Health and wellbeing
ICON Week 2024 – raising awareness about infant crying and coping strategies
Published on
“Babies cry, you can cope!” This September, NHS, local authorities, and healthcare organisations across the country are uniting to deliver crucial messages to parents through ICON Week 2024.
Research indicates that some parents and carers may lose control when faced with persistent infant crying, potentially leading to severe outcomes such as shaking a baby—a tragic consequence of Abusive Head Trauma (AHT). AHT results in catastrophic brain injuries, which can lead to death or long-term health and learning disabilities.
ICON is a UK-wide programme aimed at educating health and social care professionals, parents, and carers about infant crying, effective coping strategies, and how to prevent AHT. The third annual ICON Week, running from 23 to 27 September 2024, seeks to raise awareness about these issues and support families in managing stress related to infant crying.
The ICON programme is built around a simple, evidence-based acronym:
I – Infant crying is normal and will eventually stop.
C – Comfort methods can sometimes soothe the baby, and the crying will cease.
O – It’s OK to walk away for a few minutes if you have ensured the baby’s safety and the crying is overwhelming.
N – Never shake or hurt a baby.
Babies often begin to cry more frequently around two weeks of age, peaking between 6-8 weeks.
Dr Suzanne Smith, nurse, health visitor, and founder of ICON, stated: “Abusive head trauma can occur in any setting when a parent or carer is overwhelmed by persistent crying. The additional pressures from the rising cost of living further strain families, leading to potentially devastating consequences.
“ICON’s mission is to offer support and advice to parents and carers who may be struggling. We aim to normalise the experience of infant crying, share practical information on managing stress, and ultimately reduce the risk of AHT.
“Help is available for anyone who feels overwhelmed. Reach out to your midwife, health visitor, or GP, or visit our website for additional resources.”
“ We want our parents to know that Walsall’s Family Hubs are there to support them and their family.
There are plenty of videos and information online for parents to read if they are struggling with infant crying, but our four Hubs in the borough are a great starting point of help, where parents can speak to a professional in person, who will be able to talk through all the local help available. Please don’t struggle alone. “
For more information, please visit www.iconcope.org/iconweek2024.
Ends
Family Hubs
Walsall’s four Locality Family Hubs provide a welcoming space where children, young people aged 0-19, or up to 25 for those young people with additional needs, and their families can go to get advice and support when they need it.
Teams are co-located in four locality hubs across the borough, connecting practitioners with each other, with community resources and the families they work with to enable easier access to integrated services giving the right help at the right time. Practitioners include Social Workers, Family Support Practitioners, Health Visitors, School Nurses, Early Help Police Officers, Domestic Abuse Support Practitioners, mental health support and substance misuse support.
Family Hub locations:
• North Family Hub - 275 Blakenall Lane, Blakenall, Walsall WS3 1HJ
• West Family Hub - Ilmington House, Crescent Road, Wednesbury, WS10 8AE
• South & Central Family Hub - Birchills Street, Walsall, WS2 8NG
• East Family Hub - Silver Court, Walsall, WS8 6HA
You can visit the Family Hub website at https://www.walsallfamilyhubs.co.uk/
Walsall Families in the Know on Facebook is also used to promote the Family Hub offer and activities https://www.facebook.com/Walsallfamiliesintheknow/
