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Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) refers to the social, emotional, and cognitive well-being of children from birth to about age five. It focuses on secure relationships, emotional expression, and exploration within nurturing families and communities.

These first five years of a child’s life are critical to their physical health, learning, and emotional well-being. During this time, adverse experiences such as disrupted attachment caused by parental substance use, mental health problems, or traumatic loss, can lead to harmful levels of stress that negatively affect a child’s development. IECMH services buffer the impact of stress and trauma and lay the foundation for long-term well-being. By addressing both child and caregiver needs, IECMH services strengthen caregivers’ capacity to nurture and respond to their child’s needs, promote emotional regulation and resilience in children, and connect families with additional supports.

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Relationships Matter

Having a good relationship with your baby helps your child develop good mental health. When your baby has good mental health, they can develop the skills to:

  • Form close and secure relationships
  • Experience, regulate and express emotions
  • Explore their environment and learn
 
Your attention and touch is better than any toy you can buy. When you respond to your baby's cries in a safe and nuturing way, you are bonding and building trust with your baby.
 
Some people think you can spoil your baby, but science tells us this isn't true. When a baby feels loved and secure, he or she has the best chance to learn new skills and develop healthy relationships.

988 Mental Health Lifeline

If you are in crisis, call or text 988 to get connected with a trained professional.

Call 988

Doing what you can to provide a loving and stable environment for your baby gives them the best chance for being a healthy adult. The great news is it doesn't have to be perfect!

Tips for creating nuturing surrounds:

  • Create routines with your baby that happen around the same time each day (i.e. meal time, nap time, play time, bath time, story time).
  • When you can't be with your baby, leaving them with a consistent, caring, trusted adult will help your baby feel secure and safe while you are away.
  • When you have a calm response to your baby's strong emotions, it can help teach your child to self-soothe and express their emotions in a healthy way. 

Look for small ways to build moments of connection withy your child throughout your day. You can build these times into your normal routines.

Tips for creating connections:

  • Sing silly songs and read books to your child
  • Talk with your child about what you are doing together
  • Count your baby's toes when changing a diaper
  • Hug and cuddle before bed
  • Brush your teeth together
  • Have a dance party
  • Play simple games
  • Turn off distractions during meal times
  • Explore your surroundings during meal times
  • Explore your surroundings with your baby (babies are naturally curious)
  • Make a silly face and watch your baby's reaction
  • Comfort your child when they are scared, angry, or hurt

Signs and symptoms of emotional concerns in young children:

Infant (0-1 years old)

  • Rarely cries
  • Little interest in people or toys
  • Hard to calm or soothe
  • Does not make eye contact
  • Does not gain weight

Toddler (1-3 years old)

  • Does not go to familiar adults for help or comfort
  • Does not like being touched or held
  • Does not play well with others
  • Extremely fearful
  • Does not show different emotions
  • Unable to calm self (self soothe) with caregiver support

Preschool (3-5 years old)

  • Does not play well with others
  • Has trouble making friends
  • Loss of skills (regression) that toddler could previously preform (like toileting, talking, playing)
  • Destructive to self and or others
  • Withdrawn, sad, fearful
  • Unable to calm (self soothe)

How is IECMH Connected to ACEs in Oklahoma?

  • Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) — like abuse, neglect, and household challenges — disrupt early brain development and emotional growth.
  • Oklahoma has a high rate of children affected by ACEs, especially in some communities, increasing risks for learning and behavioral difficulties.
  • IECMH efforts work to buffer these impacts by strengthening early relationships, promoting emotional regulation, and offering trauma-informed supports

IECMH Supports in Oklahoma

  • IECMH Consultation in Childcare Settings
    • Consultation for childcare providers to promote social-emotional learning and address challenging behaviors using the Pyramid Model.
  • Child Guidance Program (County Health Departments)
    • Behavioral health counseling, trauma-informed care, caregiver coaching, developmental screenings, and speech therapy for children birth–8 years.
  • Workforce Development & Training
    • Virtual and in-person training programs for professionals, including the Infant Mental Health ECHO and OK-AIMH endorsements.
  • Crisis Supports & Systems of Care
    • Early Childhood Warmline (1-877-271-7611) and coordinated wraparound services through ODMHSAS.

Contact & Resources

  • County Health Departments: For Child Guidance Program and developmental screenings.
  • OK-AIMH: Professional training and endorsement
  • Early Childhood Warmline: 1-877-271-7611
  • Project ECHO (OSU-Tulsa): Infant Mental Health training programs

Together, Oklahoma builds resilience in our youngest children by supporting families and strengthening early relationships for healthy mental health and development.

Service Type Who it Benefits Typical Providers
IECMH Consultation Childcare providers & children up to 5 years old State Department of Health, ODMHSAS, community nonprofits
Child Guidance Clinics Families & children up to 8 years old County health departments, OUHSC, Tulsa Department of Health
Behavioral & Speech Therapy Children with trauma, behavior, or communication needs Licensed counselors, SLPs
Warmline Support Parents, providers, children in distress Warmline
Systems of Care High-risk families needing coordinated wraparound ODMHSAS, local community networks

Nearly everything supports a relationship-based, trauma-informed approach, aiming to build capacity, provide early intervention, and strengthen caregiver–child bonds.

Contact the Children's Services Team

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