What is Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health?

According to the ZERO TO THREE Infant Mental Health Task Force, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health is the developing capacity of the child from birth to age 3 to:

• experience, regulate, and express emotions

• form close and secure interpersonal relationships, and

• explore the environment and learn 

All in the context of family, community, and cultural expectations for young children.

As a field, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health is an interdisciplinary approach to research, practice, and public policy concerned with maximizing the well-being of infants, young children, and their caregivers through promotion, early identification, preventive intervention, treatment, and support.

Infant Mental Health Info Sheet in English
Infant Mental Health Info Sheet in Spanish
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