[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 76 (Thursday, May 10, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2615-S2616]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   REMEMBERING DR. T. BERRY BRAZELTON

 Mr. MARKEY. Mr. President, today, it is my privilege to honor 
the work and achievements of Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, who dedicated his 
life to understanding the development of infants and young children and 
improving their lives, on what would have been his 100th birthday. Dr. 
Brazelton passed away on March 13, 2018, in Barnstable, MA.
  Known as America's pediatrician, Dr. Brazelton's pioneering work in 
child development changed earlier concepts that parenting needed to be 
a rigid process. In addition to the clinical aspects of his work as a 
practicing pediatrician, he was also a scientist who observed, 
analyzed, and learned about the nature of babies and children and their 
interactions with their parents. His observations led to newfound 
understandings of how infants develop, including the importance of the 
parent-child relationship during the first stages of life. Dr. 
Brazelton also developed strong connections to the parents of the 
children with whom he worked. He was among the first researchers

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who used video to observe parent-infant interactions, and his teachings 
provided parents with the security and skills they needed to understand 
their babies. Throughout his career, Dr. Brazelton worked with tens of 
thousands of parents and children, published more than 30 books on 
pediatrics and child development, and founded the Brazelton Touchpoints 
Center at Boston Children's Hospital.
  Dr. Brazelton's work and influence extended past the research lab and 
his pediatric practice. He created Touchpoints, professional training 
programs that equip family-facing providers with the skills they need 
to empower parents and families through research-informed family 
engagement practice. Dr. Brazelton and I shared a commitment to 
advancing the health and safety of children, and his approach to child 
wellness helped to inspire much of my work on this critical issue. Dr. 
Brazelton was credited for putting the practice of natural childbirth 
and breastfeeding back at the forefront of childrearing practices. His 
research contributed to the removal of lead from gasoline in the United 
States, the enactment of the Family and Medical Leave Act, and many 
more policies aimed at expanding the rights of children.
  Dr. Brazelton was more than just a clinician and scientist. His 
constant curiosity and charisma allowed him to cross many disciplines. 
He was a writer, a mentor, and a lover of the arts. He was loved by his 
wife, the late Christina Lowell Brazelton, and is survived by his 
children, Christina, Catherine, Pauline, and Thomas III, and his seven 
grandchildren.
  Dr. Brazelton's research and findings garnered him many accolades and 
awards, including the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2013. However, the 
advances he made in science's understanding of the importance of the 
first years of life; the improvements in clinical care of infants, 
young children, and their parents; and the policies based on his 
scientific contributions to promote healthy child and family 
development will leave the biggest mark. We have lost a champion and 
visionary, but his legacy will live on in the hearts of many, and his 
work will continue to influence advancements in child 
development.

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