Dr. Benjamin Spock

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The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care, written by Dr. Benjamin Spock’s in 1946, has sold over 25 million copies to date, more than any book (except the Bible) in U.S. history.

In the 1940’s, Dr. Spock advised parents to loosen up the tight scheduled approach to child rising: at that time this idea seemed revolutionary. He advocated considering each child as an individual, that each child’s needs are different from other children. His advice was important in the growth of a more relaxed, but yet more child-centered approach to child rising.

In 1985, the fifth edition of Baby and Child Care was revised to include topics such as single parenting. Spock himself had became a controversial figure for his activities opposing the war in Vietnam, but his book continued to be the most used manual for baby care. As its first title made clear, Dr. Spock was a firm believer in common sense, and millions of parents continued to rely on his calm, reasonable advice.

The studies of child development normally start with the infant and up. Most recently, there is more research on the fetus, about 38 weeks from beginning to birth. With new technology like microsurgery in the uterus to ultrasound testing, has provided scientists and parents with new understanding of the progress of the fetus in the first nine months before the infant arrived.