Parents, carers, and families across Cork and Kerry are invited to a series of free events from 9th to 15th June to celebrate Infant Mental Health Awareness Week 2025.
Babies, toddlers, and their parents will enjoy a week of free events, including fun activities and learning about infant mental health. Throughout the week parents, expecting parents, carers, and families are invited to participate in free talks, playgroups, and storytelling sessions, all aimed at supporting infants’ emotional and social development.
Libraries across Cork and Kerry are playing a key role in this year’s celebration, hosting story times for babies and toddlers, showing how reading and play helps babies to grow, learn, and build strong connections with parents.
Rachel Knox, Child Health Programme Development Officer, HSE South West, spoke on the importance of Infant Mental Health Awareness week: "A baby’s brain grows quickly in the first three years. By three months old, babies can recognise their parents’ emotions. By age three, their brain is 80% of its adult size. Every interaction helps shape their future health and happiness. Relationships in these early years set the groundwork for a baby’s ability to regulate emotions, form secure relationships, and explore their environment. Strong parent-infant connections shape emotional resilience"
Ella Lovett, Principal Clinical Psychologist (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service), HSE South West added: "Infant mental health is about how babies develop socially and emotionally from birth to age three. Every experience shapes their future. Babies and toddlers learn to build relationships, regulate their emotions and explore their world based on the care and support they receive. This Infant Mental Health Awareness Week provides us with the opportunity to highlight the importance of supporting babies’ emotional wellbeing. Through partnerships with libraries and local organisations, we’re offering events where parents can learn about their baby’s developing brain and how to support that, as well as opportunities where parents and babies can play, connect, and build strong relationships."
Laura Crowley, a parent from Charleville, Cork, shared her thoughts ahead of Infant Mental Health Week 2025: "It’s wonderful to see events like these recognising the importance of infant mental health. As a parent, knowing there are spaces where we can connect, learn, and support our little ones’ development is incredibly reassuring. These moments shape their future, and it’s encouraging to be part of a community that values them."
Emer O’Brien, Cork County Librarian: "Libraries are a gateway to learning and connection, starting from the very first days of life. Through storytelling and shared reading, babies and toddlers build essential emotional and social foundations. We are delighted to be part of Infant Mental Health Awareness Week 2025, highlighting the power of books, play, and shared moments in nurturing young minds."
Find the full schedule of free events from 9th to 15th June at https://bit.ly/IMHWeek25 (publuu.com).
Last updated on: 03 / 06 / 2025
