When a baby is born it can be an exciting and joyful time for parents. It can be full of precious moments as you watch your baby grow and develop. A new baby can also bring on new stressors for families, including anxiety related to parenting in general, developing sleep routines, learning how to respond to your babies needs, and determining if their development is on track. While celebrating all of the milestones, you might also find yourself in a space where you are exhausted and in need of support. That is where infant behavioral health comes in as a beneficial tool for families. Infant behavioral health can help support you and your family in several different ways including:
Developing strategies to manage the challenges of parenthood. Is your infant having difficulties sleeping, self-soothing, or feeding? Or maybe you are noticing that your infant is over-responding to things in the environment or having limited reactions where a big reaction is warranted. These are challenges that you, as the parent, will work out with a behavioral health therapist. You will work together to develop ways to manage these challenges that build on your strengths as the parent.
Developing a secure attachment. In order to best meet the needs of your child, it is beneficial to build a secure attachment. When a secure attachment is established you are able to identify your child’s needs, understand how to respond to smiles and cries, and learn how to play and connect with your baby. Building this secure attachment can be crucial in your child’s development, but sometimes developing this attachment can be difficult. Obtaining behavioral health at this stage can help you understand attachment and work towards creating an exceptional relationship with your infant.
Self-care for the parent. Receiving support from a behavioral health therapist when your child is an infant can be an important part of self-care. You can take this time to learn more about child development, process your emotions related to parenting, and work through the stressors of life with a child.
Above are just a few examples of what infant behavioral health could look like. A few more examples would be exploring any developmental delays you are seeing, providing support between caregivers, and being an avenue to other services that may support your growing child. The important thing to know about infant behavioral health is that the focus is on you as the parent. You are the most important figure to the infant, and when you are at your best, the infant will thrive.
