A baby’s brain grows faster in the first three years than at any other time in life. If babies receive the care they need during this time, they’re o to a strong start, but if babies experience stress, abuse, or other disruptive events, the effects can be felt for a lifetime. By intervening early, we set babies up for the strongest start in life.
Babies’ Mental Health Matters
More than 1 in 10 children under the age of five experience diagnosable mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder or anxiety. When a family faces hard circumstances – like a natural disaster, loss of a loved one, financial struggle or a parent’s depression – babies feel it. Stress at home can disrupt the stable relationships and steady brain growth young children need, leading to emotional and behavior problems and learning delays that show up later in school and life.