When Do Infants and Toddlers Benefit from Mental Health Services?

By Lianne Lennert, PsyD

Many people believe that infants and toddlers are too young to have emotional problems, or, if they have problems, are too young to treat. This is unfortunate, because during the first few years of life, appropriate treatment is more effective, and requires less effort, than at any other time of life.

The reason for this is that infants and toddlers are (with the help of their caregivers) creating a foundation for emotional health that will last a lifetime. Addressing mild problems in parent-child interactions during these formative years can result in a much stronger foundation that will serve as a resource for preventing emotional disorders throughout the life span.

When do infants or toddlers benefit from mental health services?

Infants and toddlers often benefit from mental health services when there is something getting in the way of the parent and baby having or communicating positive feelings, or  working together to meet the infant or toddler’s needs. You might want to consult with an early childhood psychologist if:

How does an early childhood psychologist work with infants and toddlers? 

As you might guess, infants are not very good at “talk therapy,” so it is sometimes hard for parents to imagine what a psychologist might do to help a very young child. The process usually starts with a phone call. The psychologist will ask questions about your concerns and schedule an appointment. Often, the first appointment is only with the parents, and you might not even bring your baby. This is so that you can talk without distractions. The psychologist will also schedule a time to observe you and your baby and how you interact. This helps the psychologist get an idea of how your baby or toddler is doing as well as getting an idea of how well you work together—how well does your baby communicate needs, for example, or how well does he/she take in comfort if she/he is upset. Once the psychologist understands the problem, he or she will talk with you about what is needed and what your options are. A psychologist familiar with infant-toddler mental health can:

Why do infant-parent relationships matter so much?

In the book, [1]From Neurons to Neighborhoods, the researchers from the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine describe three crucial developmental tasks during infancy and toddlerhood. These tasks include:

All of these tasks depend on having a healthy, responsive relationship with one or a few caregivers during the first three years of life. Research shows that the most important learning experiences for infants and young children are social and relational. The right side of the brain—the part that processes faces and facial expression, language prosody (the “music” of language), and nonverbal and emotional communication, is growing rapidly during the first 18 months of life. Healthy parent-child interactions build these important foundational skills because they are helping to shape the areas of the brain these skills are based on!

Unfortunately, there are a wide variety of problems that can interfere with the development of healthy parent-child relationships, including:

By talking to an early childhood psychologist, parents of young children with problems can better understand the needs of their particular child and how to recognize and respond to those needs. This enables them to work with their infant or toddler to build a satisfying, nurturing relationship that supports brain development. This also helps them to build the foundation for future mental, emotional, and physical health, strong friendships, and good learning skills.

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Last modified: 11/17/07