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Signs of Infant Mental Health Distress & When to See a Doctor

 Signs of Infant Mental Health Distress & When to See a Doctor

by Michaela Myles & Monique Staples

As for most illnesses including mental health illnesses, it is best to consult a doctor as soon as possible. This also goes for the mental health of infants. While parents and/or caretakers can often be stumped, as infants cannot use words to express what they are feeling, there are a few common warning signs to watch for that indicate that your infant may be struggling with their mental well-being. 


When considering the mental health of your infant, it is important to include any potential factors that may increase the likelihood of mental health struggles in your infant.


Risk Factors Parents:

  • Struggle with a mental health challenge, including postpartum depression
  •  Where abused in their childhood
  • Have issues with drugs and alcohol
  • Have issues with relationships 
  • Have violent/abusive tendencies
  • They lack support
  • They are young, teenagers
  • Have had a difficult, scary, or traumatic birth experience

Risk Factors Infant:

  • Has issues around sleep and/or feeding
  • Over-responds or under-responds to things

Risk Factors Infant to Parent:

  • Poor attachment between an infant and their parent/parents or caretaker



As an infant is unable to verbally express if they are having a problem, pay attention to some potential signs that your infant is struggling. 


Contact your doctor if any of the following signs are true for your infant:

  • Baby does not want to be held
  • Baby cannot be comforted when upset
  • Baby continues to be upset for longer than what seems right
  • Has problems with eating and sleeping
  • Baby does not make eye contact with parents or caretaker or baby avoids eye contact with others
  • Baby does not seem to interact willingly with others
  • Baby does not make typical baby sounds often, such as cooing or babbling
  • Baby does not use expected language for their age
  • Baby seems to lose skills they were once able to do


(Kelty Mental Health Center, 2021)

https://keltymentalhealth.ca/infant-mental-health

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