If there’s one thing I’ve learned through this work, it’s this: you can’t talk about babies thriving without talking about the people caring for them.
As we head into May All Babies Thrive Month, we’re not just kicking off another campaign. We’re building momentum around something bigger. A reminder that every baby deserves a strong start, supported families, and communities that actually show up for them. And this year, one theme that continues to rise to the top is mental health, especially maternal mental health.
May All Babies Thrive-because every baby deserves a strong start. #MAY4BABIES
Because let’s be real: when caregivers are stretched, overwhelmed, or unsupported, that doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It impacts everything, from bonding to development to long-term health outcomes. That’s why moments like Maternal Mental Health Week (May 4-10) and World Maternal Mental Health Day (May 7) aren’t just dates on a calendar, they’re calls to pay attention, speak up, and do better.
Throughout the month, we’re highlighting the people, policies, and programs that help make this possible. From celebrating National Baby Day (May 2) and the providers who show up every day, to recognizing the role of midwives, doulas, and early childhood systems like Head Start, we’re connecting the dots between support and outcomes.
And what we love most about this work is the community behind it. The advocates, partners, and leaders who are all in, pushing for change, sharing resources, and making sure families aren’t navigating this alone. Whether it’s through conversations like the upcoming Doula-Friendly Initiative webinar (May 19) or simply amplifying stories that need to be heard, this month is about showing what it looks like when we invest in families on purpose.
Mental Health Awareness Month reminds us that thriving isn’t just about physical health, – it’s emotional, it’s social, it’s structural. It’s about making sure caregivers have what they need before, during, and after pregnancy so that babies can truly thrive.
Because when we support caregivers, we support babies. And when babies thrive, we all do!
#AllBabiesThrive #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #MaternalMentalHealth #NCIT
Laura Coleman is the Advocacy Media Relations Manager for Voices for Healthy Kids, an initiative of the American Heart Association, and the National Collaborative for Infants & Toddlers (NCIT). She leads media strategy across campaigns nationwide and helps equip Voices for Healthy Kids grantees and NCIT members with the skills they need to build strong, strategic relationships with reporters to advance public policy. Laura holds an M.S. in Strategic Communication from Louisiana State University, a B.S. in Mass Communication from Jackson State University, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Global Health Equity at Meharry Medical College. Off the clock, she’s with family, friends, and her fur baby, Eve.
