''The greatest British psychoanalyst who ever lived. He writes beautifully and simply about the problems of everyday life'' Alain de Botton

The paediatrician and child psychiatrist D. W. Winnicott changed the way we think about childhood by placing the parent-infant relationship at the heart of human happiness, and by encouraging mothers and fathers to trust their own instincts. In this landmark work he follows the development of a child from their first weeks to finding their place in the wider world, touching on everything from crying and feeding to shyness, jealousy, independence and anger. His plain-speaking, humane and non-judgemental approach continues to influence our understanding of parenting today.

''His style is lucid, his manner friendly, and his years of experience provide much wise insight into child behaviour and parental attitudes'' British Journal of Psychology