Infant Mental Health
Promoting Mental Health
Caregiver Self-Care
Why is Self-Care Important?
Practicing self-care means taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally - this can look different from person to person. Self-care relies on an increased awareness of self. By being able to recognize patterns in your own emotions it will allow you to recognize when you are overwhelmed, stressed, etc. as well as allowing you to recognize these patterns in your infant.
Self-Care and Infant Mental Health
Infants mental health can be affected by the overall well-being of their family and caregivers. When caregivers are unavailable, they may not be able to recognize early infant cues and respond appropriately to their growing needs. It is important to take care of yourself as the caregiver so you are able to support your infants emotional, social and cognitive well-being.
Tips for Caring for Yourself
Practicing self-care not only includes one's physical well-being, but also their mental and emotional well being. There are multiple ways to practice self-care.
Physical Well-Being
Physical well-being includes practices that cares for one's body in order to achieve optimal mental health. These can include;
Getting enough sleep (7 to 9 hours)
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Drink water to stay hydrated (2L/day)
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Eating regular small meals throughout the day.
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Participating in exercise when possible.
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E.g.
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Going for a walk
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Doing Yoga
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Playing a sport
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Mental andEmotional Well-Being
Mental and emotional well-being includes practices that care for one's mind and soul in order to achieve mental health. These can include;
Participating in breathing exercises or meditation
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Engage in an activity that you enjoy
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Call a close friend or family member to catch up
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Write a journal
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Know yourself and identify when you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed and reflect on the situation.
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References
♡, D. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://weheartit.com/Diahnlove/collections/23876941-
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How Does Self-Care Affect Mental Health? (2019, July 29). Retrieved from
https://sbtreatment.com/blog/self-care-affect-mental-health/
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Lu, B. (2016, October 13). Self-Care - Selfish or Quintessential? Retrieved from
http://ucsdguardian.org/2016/10/13/self-care-selfish-or-quintessential/
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Social-Emotional Development: An Introduction: VLS. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.virtuallabschool.org/infant-toddler/social-emotional/lesson-1
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The Importance of Self-Care in Maintaining Positive Mental Health. (2019, April 24). Retrieved from
https://www.crisiscenter.com/the-importance-of-self-care-in-maintaining-positive-mental-health/
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watering can free vector icons designed by Freepik. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.flaticon.com/free-icon/watering-can_90354
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