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What does trauma do to a baby’s brain?
Trauma can greatly impact the developing and vulnerable minds of young children aged 0-3. However, the impact of trauma can vary depending on some key factors.
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Addressing Trauma: Support and Resources for Young Children
Children of all ages can experience the impact of trauma.
When events such as parental incarceration, family separation, abuse or neglect, the illness or death of a parent, or natural disasters occur early in life, they weigh on children emotionally and physically.
Young children can quickly absorb information, environments, love and trauma. Constant and excessive exposure to toxic stress can rewire the developing brains of young children and trigger constant stress responses — fight, flight or freeze.
Not every young child suffers traumatic stress after a distressing event, but for those who do, trauma can profoundly affect their well-being and development.
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Children are never too young to experience trauma and stress, and these difficult feelings can have a big impact on little kids.
Why It Matters
For babies, early trauma can impact lifelong learning, mental and physical health, and development. That’s why it's critical to act early–because every child deserves the chance to grow up with safety and security.
Caregivers and early childhood professionals can play a vital role in helping restore and maintain emotional safety, serving as a buffer against some of the long-term impacts.
Current findings and research
While a single event can cause trauma, it can also stem from multiple experiences that impact children over time, for example, a car accident or repeated verbal abuse from a caregiver. Any perceived threat or harm can be traumatic for a child, including physical neglect, domestic or community violence, loss of a loved one, life-threatening illness, terrorism and natural disasters.
Here are some of our key findings about trauma in infants and babies:
Sources: ZERO TO THREE. State of Babies Yearbook: 2022. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2019, July 11). Identifying, preventing, and treating childhood trauma [Congressional testimony].
I am astounded every day at how effective this trauma-informed approach is. When I began as a Florida Circuit Judge more than 30 years ago, I didn’t know the impact Judges and Court Teams could have on the trajectory of families if only we understood and recognized that trauma, child development, and outcomes are inextricably linked. Thankfully, I have had the opportunity to apply it and see infants, toddlers and families thrive.”
ZERO TO THREE's Impact
ZERO TO THREE has made huge strides in understanding childhood trauma. Here are some of our initiatives:
- HealthySteps: Our transformational HealthySteps program places early childhood development and behavioral health specialists in pediatric visits, giving families the tools to address traumatic stress.
- Safe Babies: The life-changing Safe Babies™ program supports child well-being and reduces involvement in the child welfare system, supporting families and minimizing the removal of children from their homes.
- Support for families: Our resources for caregivers, parents and those closest to young children can help them provide caring support during traumatic times.
- Trauma-informed care training: Our training, including the groundbreaking DC:0–5™ Infant Mental Health Training, equips professionals to diagnose and address early childhood mental health issues like trauma.
- Professional events: Besides professional training opportunities, our annual LEARN conference equips professionals to handle early childhood mental health and trauma issues.
Early childhood trauma resources
Regardless of the setting — a home, classroom or health care provider office — caregivers and professionals can help young children process negative experiences. We offer free training on compassionate response for agencies that partner with first responders.
We also have training for clinicians and educators to learn about trauma-informed practices. Our extensive resource library has information for families, professionals and policymakers about dealing with trauma in early childhood.
Compassionate Response
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Helping Toddlers Cope with Grief and Death
As hard as it can be to answer questions about the death of a loved one, it’s an important way to help toddlers cope with grief and death.
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Trauma-Informed Care in Early Childhood Education Programs
Implementing trauma-informed care in early childhood education can increase the chances that young traumatized children recover, thrive, and enter kindergarten ready to learn.
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Buzzwords Explained: Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma-informed care gives kids security. Whether in classroom or clinical settings, learn more about responsive care for children who have experienced trauma.
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What do mental health issues in young children look like?
Babies and toddlers can and do suffer from mental health problems caused by trauma, neglect, biological factors, or environmental situations.
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Get involved today
Supporting the emotional and mental health of infants and young children who have experienced trauma is critical for their long-term development.
Make a lasting impact on the lives of our nation’s youngest children.
