specific Problems” section, Spock offers advice on topics such as traveling with an infant, dealing with a premature or disabled child or twins, and situations such as adoption , families divorced, or families with a working or single mother.

Publication, reception and succession

Spock began working on the book while on vacation in the summer of 1943 and continued it from 1944 to 1946 during his military service in the Navy. Spock's wife, Judy Cheney Spock, served as his secretary and editor in writing, and researched many medical facts.

Development of the
number of copies of the book
time Total circulation
(worldwide)		 source
July 1947 750,000
1953 5 million
October 1957 > 9 million
November 1968 21 million
March 1976 28 million
August 1984 30 million
April 1989 > 34 million
December 1989 > 39 million
March 1992 approx. 40 million
March 1998 almost 50 million

The first edition was published on July 14, 1946 by the New York publisher Duell, Sloan and Pearce. 750,000 copies were already sold in the course of the first year.

After the first edition, Spock has revised the book again and again to take account of advances in medicine and society. For example, after the first edition, many parents had begun to feed their child every time they screamed and only put them to bed when they literally asked for it. In the second edition (1957) Spock therefore wrote even more emphatically than in the first that children need parents who are not only caring and responsive, but also exercise authority.

When Spock called for conscientious objection during the Vietnam War , he came into conflict with the Methodist Reverend Norman Vincent Peale , a proponent of this war. Peale accused Spock in 1968 that his parenting advice - hugging children, feeding them when they are hungry, and putting them to sleep when they are tired - encouraged a "permissive" upbringing and was responsible for keeping with the baby boomers a whole generation of unpatriotic and undisciplined spoiled young people had emerged. Spock's educational methods would have caused a "breakdown of discipline and a collapse of traditional morality ." Spiro Agnew , who was US Vice President under Richard Nixon , even accused Spock of corrupting American youth. Similar allegations came from Chicago Mayor Richard Daley .

The youth and counterculture that grew stronger in the 1960s, however, was Spock's role model; Steven G. Kellman, for example, writes that, alongside Leslie Fiedler , Buckminster Fuller , Che Guevara and Timothy Leary, he was one of the few people over 30 who could be trusted . The generation whose parents followed Spock's principles has since occasionally been denigrated as spock-marked (German for example: “Spock-marked”); this is a play on the expression pockmarked ("marked by smallpox"). The conservative priest and educational book author Reb Bradley described Spock's book as "shameful" in 2009 and accused the author of having carried narcissism , entitlement and the victim mentality into families.

Feminist Gloria Steinem had a completely different perspective when she called Benjamin Spock a "symbol of male oppression" in 1971 because he had always assigned the main responsibility for raising children to mothers and advocated that boys and girls should be brought up unequal. Spock readily accepted their criticism and fundamentally revised the book for the third edition (1976).

The fact that the criticism of “infant and child care” came from such different camps led Thomas Maier to comment that the book was a “ Rorschach test ” for “how we see American families and our society”.

The Seattle -based pediatrician and child psychiatrist Michael B. Rothenberg collaborated on the 5th and 6th editions (1985 and 1992) . Current topics that were included in the 6th edition were homelessness among children, drug crime and political activism.

The 7th edition (1998), co-authored by pediatrician Steven J. Parker, who teaches in Boston, added topics such as same-sex parents, dental sealing, healthy eating, pornographic websites and children's fear of nuclear war.

The 8th and 9th editions, which appeared after Spock's death, are revisions by the Cleveland pediatrician Robert Needlmann. New topics are autism , ADHD, and limiting screen time.

The British psychologist Penelope Leach and the American paediatricians T. Berry Brazelton and William Sears succeeded Spock as leading authors of advisory literature for infant and toddler education.

expenditure

Original English editions

  • The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care . 1st edition. Duell, Sloan and Pearce, New York 1946 (527 pages, hardcover).
  • The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care . 2nd Edition. Duell, Sloan and Pearce, New York 1957 (527 pages, hardcover).
  • Baby and Child Care . Mass Market Paperbacks / Pocket Books, New York 1957 (paperback).
  • Baby and Child Care . 3. Edition. Bodley Head, London 1968 (619 pages, hardcover).
  • Baby and Child Care . 4th edition. Mass Market Paperbacks / Pocket Books, New York 1976, ISBN 0-671-79003-X (666 pages, paperback).
  • with Michael B. Rothenberg: Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care for the Nineties . 5th edition. EP Dutton, New York 1985, ISBN 0-525-24312-7 (647 pages).
  • with Michael B. Rothenberg: Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care . 6th edition. Dutton, New York 1992, ISBN 0-525-93400-6 (823 pp.).
  • with Steven Parker: Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care . 7th edition. Pocket Books, New York 1998, ISBN 0-525-94417-6 (939 pp., Paperback).
  • Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care . 8th edition. Pocket Books, New York 2004, ISBN 0-7434-7668-9 (paperback).
  • Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care . 9th edition. Gallery Books, New York 2012, ISBN 1-4391-8928-5 .

