Jane Cheney Spock
Significant Others
00:00
Ben Spock's Baby Care Book
As an intern, Ben Spock noticed many of the conventions seemed outdated at best and harmful, at worst. For example, thumb sucking was seen as public enemy number one to be stopped at any cost. Infants had their hands tied to the edges of their cribs to keep them from putting their fingers in their mouths. Bowel movements were another fixation of doctors at the time. Rigid evacuation schedules were enforced. Others were told to dangle their three and four month olds over the toilet at specific times.
Transcript
Play full episode
