The research has been overwhelming – there is without a doubt, a mind-body connection and even more recently, the addition of the soul. Our being does not function in silos. We know that trauma can lead to physical illness and ailments while disease can impact our mental health and our spirit. When it comes to infant mental health, we must place emphasis on the whole child – physical, social, emotional, sensory, cognitive, communication. But remember, everything grows from those very early relationships. We cannot skip over just how important healthy and secure attachments are for the development of children. Babies are born with the innate drive and desire to connect with other humans more than anything else. Those first moments of skin-to-skin contact after birth spark the early seeds of what will be social and emotional skills.
Parenting is an ART not a SCIENCE! Your interactions with the baby during those early years is more important than any toy advertised on Instagram. Begin to build this secure attachment through play. Get to know the child!

Resources | References

• NJ Children’s System of Care
• Montclair State University Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health
• KEEPING BABIES & CHILDREN IN MIND Professional Formation Series in Infant & Early Childhood