German editions

  • Your child - your happiness . Gerd Hatje, Stuttgart 1952.
  • Infant and child care . German book club, 1957 (hardcover).
  • Infant and child care . tape 1 : Care and Treatment of the Infant . Ullstein, 1957 (206 pp., Paperback).
    • Infant and child care . tape 2 : Problems of childhood and adolescence . Ullstein, 1957 (186 pages, paperback).
    • Infant and child care . tape 3 : Diseases and First Aid . Ullstein, 1957 (160 pages, paperback).
  • Infant and child care . tape 1 : Care and Treatment of the Infant . Ullstein, 1958 (206 pp.).
    • Infant and child care . tape 2 : Problems of childhood and adolescence . Ullstein, 1958 (186 pages).
    • Infant and child care . tape 3 : illnesses and first aid . Ullstein, 1958 (160 pages).
  • Infant and child care . tape 2 : Problems of childhood and adolescence . Ullstein, 1961 (618 pp., Paperback).
  • Infant and child care. Care and treatment of the infant; Problems of childhood and adolescence, diseases and first aid . Deutsche Buchgemeinschaft, 1963 (257 pages, hardcover).
  • Infant and child care . Ullstein, 1963 (paperback).
  • Infant and child care . Care and treatment of the infant; Problems of childhood and adolescence, diseases and first aid. German Book Association, Berlin / Darmstadt / Vienna 1965 (hardcover).
  • Infant and child care . Ullstein, 1970, ISBN 978-3-548-35475-0 (260 pages, hardcover).
  • Infant and child care . tape 3 : illnesses and first aid . Ullstein, 1981, ISBN 3-548-04073-X (paperback).
  • Infant and child care . tape 1 : Care and Treatment of the Infant . Ullstein, 1985, ISBN 3-548-04071-3 (paperback).
  • with Michael B. Rothenberg: Infant and child care . tape 1 . Ullstein, 1986, ISBN 3-550-07821-8 (235 pp., Hardcover).
  • with Michael B. Rothenberg: Infant and child care . Ullstein, 1993, ISBN 3-550-06818-2 (876 pages, hardcover).
  • with Michael B. Rothenberg: Infant and child care . tape 1 . Ullstein, 1995, ISBN 3-548-34454-2 (paperback).
  • with Michael B. Rothenberg: Infant and child care . tape 1 . Ullstein, 1997, ISBN 978-3-548-35475-0 (376 pages).
    • with Michael B. Rothenberg: Infant and child care . tape 2 . Ullstein, 1997, ISBN 3-548-35476-9 (576 pages, paperback).

Notes and individual references

Unless otherwise noted, all references to The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care refer to the 1st edition (1946) of the original English edition.

