Vale Dr T. Berry Brazelton
Dr T. Berry Brazelton passed away on Tuesday 13th March 2018 just 2 months short of his 100th birthday.
A giant in the field of early childhood development, he devoted his life to studying, nurturing and advocating on behalf of babies, toddlers and their families. Among his many accomplishments, Berry was a founder of the National Center for Clinical Infant Programs, later renamed ZERO TO THREE, where he also later served as Board President. "He was the father of developmental pediatrics, a rigorous researcher, and an unflinching advocate for public policies to address the real needs of babies, toddlers and their families,” said Matthew Melmed, executive director for ZERO TO THREE.
Zero To Three Read 'Tribute to a Giant'
The more he worked with newborns, the more he realized that they are complex, responsive and competent at birth, using behavior as their language. The movement of an arm or leg told him if they were feeling disorganized, stressed or good. Little hiccups might mean their nervous system was unstable.
He realized that babies have the ability to control their internal state and to become engaged, or disengaged, according to what is happening in the world around them.
The New York Times, 14th March 2018 Read more
One of his most notable achievements in paediatrics is his Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS), an evaluation tool used worldwide to assess not only the physical and neurological responses of newborns, but also their emotional well-being and individual differences.
Watch video of Dr T. Berry Brazelton describing the development of his NBAS.
