Infusing infant mental health practices into front-line caregiving

The core principle of infant mental health is creating a healthy emotional attachment with the primary caregiver. Because many young children spend time with caregivers other than parents, all the individuals in their lives need to support their emotional development and be able to recognize early signs of unmet emotional needs. Principles of infant mental health common across caregivers and programs include strengthening the caregiver-child relationship through focusing on the importance of human touch and proximity to the caregiver, responsive caregiving, continuity of care, and emotional nurturance and comfort. This article addresses strategies for infusing these principles into practice everyday practices in four areas: child care, home visiting programs, early intervention, and the judicial system.