Baby Minds Matter: A Christian Perspective on Infant Mental Health

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)

When we think of mental health, we often picture teenagers or adults—but God's design for human flourishing begins at birth. Just as our Heavenly Father knows us even in the womb (Jeremiah 1:5), He also deeply cares about the emotional and spiritual well-being of infants.

Infant mental health refers to the social and emotional development of children from birth to age 3—and yes, even babies can show signs of emotional distress or need. As stewards of these little lives, it's our calling to nurture their hearts, minds, and spirits from the very beginning.