Why a baby’s first connections could shape their future for life, says Antrim neonatal team

Leanne Richmond, Clinical Sister in the Neonatal Unit at Antrim Area Hospital.

A baby’s earliest experiences can have a profound impact on their future emotional wellbeing, according to healthcare professionals at Antrim Area Hospital, who are using Infant Mental Health Awareness Week to highlight the lifelong importance of strong early relationships.

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust is raising awareness of how simple but meaningful interactions between babies and their parents or caregivers can help lay the foundations for healthy emotional development, resilience and wellbeing throughout life.

Inspired by this year’s Infant Mental Health Awareness Week theme of attunement – the ability to connect with another person on an emotional level – staff in the Neonatal Unit at Antrim Area Hospital are encouraging greater understanding of the role parents play from the very beginning of a child’s life.

Why those first moments matter

For parents, attunement means recognising, understanding and responding sensitively to their baby’s cues.

Whether through touch, eye contact, voice or physical closeness, these early interactions help babies feel safe, secure and loved while building the foundations of attachment and emotional development.

Leanne Richmond, Neonatal Clinical Sister, said the importance of these early connections cannot be overstated.

“The foundations of emotional wellbeing begin at birth. Every interaction matters, every connection counts, and every relationship shapes a future. When parents learn to recognise and respond to their baby’s cues, it helps babies feel safe, secure and loved.”

The message is particularly significant for families whose babies require specialist neonatal care, where parents can often face additional emotional and practical challenges during the first days and weeks of their child’s life.

A growing focus on infant mental health

While infant mental health has long been supported through wider neonatal practices such as neurodevelopmental care and Family-Integrated Care, it is increasingly being recognised as a distinct and essential part of healthcare for newborn babies and their families.

The Neonatal Unit at Antrim Area Hospital has become a leader in this approach, becoming the first neonatal unit in Northern Ireland to receive the BLISS Baby Charter Gold Accreditation in 2025.

The prestigious accreditation recognises the unit’s commitment to delivering high-quality, family-centred care and ensuring parents are actively involved in their baby’s treatment and development.

A key principle of this model is that parents are viewed not as visitors, but as partners in care.

Families are encouraged and supported to take part in decisions about their baby’s care and to become involved in day-to-day activities whenever possible.

Supporting families through challenging circumstances

Leanne said there can sometimes be misunderstandings around the concept of infant mental health.

“The concept of infant mental health can sometimes raise questions, like how can a baby have mental health or we never talked about infant mental health years ago. However, infant mental health is not about diagnosing mental illness in babies. It’s about supporting healthy emotional development from the very beginning of life.

“By empowering parents to feel confident in caring for their baby, we’re helping to build strong, secure relationships that have a lasting impact.”

Within the Neonatal Unit, a range of initiatives help strengthen these important early bonds, including:

• Encouraging skin-to-skin (kangaroo) care

• Providing guidance on recognising infant cues and communication

• Supporting shared decision-making between families and healthcare staff

• Offering access to specialist neonatal psychological support

• Creating opportunities for quiet bonding and interaction

• Signposting families to resources including BLISS publications

The team also works closely with parents whose babies have been born prematurely or are seriously unwell, helping them navigate what can be an emotionally difficult and uncertain period.

Building resilience from the very beginning

Healthcare professionals say the benefits of strong early relationships extend far beyond infancy.

Research continues to demonstrate how secure attachment and positive early experiences can help children develop emotional resilience, stronger social skills and healthier relationships throughout their lives.

“In an increasingly complex and fast-paced world, the importance of these early relationships cannot be overstated,” Leanne said.

“Strong early connections help to build resilience, support social development, and lay the groundwork for lifelong emotional wellbeing.”

During Infant Mental Health Awareness Week, the Northern Trust is encouraging families and the wider community to recognise the significance of a baby’s earliest experiences and the role they play in shaping future wellbeing.

“As neonatal professionals, we recognise that parents are the most important people in their baby’s life,” Leanne added.

“Our role is to support, guide and empower them, because strong beginnings create lasting impact.”

The awareness campaign serves as a reminder that while the first days of life may pass quickly, the emotional connections formed during that time can influence a child’s development for years to come.