The true wealth of a nation can be measured by the health of its youngest citizens and in the twenty-first century, children’s health and well-being is largely determined by social, environmental and economic influences.

This book explores how factors such as parent-child relationships, family networks and social support, housing, poverty and the safety of the environment impact on children’s early experiences and have consequences for their later health and well-being.

Topics include:

• Promoting infant mental health
• Family transitions
• Poverty, relative poverty and health inequalities
• Growth and nutrition
• Young children under stress
• Child public health
• Young children’s involvement in health
• Research with young children and families

Underpinned by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and an ecological systems framework, this book takes difference and diversity into account to celebrate the rights of every individual child.

Young Children’s Health and Well-Being is a comprehensive health text for students of early childhood. It is also important reading for student teachers, community practitioner nurses, social work students and others who work with young children and their families.