Babies in Mind: Why the Parent's Mind Matters

Understand the impact of early experiences on child development

A child’s development begins long before birth. Knowing how prenatal and postnatal experiences about a baby, starting even in utero, shape brain and emotional growth is crucial for anyone dedicated to supporting healthy child development.

On this four-week course from the University of Oxford, explore how mothers-to-be can connect with their babies and the impact of things like parental anxiety and depression on their development.

Discover the ways babies first make sense of the world – and themselves

After a brief course introduction and a look into what babies need in their early environments, you’ll learn how social contexts develop a baby’s understanding of who they are.

You’ll explore attachment theories and how these early connections influence later emotional and cognitive growth.

Go inside the emotional and cognitive mind of a parent

You’ll then examine the impacts of a parent’s cognitive state and emotional well-being on their baby’s development.

You’ll explore how mental health challenges, such as anxiety and depression, affect the parent-child bond and shape a child’s brain, behaviour, and emotional growth.

Understand prenatal influences on a baby’s development

This course also goes into depth about a baby’s development during pregnancy.

You’ll get an overview of foetal programming and its impact on foetal development, which will help you understand the early experiences that shape a child’s physical and emotional foundation.

You’ll also get insight into supportive methods that promote healthy prenatal and postnatal development, empowering you to provide the best care and support during this crucial stage of life.

This course is ideal for parents, caregivers, and professionals supporting families in the early years. Whether you’re interested in infant mental health, child development, or attachment theory, you’ll gain key insights into how early relationships shape a baby’s mind. No prior knowledge is needed.

This course is ideal for parents, caregivers, and professionals supporting families in the early years. Whether you’re interested in infant mental health, child development, or attachment theory, you’ll gain key insights into how early relationships shape a baby’s mind. No prior knowledge is needed.

• The key factors in pregnancy and the first 2 years of life that influence the long term development of children
• The mechanisms (both physiological and psychological) by which such factors exert their influence on children’s development
• Some of the key ways of intervening during the pre and postnatal periods to both support optimal child development and also to address some of the problems that parents and infants experience.