Did you know that mental health applies to infants? The kinds of experiences families have before and after their child is born help to shape their baby’s developing brain. There are three building blocks for Infant Mental Health (IMH):

• The ability to form close relationships with others
• Feeling safe to explore their environment and learn
• A growing understanding of the world of emotion, including how to express and understand feelings

Research shows that a secure and well-loved infant is better able to cope or withstand small troubles without becoming overwhelmed. Why? Because strong, loving relationships help children grow and thrive.

Building a Positive Foundation for Infant Mental Health

What can you do to build the foundation to for positive infant mental health?

• Be caring and nurturing
• Be loving and attentive so your infant knows you love them
• Hold your infant and look into their eyes so they feel connected to you
• Enjoy time with your infant so they feel valued

Meeting Infant Needs So They Feel Safe

Not so long ago, the advice of professionals was to let babies cry out their frustration. The thinking was that responding to babies made them spoiled. We now know that the opposite is true. When baby cries and is responded to, they experience being cared for and they are less scared.

Communication with your infant begins with them giving you cues. These cues or signals are just some of the ways that infants may show they need extra support:

• Changes in sleep
• Changes in eating habits (like pushing food away or turning away from the bottle or breast during feedings)
• Changes in activity level or alertness; like being too sleepy or floppy
• Changes in emotion and behavior, such as being less smiley and happy or being more clingy or angry (hitting, arching or pushing away)
• Crying that is more frequent or more intense than usual

As you begin to recognize your infants emotional cues and respond to them in a loving way, you are teaching them that their feelings and needs matter to you.

Take Good Care of Yourself

You are an infant’s whole world and a baby needs a lot of care and attention. Taking care of yourself will help you take care of your infant. Loss of a job, illness or a traumatic event may make it hard to nurture yourself and your child. Remember that you do not need to do it alone. Your infant will experience a calmer and more soothing environment if you, the parent or caregiver, are supported.

To get started, make a list of your own needs, including the need for sleep, help with shopping or preparing meals, help with errands, or other issues. If you are a parent or caregiver of an infant, you are probably experiencing a lack of sleep and changes in your daily routines. Find a way to take a nap, drink extra fluids, and make life simpler. Be kind and gentle with yourself and with others who care for your baby.

Work Together

Find programs that support your well-being and healthy family relationships. For example, home visiting programs or infant and early childhood mental health consultation programs can help build infant mental health.

Get social. Going outside and meeting other parents or caregivers can help you connect with others and share experiences. Walking with your infant; visiting a park, public library, or community center; or phoning a friend are other ways you can connect with others. If you already have other children, call on them to help.

Community members and professionals like pediatricians are part of the bigger circle of support families need as they care for their infants. When the community cares for parents and caregivers, we support babies. Even simple things like listening to a new dad, picking up groceries for a new mom, or making a meal for a family can make a difference. 

Ask For Help

Remember that if you are feeling overwhelmed, it’s okay to say you need more support or that you don’t know how to handle something. Parenting isn’t easy and every baby is different.

Also, if you have concerns about your infant’s development or mental health, you can have a developmental screening.  Talk to your doctor and ask for help or, in the state of Alabama, you can call 211 to get connected to resources and services. 

When we work together to nurture and protect infants, as well as support parents and caregivers, we build a healthy foundation for healthy growth and development.  

These infant mental health considerations were compiled by the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Student Consortium under the direction of Cynthia Frosch.