As a [JOB TITLE/JOB DESCRIPTION/ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY], I [INDICATE YOUR INTERACTION WITH BABIES/TODDLERS/FAMILIES] adjusting to the joys and routines of being parents, including [HIGHLIGHT CHALLENGES RELATED TO YOUR PRIORITY AREA(S)].

These parents all feel the immense responsibility for their child’s future, and know that the early years shape a child’s life. But it can be hard to fully grasp what that means when it comes to brain development.

Babies’ brains grow at warp speed – forming more than one million new neural connections every second. That’s amazing when you think about it. In fact, between the ages of 0 and 3, a child’s brain will grow faster than at any later point in their life.

[INSERT ANECDOTE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE SUPPORTING BABIES AND FAMILIES IN SERVICE OF BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND/OR REFERENCE RECENT NEWS STORY.]

As a community, we can do more to support babies and families. When babies thrive, we all benefit. et 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. If our nation is to thrive, we must ensure that every baby has what they need to reach their full potential.

[INSERT ANECDOTE ABOUT A CHILD OR FAMILY YOU HAVE WORKED WITH AND HOW THEY HAVE BENEFITED FROM SUPPORTS IN THE COMMUNITY.]

That’s why it’s time that our elected leaders Think Babies. They need to understand that investing in our littlest ones is one of the most important things we can do as a nation to make sure all our kids grow into healthy, well-rounded adults who reach their fullest potential.

In fact, every dollar we invest in infant and early childhood programs returns great benefits for our children and our country, including more years of education, more employment and better health as adults.

So how can we assure that babies get the support they need to thrive?

We need to support and pass policies that lay a strong foundation for the future by investing in strong, healthy development for babies. This includes:

• Child Care;
• Paid Leave;
• Early Head Start;
• Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH);
• Economic Security; and
• Family Support.

Our elected officials must make the potential of America’s babies a national priority. All they have to do is Think Babies and remember that investing early in policies that support babies’ growth and development will make a difference in their lives forever.