Empowering Early Childhood Development

The first three years of life are the most important for lifelong mental health and well-being.

We use early childhood development research to create meaningful resources for families, professionals, and policymakers who shape the lives of young children.

Impact Stories

Discover real-world stories and learn about people who make a real impact.

I hope that people out there know that they can advocate firmly for their children.

Lorna Harris-Fisher

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Our Focus

At ZERO TO THREE, we offer early childhood trainings and resources to address the most critical issues impacting babies and toddlers. Explore our fields of focus.

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

Racial Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Trauma

Early Learning

Early Development

Physical Health & Nutrition

Child Care

Child Welfare

Economic Security

Making an Impact Together

Our belief that every child deserves a strong start in life fuels a collective mission to foster healthy development from the very beginning.

Support for Parents and Caregivers

Understanding child development and your role as a parent or caregiver is crucial for molding babies and toddlers into the best versions of themselves. We support parents and caregivers through our projects and programs and early childhood development resources, including research-based tips and tools for effective parenting.

Resources for Professionals

Advance your knowledge and skills with our comprehensive early childhood education training programs for professionals. Our resources, from conferences to free webinars, provide guidance for educators, health care workers and other early childhood professionals. They are designed to enhance your understanding of childhood development and inform effective teaching strategies.

Policy and Advocacy

ZERO TO THREE advocates for policies that promote the well-being and development of babies and toddlers as well as their families. We engage in research and collaborate with policymakers to influence legislation related to early childhood education, child welfare and child care solutions. We dedicate our efforts to ensure the needs of infants and toddlers are prioritized in public policy decisions.

Mental and Emotional Health

We emphasize the importance of mental and emotional health in infancy and early childhood development. We provide resources and training for parents, caregivers and professionals on how to nurture emotional well-being in babies and toddlers. Through our programs and campaigns, we promote awareness of the critical impact of early experiences on mental health. We also develop guidelines and tools that you can use to support the mental and emotional needs of babies and toddlers.

Community Support

Our programs, early childhood development resources and training programs empower communities. In addition to offering local resources, we facilitate training sessions for community organizations and professionals to enhance their capacity to support children and families effectively. By fostering community engagement and collaboration, we help create environments that nurture healthy childhood development.

"This is just what I needed to reestablish my motivation in moving forward with this work."

The Latest News and Featured Resources

Explore the latest news and updates in the field of early childhood development.

Open Letter

The Forgotten Fourth Trimester: Why Moms and Babies Deserve Better

Rachell, a Strolling Thunder 2025 parent, shares her journey through pregnancy loss, postpartum PTSD and early parenting to highlight why families urgently need paid leave, maternal mental health care and support for infant and early childhood mental health.

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The Baby Brain Map: Your Guide to Early Brain Development

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Supporting Early Development, One Milestone at a Time

Learn about early development and how to support developmental milestones by age in home and professional settings.

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Field Study

Professional Perspectives: A Look at Our Work with Young Children and Families

The early childhood field as a whole works together to ensure babies and families have the support they need to thrive.

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No Baby Goes Hungry: Ensuring Infant and Toddler Food Security

Proper nutrition during early childhood lays the foundation for lifelong health, but cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could put many babies at risk.

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Power List

Meet Families Advocating for Change From All Corners of the Country

From coast to coast, Strolling Thunder families are speaking out for change. Families from WA, ME, FL, and AZ share what they want policymakers to understand and act on.

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Distillation

It Takes a Village: A Holistic Approach to Supporting Babies and Families

The social-ecological perspective helps us understand that a child’s development doesn’t happen in a vacuum — it’s shaped by many layers of influence, from their close relationships to the communities and society around them. By looking at all these interconnected levels, we can better support young children and their families in every part of their lives.

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Healthy Futures: Ensuring Healthcare Access for Babies and Toddlers

Ensuring that all babies receive the medical attention they need is crucial to fostering a strong, healthy future.

