Infant And Toddler Psychiatry Specialist

What is infant and toddler psychiatry?

Stressful life events can impact brain development during pregnancy and infancy. A responsive caregiver relationship has the potential to buffer the adverse early experiences associated with chronic poverty, post-partum depression, in-utero drug exposure, and insecure attachment. Infant and toddler psychiatry is a specialty area of child psychiatry focused on the mental and emotional needs of parents, infants, and toddlers.

Dr. Zeshan is an experienced child and adult psychiatrist and developed an interest in parenting and early intervention during his child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship training at Harvard Medical School-Boston Children’s Hospital. 

To hone his skills and knowledge, he completed a second fellowship in infant-parent mental health at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Furthermore, he got trained at the Brazelton Institute in Boston in New-born Behaviour Observation (NBO).

With his experience and training, Dr. Zeshan provides comprehensive infant and toddler psychiatry at Inside Out.

Who needs infant and toddler psychiatry?

If you have concerns about your infant or toddler’s mental health, contact Dr. Zeshan for a consultation. Signs and symptoms that your infant or toddler may be struggling with their mental health include:

• Difficulty eating
• Difficulty sleeping
• Over or under-reacts to things around them
• insecure attachment between infant and primary caregiver

You may also benefit from infant and toddler psychiatry at Inside Out if you have a history of mental illness or perinatal mood disorder. 

Dr. Zeshan also recommends infant and toddler psychiatry to parents and caregivers who were victims of child abuse. During consultation. Dr. Zeshan will try to explain how parents can be “ghosts in the nursery” when they repeat their own difficult childhood experiences with their children. He will highlight that healthcare workers, nurses, and other child caregivers can be “angels in the nursery” by helping parents understand their baby language-behaviour, and making their babies feel more secured through nurturing, kind, and loving behaviour. 

What happens during an infant and toddler psychiatry exam?

Dr. Zeshan takes an integrative and holistic approach to psychiatry. Though the details of your infant and toddler psychiatry exam are individualized based on your child’s specific needs and your concerns, you can expect a comprehensive evaluation. 

During the exam, he asks detailed questions about your child’s:

• Birth and medical history
• Child temperament, growth and development
• Mental health concerns
• Details about the pregnancy
• Family medical and mental health history
• Current home environment

He may also ask about drug or alcohol use during pregnancy.

What are infant and toddler psychiatry treatments?

Infant and toddler psychiatry treatment is individualized based on your child’s mental health needs. The goal of treatment is to ensure you have all the tools and resources you and your child need to support healthy growth and development.

An infant and toddler psychiatry treatment plan may include:

• New-born Behaviour Observation (NBO)
• Parent education
• Parent training
• Tips for improving the child-caregiver bond
• Proper nutrition

When it comes to mental health and wellness, early intervention may prevent long-term mental health issues. 

To learn more about infant and toddler psychiatry and how it can help you and your child, contact Inside Out by phone or schedule a consultation online today.