Understanding Infant Mental Health

When you look at a newborn or an infant, do you ever wonder what's happening in their head? What are they thinking about? Are they happy? Sad? Scared? While some facial expressions and language development can help you better understand how infants experience the world around them, their mental development remains a mystery to many. But what if we told you that infants can have challenges with their mental health? The reality is that about 16% of children under 6 years have clinically significant mental health disorders or problems that require care, but why? And how can you, as a parent, help your infant develop good mental health? Here, we'll go over some key information to help you better understand infant mental health.

What is Infant Mental Health?

Infant mental health revolves around the growth and development associated with social-emotional factors, such as bonding, exploration, and positive experiences with others. It's defined as the developing capacity of children from birth to five years old to form close, secure relationships with adults and peers, experience, manage, and express a full range of emotions, and explore their surroundings—all within the context of their family, community, and culture.

Why is Infant Mental Health Important?

The first few years of your child's life are filled with fun milestones and adorable firsts. While physical milestones are the easiest to track, social and emotional development plays a significant role in infants' mental health. But why are these things so important?

The first years of life are critical for your children's brain development, making them distinct from any other time. The neural pathways forming during infancy will shape who your child becomes later in life. Although some developmental aspects rely on the environment (nature), nurture plays a larger role in positive development and children's mental health.

Some of the most notable reasons why mental health in infants should be prioritized include the following:

• Early social-emotional experiences shape the brain, influencing future mental health, behavior, and learning abilities.
• Positive early bonding experiences with caregivers promote secure attachments essential for emotional well-being and trust-building throughout life.
• Early mental health supports a child’s ability to recognize, manage, and express emotions, fostering resilience in stressful situations.
• Healthy emotional development improves cognitive abilities, including problem-solving, memory, and attention.
• Addressing mental health in infancy can reduce the risk of later mental health concerns, such as anxiety, depression, or behavioral problems.
• Early interactions with caregivers and peers teach children to form healthy relationships, share, and empathize with others.
• A stable, supportive environment during infancy is critical, as stress and trauma in these years can have long-term adverse effects on mental and physical health.

Both genes and the environment shape children’s development. The brain responds to its surroundings, whether at home or in childcare and customizes its growth accordingly. Therefore, it's important to ensure your infant's mental health needs are met in all situations.

Signs of Poor Infant Mental Health

Although it can be difficult, noticing signs of poor infant mental health can allow for early intervention. Since they can't verbalize yet, keep an eye out for any of the following:

• Trouble forming attachments or bonding
• Excessive crying and irritability (not caused by colic or hunger)
• Limited emotional expression (rarely smiling/laughing)
• Sleep disturbances
• Loss of appetite
• Feeding difficulties
• Delayed social or emotional milestones
• Avoiding eye contact
• Overly fearful or anxious
• Excessive clinginess
• Difficulty self-soothing
• Withdrawal from caregivers or peers
• Frequent aggressive behaviors
• Tantrums

If you notice any of these signs or symptoms, speaking with a professional is recommended. Some of these signs may be an indication of childhood mental health disorders, such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and other conduct disorders.

How to Help Support Strong Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

While mental health in adolescence and adulthood can be influenced by several factors, mental health in infancy tends to be more focused on the external environment. The primary influencing factor is an infant's attachment to their parents or caregivers. That said, there are several things parents can do to help improve the mental health of infants. Some of the most important factors include the following:

Focus on Fostering Secure Attachment Styles in Infants and Young Children

A secure attachment is foundational to healthy mental and emotional development. Infants who develop secure attachments to their caregivers tend to feel safe and valued, which helps them navigate the world with confidence. Secure attachments can also help infants in other developmental areas, so it's worth the effort. Over time, children with secure attachments tend to be more resilient, adaptive, and capable of forming healthy relationships later in life.

To foster this, respond consistently and warmly to your child's needs—whether hungry, tired, or seeking comfort. Holding, soothing, and interacting with your baby regularly builds trust, reinforcing that they can rely on you for safety and care. You can learn more about different parenting styles and how to foster a healthy attachment here.

Be Supportive, Attentive, and Active in Your Child's Life

Your presence and engagement are vital for your infant's emotional well-being. Being active in your child's daily life—whether through simple routines like feeding and diaper changes or playing and talking—creates a sense of security and stability. As infants begin to explore the environment around them, they learn. As they say, a young child's mind is like a sponge, so be mindful of how you act and what you say to them.

Providing consistent attention and positive feedback helps children feel valued and understood during this time. Even seemingly small actions, like making eye contact, smiling, or talking softly to your baby, promote emotional connection. This involvement nurtures their sense of belonging, teaches them how to engage with others, and supports their overall mental health. Remember, even if your newborn isn't responsive to your words, they still matter!

Try to Minimize Controllable Stressors

While some stress is inevitable, infants are particularly sensitive to environmental stressors like noise, disruptions to routine, or household conflict. Limiting these stressors can greatly improve your child’s mental health. Try to create a calm, predictable environment by maintaining regular sleep, feeding, and play schedules, and avoid overstimulating your infant with too much activity or noise.

When possible, reduce exposure to conflicts or high-stress situations, as infants can pick up on tension even when they don’t understand the specifics. A stable, low-stress environment helps infants feel secure and prevents the development of chronic stress responses that can affect their long-term mental and physical health.

Unfortunately, some children and their families are subject to uncontrollable stressors caused by socioeconomic status. If you're struggling, try to do what you can and be mindful of your relationships with others. Although some uncontrollable situations may result in adverse childhood experiences, creating a supportive space within your home can still have tremendous benefits later in life.

Recognize Your Infant's Personality and Temperament

Everyone is unique, and understanding your infant's personality and temperament is crucial to supporting their mental health. Some infants and toddlers may be naturally more outgoing and active, while others might be more cautious and slow to warm up to new experiences. Pay attention to their cues—whether they are easily overstimulated, require more comfort, or thrive in quieter environments—and try to adapt.

Acknowledging and respecting these differences can help you tailor your parenting approach to meet their needs better. When your personality and temperament match (or accept) your children's, their mental health tends to have more positive outcomes.

Access Valuable Resources

Some additional mental health resources to help you better understand infant mental health or infant mental health problems include the Infant Mental Health Journal, the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health, and the World Association for Infant Mental Health (WAIMH). Zero to Three also has tons of great resources to help you better understand how to prevent and support mental health issues.

Talk to a Professional

If you have concerns about your infant's mental health or notice signs of emotional or developmental delays, it’s important to seek professional guidance. Pediatricians, child psychologists, and infant mental health specialists can provide valuable insights and early intervention strategies. These professionals are trained to assess an infant’s mental health and can help identify any underlying issues. If you need recommendations, talk to your pediatrician today.

To help you support your child's healthy development, Byram Healthcare offers a wide selection of insurance-covered breast pumps to new and expecting moms. Browse our product selection and get started with our easy, three-step ordering process today.