Supporting infant mental health involves creating a nurturing and responsive environment through positive interactions, play, and establishing strong bonds. This includes responding to their cues, providing comfort, and engaging in activities that promote social and emotional development.

As parents and carers, there are ways we can support our children to give them the best chance to stay mentally healthy.

Encouraging and guiding a child to think about their own mental health and wellbeing are vital skills you can teach them from a young age.

Things to try – baby

• Respond to cues – pay close attention to your baby’s signals (cries, facial expressions, body language) and respond in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Provide comfort – offer physical touch (cuddles, gentle rocking), soothing sounds, and a calm presence when your baby is distressed.
• Engage in back-and-forth interactions – talk, sing, and make faces at your baby, this encourages them to respond and fosters communication.
• Create a safe and predictable environment – consistent routines and a safe space can help infants feel secure and reduce anxiety.
• Play is crucial – engage in playful interactions that encourage exploration, creativity, and social skills. Examples include peek-a-boo, singing songs, and reading together.
• Mirroring and imitation – copy your baby’s sounds and facial expressions, and encourage them to imitate you. This helps them learn about social interaction and emotional expression.
• Positive touch – infant massage, gentle holding, and cuddles can provide comfort, promote bonding, and help regulate emotions.
• Build secure attachment – consistent, loving interactions with caregivers create a secure attachment, which is foundational for healthy emotional development.
• Seek support – connect with other parents, join support groups, or access resources for parents of young children.
• Prioritise self-care – caregivers need to prioritize their own well-being to effectively care for their infants.
• Seek professional help when needed – if you have concerns about your baby’s development or your own mental health, don’t hesitate to seek professional support.

Things to try – child

• Connect with your child every day – try to do an activity every day without any distractions to encourage conversations. This can help them to feel secure and share how they are doing and feeling.
• Have quiet time together – another way to connect with your child but also allowing for uninterrupted time, where your child can focus and build on their attention span. It can also help your child to reset their thoughts and avoid escalations and meltdowns when they are
• Praise your child when they do well – recognise your child’s efforts and achievements. Make sure to praise the small steps as well as sharing words of encouragement.
• Actively listen to your child – really listen to what they are saying and how they are feeling. Remember, children don’t have the tools and wisdom of experience, so may need your help and direction to make sense of situations and feelings.
• Where possible, stick to commitments and routines – follow through on commitments as this will build trust, continuity and relationships. Having regular routines will make your child feel safe and secure.
• Keep your promises – keep any promises you make to your child. If there is a need to break a commitment, then make sure it’s a valid reason and you explain the reason, taking into consideration their level of understanding.
• Play together – play helps children learn and develop problem solving skills, as well as opportunities for them to learn how to express their feelings. Play also is a great way to build on relationships and have fun together.
• Be a positive role model – look after your own mental health and well-being. Remember, children are intuitive and will pick up on feelings such as anxiety, stress, hopelessness and fear.
• Help your child to develop a language of feelings – children can sometimes struggle to express feelings and this can result in “acting out”.

Helpful websites and support

• Torbay Family Hub – Perinatal Mental Health and Parent Infant Relationships
• Every Mind Matters – Looking after a child or young person’s mental health
• The NHS offers advice on Mental health support for children and young people.
• Action for Children helps children and families look after their mental health with simple tools and support to feel better and cope with challenges.
• The Childhood Bereavement Network offers guidance on supporting a child through grief.
• Visit NHS – Advice for parents for support if you think your child may have an eating disorder.
• The Young Minds Parents Helpline offers parents free and confidential advice via phone, email, or webchat.
• Teachers, school nurses, social workers, and GPs can help you find the right support.
• If have any concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing, you can contact the NSPCC Helpline to talk to dedicated child protection specialists. They will be able to advise and take any necessary action. The Helpline is open 7 days a week, and can be contacted by:
• visiting the website
• emailing help@nspcc.org.uk or
• calling 0808 800 5000.