ICON week launches to promote lifesaving message to new parents in Somerset
It’s in a bid to safeguard children from preventable harm from parents and carers who find it difficult when their babies cry
Last updated 6th Jul 2024
Today marks the start of ICON week, with the county council, NHS, and police sharing the message that babies cry and you can cope.
It’s in a bid to safeguard children from preventable harm from parents and carers who find it difficult when their babies cry.
They say it’s all about normalising the fact that sometimes babies aren’t easily soothed.
According to research by the NHS, some parents and caregivers 'can lose control' when a baby’s crying becomes too much - which can have devastating consequences for the baby.
Whilst trying to soothe the baby, some can suffer from what is known as Abusive Head Trauma (AHT), which causes catastrophic brain injuries which can lead to death, or significant long-term health and learning disabilities.
That's where ICON week comes in.
ICON is a programme adopted by health and social care organisations across the UK to provide information about infant crying, including how to cope, support parents/carers, reduce stress and prevent abusive head trauma in babies.
202\3 marks the third annual ICON week, (25 September – 29 September), promoting an 'evidence-based' programme that reinforce the acronym which makes up the name of the week:
- 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
Most babies start to cry more frequently from two weeks of age, with a peak usually being seen around 6-8 weeks.
Nurse, health visitor and founder of ICON, Dr Suzanne Smith, said: “Abusive head trauma can occur in any environment when a parent or carer is on the edge due to infant crying.
“The pressure that families are under is only being exacerbated by added pressures of the cost-of-living increase and the impact can be far-reaching and have devastating consequences.
“ICON is about sharing messages of support and advice to parents and carers who might be struggling to cope. We want to normalise the fact that babies do cry, and some aren’t easily soothed, and we want to share information far and wide about what to do in these situations and how to stay calm.
“By sharing these vitally important messages and coping techniques to carers, we are working towards reducing the risk of harm to babies and protecting them from AHT which is utterly preventable.
“Anyone who needs help and is struggling to cope, don’t continue to struggle. Help is available from your midwife, health visitor, GP or go online and there are more resources on our ICON website.”
Somerset Council’s Public Health Team has worked with professionals such as midwifes, GPs, Public Health Nurses and Practitioners from Perinatal Mental Health to produce free learning resources for anyone who might be supporting a family – this could be a midwife, social worker, or even a relative or family friend.
All training and learning modules can be accessed at the Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership website.
The learning and resources are designed to be revisited as both locally and nationally they will develop and increase over time.
Cllr Adam Dance, Executive Lead Member for Public Health, Equalities and Diversity at Somerset Council said:
Caring for a new baby can be a stressful time for families, so it’s important that people are able to recognise when they are feeling overwhelmed and need a break.
Where there are babies and families, there are opportunities for all of us to provide support and advice, and I’d encourage anyone who is supporting a new family – whether as a professional, or friend or family member – to use these new free learning resources.
ICON is about sharing messages of support and advice to parents and carers who might be struggling to cope. This awareness week is about normalising the fact that babies do cry, and some aren’t easily soothed.
To anyone who needs help and is struggling to cope: don’t continue to struggle! Help is available from your midwife, health visitor, GP or go online and there are more resources on our Healthy Somerset website.
For more information visit the ICON week website or head to Somerset Council's page.