Abstract
This article draws on current research, highlighting the importance of parents being able to ‘mentalise’—to make sense of their own and their child's mental state. Parents who ‘hold their child in mind’ are likely to be able to interpret behaviour in terms of his or her underlying feeling states. It is argued that health visitors and early years workers are ideally placed to explicitly ‘scaffold’ parents to adopt a reflective stance when trying to make sense of their infant's behaviour. A range of interventions is discussed, beginning in the prenatal period. In conclusion, the opportunities for practitioners to reflect on and be affirmed in their own practice are highlighted.
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