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Posted on 11 Jan 2021

The Trust is working together with Bassetlaw Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and other local partners across South Yorkshire to promote a national programme supporting parents and carers of young babies with coping strategies when feeling overwhelmed, frustrated or distressed.

The national programme, ICON: Babies Cry, You Can Cope, aims to reduce the numbers of babies being admitted to hospital with and suffering from head trauma as a result of being shaken. ICON is based on four simple messages before birth and in the first few months of a baby’s life:

I  – Infant crying is normal  
C – Comforting methods can help  
O – It’s OK to walk away  
N – Never, ever shake a baby  

The programme aims to support parents, particularly fathers, around how to care for young infants when they are crying. 

National research suggests that some people may lose control when a baby’s crying becomes too much to handle with Abusive Head Trauma or Shaken Baby Syndrome causing catastrophic injuries. It is thought that one in 14 cases are fatal before hospital discharge, and half of severely injured survivors will die before they reach 21 years of age.

There are useful resources including leaflets, posters and video clips at www.iconcope.org to support parents and carers and methods which can be take in order to cope. 

Our Healthy Family Teams and Family Nurse Partnership are already delivering the ICON programme which is discussed with all new parents as part of their antenatal and newborn care under the universal offer.

If you think there is something wrong with your baby or the crying won’t stop speak to your GP, Midwife or Healthy Family Team. Your local Healthy Family Team contact numbers are here: https://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/healthy-families-contact-us

If you are worried that your baby is unwell call NHS 111.