Share the Think Babies Message

Key Messages

An investment in strong, healthy development for babies, is an investment in America’s future  – because babies build America.
The science is clear. Our brains grow faster between the ages of 0 and 3 than any later point in life, forming more than 1 million new neural connections every second.*
Our brains are built. The experiences we have in our earliest years lay the groundwork for the rest of our lives. Foundational skills are developed first, such as language, sensory, and motor skills. These form a strong base onto which other skills, like problem solving, self-regulation, and complex social skills are built.
A baby’s beginning lays the foundation for all to come. When babies have nurturing relationships, positive early learning experiences, and good health and nutrition, those neural connections are stimulated and strengthened, laying a strong foundation for the rest of their lives.*
When babies don’t get what their growing brains need to thrive, they don’t develop as they should. This leads to life-long developmental, educational, social, and health challenges

ZERO TO THREE created Think Babies to bring attention to what babies and their families need to thrive. Think Babies is a call to action for policymakers to prioritize the needs of infants, toddlers, and their families and invest in our nation’s future.

Babies are our nation’s infrastructure. When we invest in babies and their families, we invest in our future workers, innovators, leaders, and our success as a nation.
Yet opportunities to grow and flourish are not shared equally by all infants, toddlers, and families, reflecting past and present systemic racism and barriers to critical resources. Only when we ensure equal opportunity for every baby to reach their full potential will we be able build a strong foundation for our country.
We’re advocating for the issues that ensure all babies have good health, strong families, and positive early learning experiences. At the federal level, our priorities are:
1. Child Care;
2. Paid Leave;
3. Early Head Start;
4. Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health;
5. Family Support; and
6. Economic Security.

* ^{Thompson, R. A. (2001). Development in the first years of life. The Future of Children, 11(1), 20–33.}