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Many factors contribute to infant mental health (and later adult mental health).
What it boils down to are a few seemingly basic components:
relationship between family and child, temperaments of the child and of the caregivers,
the caregiver and family responsiveness to infant needs,
and a family's ability to read their baby's cues.

Consideration of such factors is so important to prevent many of the mental health problems
we see in our society. I honestly believe our world would be a better place if all families
were aware of these components and the dramatic impact they have on their infant.
Unfortunately, the preventative health movement is in it's infancy in the United States.
We don't start to think about health until a lot of damage has been done.
Preventative mental health is being born and is referred to with many different
names (ie.mental wellness, infant mental health). Fortunately, we are starting to respond
to mental health with a more open and collaborative mind.

Caregivers usually don't start to think about "discipline" until that age where
independence is developing. Yes, those "terrific twos"! But discipline really starts at birth or before.
Discipline is not simply about consequences and rewards. It is about learning how to self-regulate
(or as I'd like to put, channeling energy in an effective way). How can you teach an infant
to channel their energy? The answer is so simple and yet so difficult to put into practice.
Simply put: rituals and routines. Rituals are developed through shared cultural beliefs
and the consistent structure in how they are carried out are vital.
Rituals might be: praying before bed time, going to a place of worship
on a regular basis, gathering around a dinner table on a daily or weekly basis.
Rituals give an infant a sense of belonging.

Routines might or might not be culturally based, but they are consistent and structured.
Bed time, bath time, meal times, nap time, clean up time, potty time.
So when is the best time for all of these things?
That depends on your infant! When does your baby like to take naps, eat, sleep, take a bath?
You and your infant can create a discipline plan together! Now what would Freud think about that?
A lot of parents do this naturally. For example, feed the baby before naptime,
change the diaper after naptime, put the baby to bed at a given time,
wake up for feedings during certain times in the night, etc.

The older the child gets, the more flexible routines can become.
Depending on your culture, rituals may not be as flexible.
When it comes to toddler mental wellness, a lot of parents ask about "problem behaviors."
These behaviors might include but are not limited to: biting, hitting, "doing what you're told not to,"
crying excessively, wanting to be held excessively, or having a "tantrum."
Instead of trying to get rid of the behavior (through punishment),
a caregiver/teacher might find it useful to ask many questions.
"What is the child trying to tell me or ask of me?" "When does the child act in a way
that is socially inappropriate or a 'problem?' "What is the response I want to see?"
"How can I teach this to the child?"
Please contact me with further questions about how to manage toddler behavior!
It is a topic I could write many books on!

In the meantime, check out this article on google scholar about the importance of touch for critically ill
children and how modern technology needs to "get with the times."
Technology and Touch

If you have any comments, criticisms or ideas related to this article, please send
them my way. Please remember, that your contributions as a parent or professional are vital
in the discussion and conception of "preventative mental health."
Please send ideas, thoughts, comments, questions, articles, etc.
to chai.b.benson@babyawareness.com.