Early relationships matter.

Welcome to Love from the Start, where we share insight about the profound impact caring adults have on the development of infants and young children.

From day one, children look to parents and caregivers for love, guidance, and security. Babies' brains are wired for relationships right from birth—flourishing every time someone connects, talks, or plays with them.

The warmth of even one nurturing, caring relationship establishes the foundation for a lifetime of mental health.



What is Love from the Start?

Frederick Douglass's timeless wisdom echoes: "It is easier to build strong children than to fix broken men.” But what does it take to build strong children? That is what Love from the Start is all about! We want to help more parents and caregivers in our area learn to build strong children.


Start with love: A core human need.

When we consider what babies and children need to thrive, we often prioritize external factors like food, shelter, clothing, and medicine—crucial elements for their survival and physical health. We seek to protect them from harm. However, what about their internal well-being—their heart and their brain? Their resilience?

Strong early attachments with caring adults correlate with better mental health and fewer behavior challenges as children grow up and face difficulties. This campaign reminds adults of the greatest need: love. Dr. Carl C. Bell emphasizes, "Risk factors are not predictive factors because of protective factors." Research indicates that the presence of a caring adult is one of the most powerful protective factors for a child—and this starts from birth!


What is infant and early childhood mental health?

Infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH) focuses on the social-emotional development of children from birth through age 5. IECMH is not about putting babies on Sigmund Freud’s couch but rather focuses on the capacity of very young, developing minds to experience emotions, form relationships, and learn.

Warm interactions where adults connect, talk, and play with the kids in their lives foster confidence, resilience, and communication skills, vital for future problem-solving, stress management, and healthy relationships.

The quality of caregiver/child relationship is crucial during the first years of brain development. The first three years are a phase of rapid brain development—babies' brains create 1 million new neural connections every second, laying the foundation for overall well-being. Early relationships set the stage for a lifetime of mental health.



Resource Library

Explore the resources below for insights, strategies, and support to nurture your young child's mental health during these all-important early years. 

  • The RULER Approach: A method of helping children develop emotional intelligence by learning to recognize, label, and regulate emotions.



Social Media Toolkit

Below you'll find ready-made images you can share to your social media networks to show that love is the most powerful way to help children reach their full potential. Together, let's build a foundation that lasts a lifetime by giving all our children Love from the Start.

We invite you to use the hashtag #LoveFromTheStart and to tag Healthi Kids in your posts.



Thank you to our sponsors!

Love from the Start is made possible through the generous support of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation and the Greater Rochester Health Foundation.