During the first year after birth, children are more emotionally complex and sensitive than many adults may realize. However, babies cannot always communicate their feelings with the clarity and precision that adults would generally prefer. In order to read and respond as well as possible to their infants’ needs, parents and other caregivers need to learn about healthy emotional development, possible warning signs of problems and sources of professional help.
Emotional Development Between Birth and 6 Months
In response to changes in themselves and their surroundings, babies normally go through many intense mood shifts every day. From birth, babies cry to communicate their hunger, fear, pain, discomfort and anger. They develop feelings of trust and security when their caregivers respond to these needs and simply touch, cuddle and talk or sing to them. By 6 months, they have generally learned to laugh, smile, identify familiar voices and faces, play and babble.
Between 6 and 12 Months
Older infants gain the ability to recognize their own names. They experience separation anxiety and fear of unfamiliar people. They show rage and frustration when their needs go unmet, start to differentiate between themselves and others and understand behavioral rules in a rudimentary way. They increasingly imitate adult behaviors, gestures and even words. Although interactive play comes later, by their first birthdays, babies enjoy playing alongside other children of the same age.
Warning Signs
According to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, “red flags” for infant emotional problems include a lack of curiosity in people and objects; repeated hypersensitivity to certain sounds, motions or touches; constant fearfulness and difficulty being comforted. The baby may have bruises or other injuries, unchanged diapers, unbathed skin, untended medical problems or other signs of abuse and neglect. According to the American Psychological Association, the most common causes of disrupted emotional development in babies are undiagnosed or undertreated disabilities; depression or other mental health disorder in a parent or other caregiver; family, parenting and attachment problems; and experiencing or witnessing traumatic stressors like child abuse or neglect, domestic violence, environmental disaster, poverty and discrimination.
Getting Professional Help
Most babies with disrupted emotional development benefit in both the short and long term from prompt, early professional diagnosis and treatment. In the U.S., HealthCare.gov or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Mental Health Services Locator can help you find help. Immediately report any suspected abuse or neglect to the appropriate child welfare or law enforcement agency. In Canada, the United States, and U.S. territories, you can call the ChildHelp Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD.
References
- American Psychological Association: Addressing Missed Opportunities for Early Childhood Mental Health Intervention
- Childhelp: Get Help
- Child Welfare Information Gateway: Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect: Signs and Symptoms
- Idaho Department of Health and Welfare: What Is Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health?
- International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
- Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health: Should I Be Concerned?
- Parents.com: Month-by=Month Guide to Baby’s Emotional Development
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Mental Health Services Locator
- World Association for Infant Mental Health
- Zero to Three: Development of Social-Emotional Skills