  1. ↑ Thomas Maier: Dr. Spock . American Life. Basic Books, New York 2003, ISBN 0-465-04315-1 , pp. 462 .
  2. ↑ a b Benjamin Spock, World's Pediatrician, Dies at 94 . In: New York Times , March 17, 1998
  3. ^ The Care and Feeding of Children: A Catechism for the Use of Mothers and Children's Nurses . 1894
  4. ^ Psychological Care of Infant and Child , 1928
  5. ^ John B. Watson: Psychological Care of Infant and Child . 1928, p. 81 f .
  6. ^ Luther Emmett Holt: The Care and Feeding of Children. A Catechism for the Use of Mothers and Children's Nurses . 15th edition. 1935.
  7. ↑ Gengle Ben . In: People , March 30, 1998; see. also Dr. Spock: An American Life . In: New York Times , 1998
  8. ↑ Janice Harayda: Why Was Dr. Spock's 'Baby and Child Care' So Influential?
  9. ↑ Mark Nichols, Paul Robinson: An Historical, Empirical Look at Sigmund Freud and Benjamin Spock's Parenting Ideas, Claims, and Promises  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as broken. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / aabss.org  
  10. ↑ Lawrence Balter: Parenthood in America . To encyclopedia. tape 2 : N-Z. ABC-CLIO, 2000, ISBN 1-57607-213-4 , pp. 593 .
  11. ^ David DeLeon: Leaders from the 1960s . A biographical sourcebook of American activism. Greenwood, 1994, ISBN 0-313-27414-2 , pp. 226 .
  12. ↑ The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care, pp. 1-3
  13. ^ Baby and Child Care, pp. 4-15, 17-19
  14. ↑ Baby and Child Care, pp. 23-89, 107-115, 165-186
  15. Jump up ↑ Baby and Child Care, pp. 90-101, 104-106, 115-137, 144-156, 158-164, 187-192
  16. ^ Baby and Child Care, 137-144, 165-186, 193-202
  17. ↑ a b Quoted from: Books and Authors With Roots on the Island; Taking Pen in Hand On Life of Dr. Spock , New York Times, Nov. 29, 1998
  18. ↑ The Man Who Loved Children , Time Magazine, June 24, 2001
  19. ^ Baby and Child Care, pp. 15-17
  20. ↑ Baby and Child Care, pp. 19-22, 101-104, 147, 149f, 156-158
  21. ↑ Jesper Juul: Dit competent barn . På vej mod et nyt værdigrundlag for families. 1st edition. Schønberg, Copenhagen 1995.
  22. ↑ Baby and Child Care, pp. 203f, 247; The Man Who Loved Children , Time Magazine, June 24, 2001
  23. ↑ Baby and Child Care, pp. 203-207, 210-215, 220-225, 249-258, 261-288, 294-304, 312-325, 340-346
  24. ↑ Baby and Child Care, pp. 207-210, 215-220, 226-249, 258-261, 288-293, 304-311, 326-339
  25. ^ Baby and Child Care, pp. 300-304
  26. ^ Baby and Child Care, pp. 347-365
  27. ^ Baby and Child Care, pp. 366-447
  28. ^ Baby and Child Care, pp. 448-466
  29. ^ Baby and Child Care, pp. 467-507
  30. ↑ a b The Spock: Bittersweet Recognition in a Revised Classic New York Times, March 19, 1976
  31. ↑ a b c d At 88, to Undiminished Dr. Spock , New York Times, March 5, 1992
  32. ^ The Man Who Raised America New York Times, May 17, 1998
  33. ^ Medicine: Permissiveness for Parents Time Magazine, October 29, 1957
  34. ↑ a b Dr. Spock as a Father - No Mollycoddler , New York Times, Nov. 8, 1968
  35. ^ Books Are Proliferating on the Care of Children New York Times, Aug. 29, 1984
  36. ↑ 400 Ex-Babies Lists Raptly to Dr. Spock New York Times, April 20, 1989
  37. ^ The Making of a Pediatrician and Seeker of Peace New York Times, December 30, 1989
  38. ↑ Dr. Spock's "The Common Book of Baby and Child Care" Is Published
  39. ↑ Dr. Benjamin Spock: child care and controversy ; Rev. Peale Vs Dr. Spock , Toledo Balde, February 26, 1968
  40. ^ Benjamin Spock and the Unruly Generation
  41. ↑ Benjamin Spock (1903-1998)
  42. ^ Pediatrician Benjamin Spock Dies . In: Washington Post , March 17, 1998. Despite Politics, Spock's View Tempered, Not Really Changed . In: Daytona Beach Morning Journal , February 19, 1978
  43. ^ Steven G. Kellman: The Importance of Being Busted . In: Steven G. Kellman and Irving Malin: Leslie Fiedler and American Culture . University of Delaware Press, Newark NJ 199., p. 77.
  44. ↑ spock-marked Dictionary.com
  45. ^ Reb Bradley Official Website
  46. ↑ How Dr. Spock Destroyed America .
  47. ↑ Roger Chapman (Ed.): Culture Wars. An Encyclopedia of Issues, Viewpoints, and Voices . ME Sharpe, Armonk NY 2010, ISBN 978-0-7656-1761-3 , pp. 532 . David DeLeon: Leaders from the 1960s. A biographical sourcebook of American activism . Greenwood, 1994, ISBN 0-313-27414-2 , pp. 228 .
  48. ^ The Family; He Apparent to Dr. Spock . In: New York Times , March 1, 1985
  49. ↑ Chronicle . In: New York Times , February 28, 1992
  50. ↑ Steven Jerome Parker, MD Obituary
  51. ^ Word for Word / Dr. Spock; Time to Change the Baby Advice: Evolution of a Child-Care Icon . In: New York Times , March 22, 1998. Personal Health; Feeding Children off the Spock Menu . In: New York Times , June 30, 1998
  52. ↑ Dr. Spock's name is now Robert Needlman
  53. ↑ New edition of "Baby and Child Care" includes sections on gay and lesbian parents, raising kids with ADHD .
  54. ^ Growing Up with the Help from Penelope Leach . In: New York Times , June 13, 1991