John Bowlby
1907–1990 · UKAttachment theory
Psychiatrist whose maternal deprivation and attachment trilogy reshaped hospital visiting and separation policy.
Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
Evidence strength88
Daily impact98
Difficulty85
Age span8
Expert consensus82
Urgency95
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Last reviewed Sources & creditsMedia creditsMethodology
Quick answers
When does the newborn period end?
Most clinicians use 28 days; some extend to six weeks when colic and feeding patterns stabilise.
How much should a newborn sleep?
Roughly 14–17 hours in 24, in short bouts — wake cycles are normal and not a sign of poor sleep training need.
Is cluster feeding normal?
Yes, especially evenings in the first weeks; it supports milk supply and growth spurts rather than indicating insufficient milk alone.
When should I call a doctor?
Fever in infants under three months, poor feeding, fewer wet nappies, yellowing skin, or breathing difficulty warrant urgent review.
Does skin-to-skin matter?
Strong evidence links immediate and ongoing skin-to-skin with temperature stability, breastfeeding success, and parent-infant synchrony.
What about visitors?
Limit exposure in early weeks; hand hygiene and vaccination status of visitors reduce infection risk for immature immune systems.
Neonatal and attachment research drew on pediatrics, psychiatry, anthropology, and public health.
These eight figures span clinical innovation, policy, and cultural reframing of the first month.
Eight guides worth knowing
Mary Ainsworth
1913–1999 · US/CanadaStrange Situation
Developmental psychologist who classified secure and insecure attachment through laboratory observation.
Edgar Rey Sanabria
b. 1940s · ColombiaKangaroo Mother Care
Pediatrician who invented kangaroo care for preterm infants in Bogotá under resource constraints.
Benjamin Spock
1903–1998 · USBaby and Child Care
Pediatrician whose 1946 bestseller democratised child-rearing advice for American parents.
Harvey Karp
b. 1951 · USHappiest Baby
Pediatrician who packaged "5 S's" and fourth-trimester concept for calming newborns.
Penelope Leach
b. 1937 · UKYour Baby & Child
Psychologist-author advocating developmentally informed, responsive infant care in British context.
Nils Bergman
b. 1950s · South AfricaSkin-to-skin science
Physician-researcher who extended kangaroo care neuroscience and zero-separation NICU models.
WHO Maternal Health
1948– · GlobalKMC guidelines
Organisation that scaled kangaroo mother care and breastfeeding standards worldwide.
Guides lab
Select up to three guides to compare side by side.
John Bowlby
1907–1990 · UKAttachment theory
Psychiatrist whose maternal deprivation and attachment trilogy reshaped hospital visiting and separation policy.
Mary Ainsworth
1913–1999 · US/CanadaStrange Situation
Developmental psychologist who classified secure and insecure attachment through laboratory observation.
Edgar Rey Sanabria
b. 1940s · ColombiaKangaroo Mother Care
Pediatrician who invented kangaroo care for preterm infants in Bogotá under resource constraints.
Benjamin Spock
1903–1998 · USBaby and Child Care
Pediatrician whose 1946 bestseller democratised child-rearing advice for American parents.
Harvey Karp
b. 1951 · USHappiest Baby
Pediatrician who packaged "5 S's" and fourth-trimester concept for calming newborns.
Penelope Leach
b. 1937 · UKYour Baby & Child
Psychologist-author advocating developmentally informed, responsive infant care in British context.
Nils Bergman
b. 1950s · South AfricaSkin-to-skin science
Physician-researcher who extended kangaroo care neuroscience and zero-separation NICU models.
WHO Maternal Health
1948– · GlobalKMC guidelines
Organisation that scaled kangaroo mother care and breastfeeding standards worldwide.
Pick guides above to compare.
Their combined work moved newborn care from institutional efficiency toward proximity, feeding support, and safe sleep science.
Keep exploring
Nearby ages & themes
🍼
Infant
From one month to twelve months — motor milestones, first foods, attachment deepening, and emerging sleep patterns.
Evidence 90 🧸Toddler
Walking, talking, and testing limits — the toddler years blend motor explosion, language bursts, and autonomy struggles.
Evidence 85 ✏️Preschool
Imaginative play, peer entry, and executive function growth define the preschool years before formal schooling.
Evidence 82 📚School Age
Industry, friendships, and academic skill-building mark middle childhood between toddler chaos and adolescent identity work.
Evidence 78 🧑🎓Teenager
Brain remodeling, identity formation, and increasing autonomy define adolescence — risk and capability both rise.
Evidence 80