The laissez-faire ethos of the 1960s meant that anything goes – and in a sense that applied to childrearing.
The most influential book of the era was Dr Benjamin Spock's Baby and Childcare. The book has sold 50 million copies and remains in the non-fiction best-seller stakes.
Spock promoted the message that babies need love and affection and that it is impossible to spoil them. Parents were reassured that it was fine to pick them up and cuddle them and that, far from ruining them, this would make them happier and more secure.
Parents were encouraged to be flexible rather than following strict routines. They were told to rip-up the rule-books and trust their instincts. Instead of a one-size fits all system, parents were encouraged to see their babies as individuals allowing for variation in feeding and sleeping methods.
The science backs up much of Spock's work. Powerful brain scans have recently demonstrated the importance of giving infants affection at the start of their lives. Child psychiatrist Bruce Perry, of the ChildTrauma Academy in Houston, USA, says the brain is most malleable early in life and grows and develops according to experience – so a well-loved child's brain will be hard-wired to reflect this, while a child who has been frequently ignored will grow up more fearful and anxious.
However, some parents struggle without a routine and find it hard to establish good sleep and feeding patterns.
Many modern day childcare gurus take their inspiration from Dr Spock. Parenting expert Penelope Leach, for example, promotes the notion that parents should listen to their own feelings and those of their child.
Developmental psychologist Dr Helen Barrett agrees: "Different people find their own level. It is important for parents to get to know their babies as individuals."
