About AiMH UK

Founded in 1996 as a not-for-profit organisation, AiMH UK was the first organisation in the UK to bring together the many different professionals working with infants and their families.

AiMH UK has supported thousands of professionals to develop both their practice and understanding about infant mental health.

AiMH UK has celebrated 25 years of:

  • Raising recognition of the importance of Infant Mental Health for future development
  • Successfully lobbying for Infant Mental Health to become part of government policy and planning
  • Bringing together diverse professionals whose work promotes the well-being of infants and toddlers

Recent developments include:

  • Contributing to raising standards of Infant Mental Health Practice with the launch, at the Houses of Parliament, of the Infant Mental Health Competency Framework
  • Hosting a wide range of accessible online CPD training events delivered by experts in the field of infant mental health and designed to update professional practice.

Why Infant Mental Health?

The emotional well-being of babies and young children lays the foundation for healthy relationships, future mental health and brain development.

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Bonding with theunborn baby

The emotional health and wellbeing of a baby begins before they are born, particularly in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Practitioners who support the mental health of pregnant mothers, and support parents to feel a connection with their baby during pregnancy, are helping to lay the earliest foundation of an infant’s long-term social, emotional and cognitive development.

Watch the video

Infant attachment to the‘primary caregiver’

A ‘secure attachment’ to their primary caregivers, gives babies the best start in life and significant advantages that continue throughout their life. Such attachment develops from relationships with carers that are timely, predictable, and sensitive. Practitioners have an important role to play in helping parents to provide such sensitive care, and in supporting the development of healthy parent-infant relationships. Join AiMH UK to learn about new ways of doing this.

Watch the video

Caregiver abilityto think about the baby

In addition to repeated sensitive interactions babies also need caregivers who can be ‘mind-minded’ (also known as ‘reflective functioning’) or who are able to think about what their baby might be like or feeling both before and after birth. Early years workers have a vital role to play in supporting the development of mind-mindedness both pre and postnatal. Join AiMH UK to learn new skills to promote mind-mindedness.

Watch the video

Infant BrainDevelopment

Optimal social, emotional and cognitive development are underpinned by growth in the baby’s brain that takes place during pregnancy and the first few years of life. Prebirth the mothers mental health, diet and use of substances influences this growth, and post-birth it is influenced by repeated reciprocal interactions between the infant and their caretakers. AiMH UK supports practitioners to work with parents during this important window of opportunity to develop the skills to promote optimal brain development.

Watch the video

Bonding with theunborn baby

The emotional health and wellbeing of a baby begins before they are born, particularly in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Practitioners who support the mental health of pregnant mothers, and support parents to feel a connection with their baby during pregnancy, are helping to lay the earliest foundation of an infant’s long-term social, emotional and cognitive development.

Watch the video

Infant attachment to the‘primary caregiver’

A ‘secure attachment’ to their primary caregivers, gives babies the best start in life and significant advantages that continue throughout their life. Such attachment develops from relationships with carers that are timely, predictable, and sensitive. Practitioners have an important role to play in helping parents to provide such sensitive care, and in supporting the development of healthy parent-infant relationships. Join AiMH UK to learn about new way of doing this.

Watch the video

Caregiver abilityto think about the baby

In addition to repeated sensitive interactions babies also need caregivers who can be ‘mind-minded’ (also known as ‘reflective functioning’) or who are able to think about what their baby might be like or feeling both before and after birth. Early years workers have a vital role to play in supporting the development of mind-mindedness both pre and postnatal. Join AiMH UK to learn new skills to promote mind-mindedness.

Watch the video

Infant BrainDevelopment

Optimal social, emotional and cognitive development are underpinned by growth in the baby’s brain that takes place during pregnancy and the first few years of life. Prebirth the mothers mental health, diet and use of substances influences this growth, and post-birth it is influenced by repeated reciprocal interactions between the infant and their caretakers. AiMH UK supports practitioners to work with parents during this important window of opportunity to develop the skills to promote optimal brain development.

Watch the video

Bonding with theunborn baby

The emotional health and wellbeing of a baby begins before they are born, particularly in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Practitioners who support the mental health of pregnant mothers, and support parents to feel a connection with their baby during pregnancy, are helping to lay the earliest foundation of an infant’s long-term social, emotional and cognitive development.

Watch the video

Infant attachment to the‘primary caregiver’

A ‘secure attachment’ to their primary caregivers, gives babies the best start in life and significant advantages that continue throughout their life. Such attachment develops from relationships with carers that are timely, predictable, and sensitive. Practitioners have an important role to play in helping parents to provide such sensitive care, and in supporting the development of healthy parent-infant relationships. Join AiMH UK to learn about new way of doing this.

Watch the video

Caregiver abilityto think about the baby

In addition to repeated sensitive interactions babies also need caregivers who can be ‘mind-minded’ (also known as ‘reflective functioning’) or who are able to think about what their baby might be like or feeling both before and after birth. Early years workers have a vital role to play in supporting the development of mind-mindedness both pre and postnatal. Join AiMH UK to learn new skills to promote mind-mindedness.

Watch the video

Infant BrainDevelopment

Optimal social, emotional and cognitive development are underpinned by growth in the baby’s brain that takes place during pregnancy and the first few years of life. Prebirth the mothers mental health, diet and use of substances influences this growth, and post-birth it is influenced by repeated reciprocal interactions between the infant and their caretakers. AiMH UK supports practitioners to work with parents during this important window of opportunity to develop the skills to promote optimal brain development.

Watch the video

Meet the team

Senior Management

Trustees

Honorary Advisers

Executive Committee

Debbie Brace
Early Language and Behaviour Consultant

Dr Nicola Canale
Specialist Educational Psychologist & Parents Plus Manager

Jane Davies
Specialist Health Visitor

Sarah Fielding
Highly Specialised Child Psychotherapist

Elizabeth Hills
Practice Lead / Manager Court Work Facilitator Team

Clare Lord
Early Years Adviser

Penny Rackett
Educational Psychologist East Lothian, Video Interaction Guidance Advanced Supervisor

Dr Kerry Taylor
Founder & Clinical Director (BrightPip)

Julie Watson
National Professional Advisor Children and young people (& Supporting maternity) & Lead for CQC Think Child Strategy