Touchpoints-Birth to Three [Paperback]

T. Berry Brazelton (Author), Joshua D. Sparrow (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0738210498 | ISBN-13: 978-0738210490 | Publication Date: September 26, 2006 | Edition: Second Edition

All over the U.S. and in over twenty countries around the world, Touchpoints has become required reading for anxious parents of babies and small children. T. Berry Brazelton's great empathy for the universal concerns of parenthood, and honesty about the complex feelings it engenders, as well as his uncanny insight into the predictable leaps and regressions of early childhood, have comforted and supported families since its publication in 1992. In this completely revised edition Dr. Brazelton introduces new information on physical, emotional, and behavioral development. He also addresses the new stresses on families and fears of children, with a fresh focus on the role of fathers and other caregivers. This updated volume also offers new insights on prematurity, sleep patterns, early communication, toilet training, co-sleeping, play and learning, SIDS, cognitive development and signs of developmental delay, childcare, asthma, a child's immune system, and safety. Dr. Sparrow, Brazelton's co-author on several other books, brings a child psychiatrist's insights into the many perennial childhood issues covered in this comprehensive book. No parent should be without the reassurance and wisdom Touchpoints provides.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Little Rock Family, February 2010
“[Brazelton’s] advice is timeless.”

 

Warwick Beacon, 8/19/10

“Should be required reading for any prospective parents or child daycare providers.”

About the Author

T. Berry Brazelton, M.D., founder of the Child Development Unit at Children's Hospital Boston, is Clinical Professor of Pediatrics Emeritus at Harvard Medical School and Professor of Pediatrics and Human Development at Brown University. He is a famed advocate for children, and his many other internationally acclaimed books for parents include To Listen to a Child, Infants and Mothers, and, with Stanley I. Greenspan, M.D., The Irreducible Needs of Children. Joshua D. Sparrow, M.D child psychiatrist and supervisor of inpatient psychiatry at Children's Hospital Boston, is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and Associate Director of Training at the Brazelton Touchpoints Center. He is co-author with Dr. Brazelton of Touchpoints Three to Six and several titles in the Brazelton Way series.

Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press; Second Edition edition (September 26, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738210498
• ISBN-13: 978-0738210490
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,645 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Insight Into Behaviorial Development And More, April 28, 2008

By 

Jon Jay "seattlejrj" (Seattle) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Touchpoints-Birth to Three (Paperback)

There are so many books on the market about parenting in the first few years of your baby's life. I have read a dozen of them, and was mostly disappointed. The "What To Expect" books, for example, are very wordy, and have very pragmatic advice, but for me lack some "depth". Brazelton's book, by contrast is both pragmatic and philosophical, giving parents much more depth on this subject. I loved reading this book; I found it to be engaging, interesting, and very relevant to raising my 2-year old.

In particular, some things that impressed me:
* The author has great insight into infant and toddler behavioral development (in fact, he has great insight into parental behavior as well). This background gives parents some inclination for what is going on with their child, and is useful in crafting responses to various behaviors that are observed in the early years of a child's life.
* The book is comprehensive, touching on most aspects of parenting in the first three years.
* The book is extremely well organized. It serves well as both a reference, and a cover-to-cover read.

I do agree with other reviewers who have said the author is opinionated. I think this is a good thing -- and I gained more and more confidence in the author's opinions as I went along. Most new parents will do well to have a "starting point" when forming their own opinions. As an example, Brazelton discusses at length the importance of establishing boundaries with infants and toddlers, as this will help the child to feel competent and secure as they continually gain new dimensions of independence which both excites and scares children. But this is balanced with the moderating view that parents minimize negativity by not making big deals of things that don't really matter. This is related to discussion on what it means to "spoil" a child. To this end, Brazelton advises: (1) do sometimes let the child get frustrated when trying to accomplish a new task by themselves -- this is a feeling they're going to have to learn to manage, and (2) establish boundaries so the child has a good sense for his own competence.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than expected, October 24, 2007

By 

B. Thomas "New mom" (KTown, Germany) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Touchpoints-Birth to Three (Paperback)

I was still pregnant when I received this book as a gift. I thought it was "hokey" and not relevant to my situation. When my daughter was 8 weeks old, I finally cracked the book open. Wow. Wish I would have done it sooner. It explained my baby's fussy time and other things that was affecting her day. She is now 6 months old and I read ahead to recognize her behaviors and to get prepared to deal w/them. I love this book and recommend it to all new mothers! It is so hard to know what to expect, at least this EXPLAINS what and why they react the way they do!

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still the calming voice of reason...., January 15, 2007

By 

D. Miller (MI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Touchpoints-Birth to Three (Paperback)

I just purchased the revised version of my favorite childcare book from when I had my other kids (ages 6 and 9). Dr. Brazelton is still my favorite for his comprehensive, authoritative, yet non-judgmental, realistic advice. He has a tremendous understanding of the needs of children, in a way adults typically can't understand. In addition to addressing each stage of development in "Touchpoints", the section on special situations is extremely helpful!!!! I have loved every book he's ever written (Infants and Mothers is my other favorite) and find his advice invaluable and in the best interest of the child! He is a true child advocate and has the most calming voice to listen to....