Our new briefing, co-authored with the Parent-Infant Foundation, is calling for babies’ emotional and mental health needs to be recognised, understood and embedded within mental health policy, services and decision-making across the UK.
The report highlights a stark reality that whilst babies rely on safe, nurturing relationships to support healthy development, thousands are growing up experiencing fear, confusion and distress. Around 80,000 babies each year are estimated to be at risk of disorganised attachment, a significant infant mental health concern, yet only a small proportion receive specialist support. Despite growing recognition of the importance of the first years of life, babies remain largely invisible within many mental health systems, a challenge the publication describes as the “Baby Blindspot”.
At the heart of the report is the concept of Baby Voice, the recognition that babies have emotional and mental health needs, even though they cannot express them through words. Through their behaviour, relationships, responses to stress and ability to seek comfort, babies communicate important information about their wellbeing. The publication argues that services, professionals and policymakers must become better at recognising these signals and ensuring that babies’ experiences influence decisions about care, intervention and service design.
The publication also emphasises the critical role of parent-infant relationships in shaping lifelong mental health outcomes. When families face challenges such as trauma, poor mental health, domestic abuse, housing instability or poverty, the parent-infant relationship can come under strain, increasing the risk of difficulties for babies. Early support, particularly through specialist parent-infant relationship teams, can help strengthen these relationships and prevent problems from escalating.
Drawing on research, national guidance and examples of best practice from across the UK, the publication sets out a practical framework for embedding Baby Voice within services and governance structures. It highlights how organisations can create baby-friendly environments, better understand infant communication, actively consider babies’ perspectives in decision-making, and ensure those perspectives influence action.
The briefing is a call to action for policymakers, service leaders, commissioners and practitioners to ensure that every baby is seen, heard and supported from the very beginning.
