What is Infant Mental Health?
Infant mental health refers to how well a child develops socially and emotionally from conception and throughout early childhood, in the context of their family, their community and their culture. This includes their capacity to express and regulate their emotions, begin to form relationships, and explore their environment (HSE, 2022).
For Parents
‘Building Baby from Head to Toe’ is an introductory workshop for caregivers of children aged between 0 - 2 on the topic of Infant Mental Health. It was designed by Preparing for Life in collaboration with a variety of local health, education and social care professionals. This workshop explores a range of tools that caregivers can use to support their baby’s social and emotional wellbeing.
For more information, please contact:
Melanie Murphy: melanie.murphy@nspartnership.ie
For Professionals
Preparing for Life coordinates the Dublin North East Infant Mental Health Network. This group brings together practitioners from a wide range of disciplines who are committed to supporting parents and children prenatally and throughout early childhood. The purpose of the network is to provide space for peer learning and support so that professionals are better equipped to promote and employ key messaging related to Infant Mental Health.
For more information, please contact:
Amy Fogarty: amy.fogarty@nspartnership.ie
or
Caroline Creagh: caroline.creagh@nspartnership.ie