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Early Head Start Helps Families Thrive — Let’s Keep It That Way

Early Head Start is the only federal program dedicated to the comprehensive development of pregnant women, infants and toddlers in families with low incomes.

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Press Release

Early Childhood Leaders Urge Congress: Don’t Cut Medicaid—It Will Devastate Babies and Families

House Energy and Commerce Committee’s proposal would strip health care from young children and caregivers, and push families into poverty

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Distillation

Early Childhood Attachment Styles: What Parents and Professionals Should Know

Attachments are strong emotional bonds between two humans, and babies and toddlers form multiple ones with the various key people in their lives. These connections happen between infants and their caregivers, parents, siblings, and others they interact with. Developmental experts use this understanding of early attachments to comprehend how early childhood relationships form lifelong perceptions and behaviors in future connections.

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From birth to 3, a child’s brain produces more than 1 million neural connections each second.

Upcoming Events:

Check out our upcoming in-person and virtual events.

Virtual

May 22, 2025

The Power of Parent Leadership: Stories, Strategies and Successes

Join Safe Babies, a program of ZERO TO THREE™, for a webinar recognizing the important role of parents and caregivers in their families and communities.

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Virtual

June 17, 2025

DC:0—5™: Clinical Training

Tailored for those working with infants and young children, focusing on assessment, diagnosis, and case formulation.

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Virtual

June 25, 2025

Building Educator-Family Partnerships to Support Highly Sensitive Young Children

Join us for a conversation with Claire Learner on how educators and parents can work together to support highly sensitive children with responsive, thoughtful care that helps them thrive.

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Virtual

July 15, 2025

Infant Mental Health Training: What You Need to Know

The DC:0-5 Overview Training helps administrators and allied professionals gain a foundation for understanding this diagnostic system.

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Virtual

July 16, 2025

The Growing Brain: From Birth to 5 Years Old Virtual Training of Trainers

Our newly designed virtual Training of Trainers combines live online events and self-study to support your journey towards becoming a ZERO TO THREE certified trainer of The Growing Brain curriculum.

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Virtual

August 5, 2025

The Growing Brain Basics Webinar Series

Explore how the brain grows and develops from conception to 5 years old and how you can support healthy brain development during these years when the brain is the most plastic, or receptive to change.

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Portland, OR

August 5, 2025

Cross Sites 2025

Safe Babies, A Program of ZERO TO THREE™, hosts the 19th annual Cross Sites Meeting, August 5-7, 2025. 

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Virtual

September 10, 2025

The Growing Brain: From Birth to 5 Years Old Virtual Training of Trainers

Our newly designed virtual Training of Trainers combines live online events and self-study to support your journey towards becoming a ZERO TO THREE certified trainer of The Growing Brain curriculum.

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Virtual

September 16, 2025

Infant Mental Health Training: What You Need to Know

The DC:0-5 Overview Training helps administrators and allied professionals gain a foundation for understanding this diagnostic system.

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Baltimore, Maryland

October 8, 2025

LEARN Conference 2025

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Babies and their families are coming to Capitol Hill to advocate for the policies they need to thrive.

Your Gift Can Chart a New Path for a Child

Your donation to ZERO TO THREE helps train thousands of early childhood providers, empower millions of families worldwide and advocate for responsive policies affecting babies and their families.

A Closer Look

New Early Childhood Books and Best Sellers | ZERO TO THREE

Explore our vast range of evidence-based resources and educational books designed to strengthen your practice.

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Join the Think Babies™ Campaign!

Learn about how you can get involved in the Think Babies™ campaign to promote enriching early experiences and a strong foundation from the start. It's time for policymakers to think babies.

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Early Childhood Issue Areas

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Calling All Baby Champions

Whether you're a parent, caregiver, community leader or policymaker, you can support our efforts and do your part in giving infants and toddlers a strong start in life.

Sign up for our newsletter to access the latest resources, learn about upcoming events and more. Help advance our initiative by making a donation or becoming a member.