Brazelton Institute

The Brazelton Institute is dedicated to promoting the healthy development of infants and families, through research and education programs for people who care for children and their families in the perinatal period and the early months of life. It is the home of the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) and the Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO) system.

Our training programs are designed to provide professionals with an experience that conveys an appreciation of the importance of an individualized relationship-based approach to infants and families, of recognizing the baby as a person from the outset, and of conveying an informed and sympathetic appreciation of the challenges parents and families face with the birth of a child. The Institute is also committed to promoting and conducting research to ensure that the information offered to professionals and parents is reliable and trustworthy. The work of the Brazelton Institute is based on the assumption that parents and families have the central and primary role in ensuring the health and well-being of their children. However, we believe that the many professionals who interact with families are significant partners in supporting parents in this endeavor.

Dr. J. Kevin Nugent founded the Brazelton Institute in 1995. Building on T. Berry Brazelton's pioneering work with infants and families and based on almost 40 years of research and clinical practice, the Institute has as its goal the development of innovative service delivery models that target the changing health needs of children and families in today's society. The Brazelton Institute is recognized at local, national and international levels as a leader in developing and providing educational programs for professionals who care for very young children and families in both hospital and clinical settings around the world. Training is provided in English, Spanish, and French. There are also NBO training sites in Australia, Denmark, France, Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. There are NBAS training sites in Belgium, France, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, the U.K., and the U.S.