Support and advice offered to new parents in Rutland

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust staff want parents to ask for help if they're unsure of how to care for their new-borns

Published 1st Oct 2022

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) are offering support and advice to new parents in Rutland on how to best care for their new-borns when they're crying.

LPT Health visitors, who cover Leicestershire and Rutland, recently took part in ICON week - a programme designed to bring staff fully-up-to-date on all the latest guidance around looking after babies, and to raise awareness around what to do - and not to do - if you're a new parent.

Public Health Nurse Lead Lyn Quinnell says her team is on-hand to help parents out if they don't know what to do when their baby's crying:

'As long as your baby's in a safe place, it is okay to walk away and leave your baby for a few minutes and then go back. The message we really want to get out is: it's okay to walk away, but please never, never shake your baby.'

'Sometimes they actually just want to be put down, sometimes we can overstimulate babies by thinking they want lots of interaction, whereas sometimes some babies do just want to go down and be able to self-sooth.'

'We know it can be distressing to hear your baby cry, but it is a really normal part of how very young babies communicate with us as adults.'

Where to get help

For help and advice, visit this website: www.healthforunder5s.co.uk

Parents living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland can also speak directly to a public health nurse for advice and support by texting the ChatHealth service.

• Parents/carers living in Leicester city: text 07520 615381

• Parent/carers living in Leicestershire and Rutland: text 07520 615382

The service operates Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, excluding bank holidays and texts will be responded to within 24 hours.

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