Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care: 8th Edition [Paperback]

Benjamin Spock (Author), Robert Needlman (Editor)

Book Description

Release date: June 1, 2004

OVER 50 MILLION COPIES IN PRINT!

THE CLASSIC THAT CONTINUES TO GROW WITH THE TIMES! For sixty-five years, parents have relied on the expert advice of renowned pediatrician Dr. Benjamin Spock. But while children never change, issues and concerns do. Dr. Robert Needlman, himself a top-notch pediatrician, has newly updated and expanded this timeless classic to speak to any parent who is raising children in our rapidly changing world. While still providing reassuring advice on age-old topics such as caring for a new baby, as well as accidents, illness, and injuries, this book also contains expanded information in many new areas, including:

- Cutting-edge medical opinion on immunizations

- Obesity and nutrition

- Cultural diversity and nontraditional family structures

- Children's learning and brain development

- The newest thinking on children with special needs

- Environmental health

- Increasingly common disorders such as ADHD, depression, and autism-- including medications and behavioral interventions

- Children and the media, including electronic games

- Coping with family stress

- And much, much more

With an updated glossary of common medications and an authoritative list of the most reliable online resources, this invaluable guide is still the next best thing to Dr. Spock's #1 rule of parenting: "Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do."

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Benjamin Spock, M.D., practiced pediatrics in New York City from 1933 to 1947. He then became a medical teacher and researcher at the Mayo Clinic, the University of Pittsburgh, and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. The author of eleven books, he was a political activist for causes that vitally affect children: disarmament, day care, schooling, housing, and medical care for all. He had two sons, a stepdaughter, and four grandchildren. Dr. Spock, who died March 15, 1998, at age ninety-four, was married to Mary Morgan. Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care has been translated into thirty-nine languages and has sold fifty million copies worldwide since its first publication in 1946.

Product Details

• Paperback: 992 pages
• Publisher: Gallery Books; 8 edition (June 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743476670
• ISBN-13: 978-0743476676
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1.7 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #186,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Guide! July 28, 2005

By Delilah

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book has the most common sense approach to parenting I have seen to date. Very much an advocate of trusting your own instincts, he allows parents to be comfortable with their decisions.

A great reference guide, quick answers to a lot of those questions that new parents have... even the ones that they don't know they have, and the ones they don't want to admit that they have.

I highly recommend this book!

**********************UPDATE************************

So, my son is 4 now, and my dog-eared copy of Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care still has a place of prominence on my bookshelf.
This book helped me get through a couple of awful colds. It helped me figure out childproofing. Struggles with toilet training (best advice ever- stop struggling!), dinner-time (same advice! :-) ) So many little (and big) questions were answered with this book.

I could research things in the book, prior to taking my son for his well-baby checkups.

I'm a single mom with a really supportive family - that lives a thousand miles away. Dr. Spock helped fill the gaps. It's not a bible, it's not infallible- I don't completely agree, but I don't completely agree with my mother either!

I just can't recommend this book enough.

**********************2nd Update!******************************

My son is now a 7 year old second grader. And we're a part of a blended family.

I've just pulled my extremely well used copy of Dr. Spock's Baby and Child care off my shelf again and find myself looking to it for help.
I think I'll need to buy another copy, as mine is dog eared to the point of falling apart- through no fault of the book, just from constant use....

If I could convince everyone to buy just one book to help them raise a child- this would be it.

What to do about lying, once a child tries it? What to do about bullies, when they're encountered in school? Should I call the doctor about that rash? My child suddenly developed some new, and strange fears - what should I do?
These are all questions that I turned to Dr. Spock for. And all things that Dr. Spock helped me with.

