Dr. Spock's Baby and Childcare : Seventh Edition

Rating:
Summary: A life saver when you needed it!
Review: Now a grandmother of six and a supervising professional in the educational/social work field, I have bought every edition since my oldest daughter was born in 1960. I give Dr. Spock ONLY four stars because we must give ourselves a star for making choices and having our own opinions. We must take what is offered and think on it, then decide if the answers fit us...Dr. Spock was a life saver to me, many late nights when my children were running temperatures, had a rash, cried inconsolably with earache pain. If you can't call a doctor at that hour, it's great to have had a book to turn to, to console mom and to reassure her that her special prize is going to be okay after the time for the illness passes. I remember giving alcohol sponges to my children with 104+ and putting them in tepid baths to quickly reduce their temperature. It may not be recommended today, but it sure helped me then. I am sure many things today, will be frowned upon years from now. In the old days of the 60s and 70s there weren't many books to fall back on that were so "user friendy." So I owe Dr.Spock a vote of thanks for his help then, but tip our hats to the newcomers also.

Rating:
Summary: "Just the Facts," M'am.
Review: Dr. Benjamin Spock's classic child care compendium is a tips & tactics guide for people who are both serious and sensitive about their parenting. Dr. Spock's books -- 1st edition to this last one -- have always filled in for that missing aunt, mother or grandma who doesn't live in our nuclear households anymore. The Doc says, "Just the facts." Which is why I find those who diss Dr. Spock -- for example, "farrar" - the lawyer at Columbia -- to be so laughable. According to these Spock Opponents, poor Dr. Spock can be blamed for EVERYTHING, from self-absorbed Yuppies and 1960s free love to [no doubt] Ebolla Zaire, the Plague and Budget Deficits. "Farrar" and Company should take it to the right wing of the GOP ... not THE Baby Doc.

Rating:
Summary: New parents can easily find answers to hundreds of questions
Review: "Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care" (1997 Ed.) is as good as it gets and is still the right book for new parents. Clearly outlined, it's a snap to find answers to the hundreds of questions that trouble new and re-newed parents alike. Explanations are carefully drawn in a straightforward manner that doesn't belittle parents seeking basic information about how to tell the difference between measles and a reaction to a new food. Spock was the first to understand that caring for young children according to strict time schedules was as unpopular with sensitive parents as it was unpleasant for newborns. Each parent has always been encouraged to use his/her own judgment while at the same time keeping ahead of the child. The newly initiated parent is searching for the right technique, a balancing act that becomes even more difficult when a parent must return to the workplace. Spock and Rothenberg have included insights about this transition period in the life of a young family. Still a 10 on my scale.

Rating:
Summary: What hath Spock wrought?
Review: Dr. Spock's timely demise presents a good moment for us reflect on his book. The book was, according to one media talking head, "the book the baby boom generation grew up on." Was this supposed to be a *compliment*? Being responsible for the social and cultural formation of the most irresponsible and narcissistic generation of Americans ever produced is supposed to be something to be proud of? Dr. Spock was on the cutting edge of permissiveness, lack of standards, lack of values, lack of guidance, of instant gratification, even of defiance of authority (Dr. Spock, it must be noted, was convicted in 1969 for anti-war activities). Nowadays the counterrevolution has begun: parents are told that maybe baby *should* have a set feeding schedule instead of on demand; that corporal punishment is *not* always wrong; that strictness in diet and speech has positive benefits. So as you read through this book, remind yourself of this: do you really want to follow the advice of a book that guided the mental, moral, and social development of the generation that produced Bill Clinton, welfare dependency, a 5 trillion dollar debt, staglflation, 25,000 homicides and 1.3 million abortions per year, 1.5 million men in prison, rampant drug abuse and 35% illegitimacy?

Rating:
Summary: Classic work doesn't translate to the 21st century
Review: As someone who selects parenting/childrearing materials professionally, and the mother of 2 preschoolers, I am sorry to say that many of the areas covered in this classic work by the famous doctor are sadly out of date. A stronger editorial hand should have updated feeding and other everyday techniques to allow for today's busy parent's schedule. This material was fresh at a time when postwar American wives and mothers worked fulltime at managing their homes. It would be better for today's new mothers to pick up Penelope Leach's YOUR BABY AND CHILD, a wonderfully complete guide for new parents; any T. Berry Brazelton book; or an older series that has been reprinted by the age of the child, YOUR CHILD AT (YEAR), orginally by Ilg, if emotional or social behavior is a concern or you would like to anticipate the terrible twos! I have not received a specific request for this "classic" in over 4 years as a library professional

Rating:
Summary: Come on into the 90's, Dr. Spock!
Review: There were some good points, certainly, but overall I found it to be very outdated. The update revision seems to consist of a few mentions of "upcoming" vaccines, like one for Chicken Pox - which is already available. It talked about sterilizing bottles and making formula from evaporated milk just to give a few examples

Rating:
Summary: Spock's Still the Authority
Review: Ten years ago with the birth of my first child, I received 6 different books on baby care--all from the best sellers list. Over the next 10 years each of them, at one time or another, was heaved against a wall at 2 am or tossed into the kitchen trash can. Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care helped me to correctly diagnose croup in my 6 month old daughter, which led to a call to the pediatrician as opposed to a trip to the ER. Dr. Spock calmly and reassuringly helps parents learn THEY are the experts about their own children.

Rating:
Summary: Spock's Still the Authority
Review: Ten years ago with the birth of my first child, I received 6 different books on baby care--all from the best sellers list. Over the next 10 years each of them, at one time or another, was heaved against a wall at 2 am or tossed into the kitchen trash can. Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care helped me to correctly diagnose croup in my 6 month old daughter, which led to a call to the pediatrician as opposed to a trip to the ER. Dr. Spock calmly and reassuringly helps parents learn THEY are the experts about their own children.