A new parent may primarily concern herself with her baby's physical health. The need to be fed, clothed, cleaned, bathed and comfortable keeps one or both parents busy for months. Although many parents don't actively think about their infant's mental health needs, most of them do an effective job of meeting them simply by focusing love and attention on their baby.
Features
The World Association for Infant Mental Health describes infant mental health as having social, physical, cognitive and emotional components. It involves being able to meet the challenges of infancy, such as the development of trust, and growing from a totally dependent infant into a less dependent, well-adjusted toddler. Infants with good mental health are better equipped to reach their physical and intellectual developmental milestones.
Significance
The first years of a child's life are filled with mental and physical growth. Setbacks at this time can cause a lifetime of disability or poor adjustment. Children whose mental and physical needs are consistently met in infancy are more likely to have good mental health throughout life.
Contributing Factors
An infant's mental health depends on healthy nutrition, adequate rest, stimulation and attention. A parent or primary caregiver's influence is crucial as the child develops feelings of trust. Infants need to feel love and touch and have opportunities to explore the world around them. Simple games and back-and-forth babbling and communication also help an infant's brain grow normally.
Detrimental Factors
Infants who are abused or neglected are at risk of developing mental health problems during infancy and later in life. Children born prematurely or with complex medical needs are at higher risk of mental health problems. Homelessness and severe poverty can be detrimental to an infant's mental health development. Depression in an infant's mother also makes a child vulnerable to mental health problems, explains the Center on Infant Mental Health and Development.
Specific Concerns
Some infants appear depressed, with little interest in eating or interacting with the world around them. If an infant weighs less than is normal for his sex and age, he may be diagnosed with failure to thrive, a complex diagnosis that often involves mental and physical components. Infants may also have separation anxiety, a condition in which they become upset when away from their parent or primary caregiver. According to the Merck Manual Home Edition, separation anxiety is a normal phenomenon for infants between 8 months and 2 years of age. It may be considered pathological when it is severe or lasts beyond 2 years of age. Infants who are extremely restless, practice repetitive self-harming behaviors or cannot be comforted may be diagnosed with mental health problems in later years.
References
- "Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: Concepts of Care in Evidence-Based Practice"; Mary C. Townsend, M.N., A.P.R.N.; 2006
- Zero to Three: Healthy Minds: Nurturing Your Child's Development From 2 to 6 Months
- Center on Infant Mental Health and Development: Our Approach to Infant Mental Health
- Merck Manuals Home Edition: Separation Anxiety
- Kids Health: Failure to Thrive
- World Association for Infant Mental Health