I LOVE this book! Read more ›

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Your family will live long and prosper with Spock's advice February 23, 2005

By Fruit Loop VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Dr. Spock's common sense approach to practical parenting and sound advice on the most basic elements of childrearing will never go out of style no matter how many times this book is revised and reprinted. This is Mom And Dad 101 and covers everything from preconception to teenhood. Spock answers the most elemental stuff - Care and Feeding, Diapering, to health issues and how to answer those tough questions from your toddler. A must-have for any parent, either first time or twelfth.

28 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Love It!! Very Informative July 7, 2004

By A Safiro

Format:Paperback

I actually borrow this book from my local library. I am quite amazed by Dr. Spock's insight. I know and I've read so many times that each baby has its own unique development. But somehow Dr. Spock explains it in a different way. He also explores the importance of non-physical development, things that we missed on daily basis just because we are too busy comparing other babies are chubbier. Admit it mom!

This book covers different stages of child development. So I don't read all of them at once, only on the sections that relate to my baby's current progress.

Dr. Spock's suggestion is "TRUST YOURSELF". He believes mom knows the unique needs of her baby, and when the world-known pediatrician told you that .. what more can you say?

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for first-time parents May 21, 2005

By techica

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Though you must take some of his child-rearing advice with a grain of salt, this is the most comprehensive childcare book I've encountered. It is very reader-friendly in that it is well-organized and "easy" to read. I've seen some books that are way too generalized, simply giving you information that is already intuitive for most people. This book touches on everything with just enough depth. I think it is especially handy to have the first-aid information at reach. While there are always more detailed resources like WebMD, the dangers in using such sources are that unlicensed, untrained parents end up feeling a mistaken sense of security in being able to "diagnose" their own children. This book allows parents quick access to answers for basic questions--and besides, who is going to spend the time surfing the internet in an emergency when you can quickly grab a book instead?

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Dr. Spock August 30, 2005

By Mary Boren Soucy

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is a staple for child care and raising. I bought it for my daughter and her husband, so that they could have it for their new son.

Great resource!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes the old ways are best August 9, 2005

By Reese

Format:Paperback

Good old fasioned advice for your baby, can't beat it.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It has it all July 25, 2006

By Tsangaratou Koralia

Format:Paperback

When I had my first child, I used to carry along this book even for weekend excursions. I suggest that you read the part about First Aid first and the rest of the book when the need arises. The glossary at the back is a life saver until you get to the pediatrician. Excellent book. If you are going to buy only one book about your newly born child, this ought to be the one.

19 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource for parents February 21, 2006

By raboof

Format:Paperback

Dr. Spock's folksy manner of writing and inherent trust in the abilities of parents make this book essential reading for the first-time parent. The book hits on all childhood stages from pre-birth through the teenage years, so it does gloss over many specific issues, but it manages to cover the major events of growing up and how parents should expect and prepare for them.

There are several flaws which don't take away from the validity of the book, but which make it less than it could be. The first is the lack of citation for scientific facts. If he says that 1 in 20 children will be affected by ADHD, I'd like to see where that number was pulled from. However, this isn't a book about science and I can understand the reluctance to interrupt the prose for a usually unimportant side note regarding facts just presented. Still, I think that it would be useful to have research citations available, especially with the modern parent's ability to do research on the Internet for themselves.

The other problem I had was the politicization of childcare. He frequently mentions political organizations and activities that are meant to help children, and he encourages parents to get involved with these. The subliminal message is that you can't be a good parent without believing in and supporting a more socialist form of government. There's no problem with such beliefs, of course. They just seem terribly out of place in a book about childcare.

Despite these flaws, "Spock" delivers credible childcare information which can be easily digested by anyone. This isn't a book to read in one sitting. Rather, you'll find yourself coming back time and again to gain more information as your child grows through the stages of childhood.... It's a reference book without being overly academic. It's a great resource without bogging down in the details.

But more than anything else, parents will come away with a sense of confidence in their parenting. Dr. Spock's confidence in the natural abilities of parents makes this possible. This single benefit makes this book a classic and is the likely reason its remained one of the most popular childcare books for years. Read more ›