Medical Interventions That Failed the Test of Time: Advice to Lay Sleeping Babies on their Fronts

Dr Benjamin Spock first published "The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care" in 1946. Dr. Spock's reputation was damaged by one profoundly incorrect and ultimately tragic piece of advice. Believing that the risk of aspiration would be reduced if babies slept face down, Spock initially equivocated on the advice of sleeping position for babies. The 1955 edition of his book recommended that a baby sleep on its back, but the 1956 edition and subsequent editions until 1978 recommended that parents place their sleeping babies face-down. This advice is believed to have contributed to the deaths of many thousands of children from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Widespread programmes to reverse the advice in the 1990s saw a dramatic fall in the numbers of cases of SIDS.


Yet, at a time of rigid expectation of infant and child behaviour, Spock spoke of flexibility and individuality. He reassured parents of the value of their own parenting skills and that cuddling their crying babies would not damage them for life.

Fifty million books, 39 countries, millions of babies comforted when they might have been left to cry - and one piece of incorrect advice.

Dr Jon Fogarty

For the record, I followed Dr. Spock's advice for my first child (born 1990), but put the next two to sleep on their backs. Themis