ICON is a programme adopted by health and social care organisations in the UK to provide information about infant crying, including how to cope, support for parents/carers, how to reduce stress and prevent abusive head trauma in babies.

The evidence-based programme consists of a series of brief interventions that reinforce the simple message making up the ICON acronym:

I - Infant crying is normal and it will stop

C - Comfort methods can sometimes soothe the baby and the crying will stop

O - It's OK to walk away for a few minutes if you have checked the baby is safe and the crying is getting to you

N - Never ever shake or hurt a baby

It's normal for babies to cry but it can be stressful and sometimes it's hard to cope. Most babies start to cry more frequently from two weeks of age, with a peak usually being seen around 6-8 weeks.

These are film shorts where the words of fathers are spoken relating their experience of becoming a parent - produced by Badshoes Film.

In 2020 Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland agreed to implement ICON as an evidenced based intervention to reduce the incidence of abusive head trauma (AHT was formerly known as shaken baby syndrome) triggered by crying. Research evidence indicates that 70% of AHT is perpetrated by men and therefore it is of importance to ensure men are given the ICON message as well as the support and resources to help them manage a crying baby and reduce AHT.

Michael's Story -

https://youtu.be/Sh4T6RCwqdw

Nick's Story -

https://youtu.be/I14pvwJJrEA

Rich's Story -

https://youtu.be/z2wd2y5tspw

Mark's Story -

https://youtu.be/_EmaT3K10eY

Adam's Story -

https://youtu.be/fli62h4w_lk

Jitan's Story -

https://youtu.be/JmocVfZs_Ws

The video shows the "touch points" which are the opportunities when Health can talk to mothers and their partners about babies crying and anticipating the crying and considering how to manage crying.

Initially, Midwives talk to pregnant women before the baby is born and just after birth. ICON is then discussed further at home by the Community Midwife and then the Health Visitor. A text reminds the mother of ICON and where to get help and support and finally the GP speaks to the mother at the post-natal check.

The purpose is to reduce the risk of abusive head trauma triggered by crying by increasing understanding crying is normal and will reduce. In addition, it is to discuss methods to calm the baby and a range of sources of support to assist parents and open up discussions where parents are struggling.

Please click on the link to view the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b57Ov1vhRW4

We have two videos entitled "Never, Ever Shake a Baby".

One focuses on Morning at Home - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqRKttJscGM

The other focuses on Home from Work - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS_oqYh4u6E

Bumps to Babies antenatal sessions have developed four short videos to provide information and advice from birth through the early stages of parenthood.

ChatHealth is a confidential, secure text messaging service with a public health nurse, open Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm excluding bank holidays.

Leicester City: text 07520 615 381

Leicestershire & Rutland: text 07520 615 382

The Cry-Sis Helpline provides support for parents with crying and sleepless babies. It is available 7 days a week, 9am - 10pm.

Support from trusted NHS professionals

healthforunder5s.co.uk

Home-Start Horizons covers Leicester, Charnwood, Melton and Rutland, Blaby District, Oadby and Wigston.

It supports families who have a least one child under five who may be dealing with issues such as:

• Social isolation
• Domestic abuse
• Lone parenting
• Poverty
• Illness and disability
• Post-natal illness
• Coping with several children under the age of 5

Home-Start South Leicestershire is a voluntary organisation committed to promoting the welfare of families with at least one child under five years of age.

Home Start North-West Leicestershire is a voluntary organisation committed to promoting the welfare of families with at least one child under five years of age.

https://storkforparents.goodbarber.app/

This resource is available to fathers linked to perinatal mental health services in Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland

www.thedadpad.co.uk

Heads Up (previously known as the Centre for Fun and Families) has been supporting families in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland since 1990. They can help young people and their parents with challenging behaviour and conflict, low mood and depression, worry and anxiety, low self confidence and low self-esteem. They also help young parents (under 25) on their parenting journey from pregnancy through to their child turning 2 years old.

Early Help - Leicester City offer

Children and young people can experience a range of difficulties at any time in their life. Early help services are for children and young people of any age and can be supported from all kinds of services and organisations who work together to support the family. The link above provides access to information about Leicester City's Early Help offer.

Early Help - Leicestershire offer

Leicestershire County Council's Children and Family Wellbeing Service was established in April 2019 following the integration of four services:

• Children's Centre Programme
• Information, Support and Assessment Service
• Supporting Leicestershire Families (Troubled Families programme)
• Youth Offending Service

The Children and Family Wellbeing Service (CFWS) provides early help services – these are services which may be offered at any point in a child or young person's life, where the child is experiencing some difficulties which cannot be supported by universal services, such as schools or GP, alone.

Early Help - Rutland offer

Early Help aims to offer families the extra support they need to help them overcome difficulties they may be facing before they become more serious; it is about getting families the right support at the right time. The link above provides access to information about Rutland's Early Help offer.

Leicester City Children's Centres

Leicestershire Family Hubs

Rutland Children's Centre (Visions Children's Centre)

Mammas support pregnant and new mothers and their families.

MAMMAS supporters are mums who have breastfed their own babies and completed training to help other mothers achieve their own goals for feeding their baby.

They give one-to-one, caring and effective help to mothers across Leicester; work alongside midwives and health visitors; and support mums on the phone, through home visits, and at their groups. People can come to their antenatal sessions if they are pregnant, or their friendly local groups when they have had their baby.

They speak Gujarati, Urdu, Arabic, Punjabi, Polish, French, Portuguese, Cantonese, and many more.

Baby Basics Leicester is a volunteer-led charity aiming to support new mums & families who are struggling to meet the financial & practical burden of looking after a new baby. They provide much needed essentials and equipment for free to mums on a referral basis.

https://www.babybasicsleicester.co.uk/

The Lullaby Trust raises awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), provides expert advice on safer sleep for babies and offers emotional support for bereaved families.