Services to Support Infant Emotional Development

In the United States, young children (ages 0, 1, 2) with developmental risks can receive free services through Early Intervention (EI).  Young children with heart defects almost always qualify for EI.

Doctors should refer all babies with heart defects to EI when they are discharged from the hospital, and families can also refer their own child, by calling or writing to their local EI program. 

EI providers can help promote a baby's emotional development in multiple ways:

• Teaching parents activities and routines that teach babies about feelings, and give babies a sense of agency

• Teaching parents how to read a baby's cues, and respond to a baby's emotions sensitively and consistently

• Working directly with a baby in their home or daycare

• Offering a playgroup with other babies and parents

• Occupational therapy (OT)

• Speech and language therapy

Families should always tell their EI coordinator if they are concerned about how a baby is thinking, feeling, or behaving.  The EI team can help assess any changes, and design an appropriate intervention.

Parent guidance is a treatment for parents to help them to manage their child's challenges.

Through parent guidance, therapists can help with:

• Family relationships

• Coping with the baby's illness

• Interpreting a baby's cues, and meeting a baby's needs

• Learning routines and behaviors that encourage secure attachment and bonding

• Learning strategies to soothe and calm a baby

• Establishing healthy sleep routines

• Discovering ways to play with and enjoy a baby

• A family history of trauma

• Grief

Families can ask their doctor or cardiac neurodevelopmental program where to find family guidance in their area.

Occupational therapists (OTs) can offer many different services to babies with heart defects, including support with emotion regulation.

OTs can help parents and babies to:

• determine what makes a baby agitated

• determine what makes a baby relaxed

• teach strategies for managing big emotional reactions

• help babies tolerate different sensations and experiences

Many babies with heart defects receive OT through EI. Families may also find EI through outpatient clinics, or in the hospital while inpatient.

Although experts can help promote healthy emotional development, no one can replace the role of a supportive parent. Babies are completely dependent on their parents for all aspects of their care, including their emotional care.

Parents can trust that as long as they are paying attention to their baby's cues and responding lovingly and consistently to their baby's needs, they are already offering the single most important intervention for emotional learning.

This content was reviewed by a psychologist at Boston Children's Hospital.

Developmental care is best when it is local. Families local to Boston can receive care from the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Program (CNP). Families from other regions can use the link below to find their local care team.