ICON Week 2022

The second annual ICON week (26 to 30 September 2022) is here to raise awareness of infant crying and how to cope to support parents/carers and prevent serious injury, illness and even death of young babies as a result of Abusive Head Trauma that happens when someone shakes a baby.

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 parents/carers, and reduce stress.

This year’s ICON Week is focusing on sharing ideas and best practice. More than 15 webinars are taking place throughout the week with speakers from the military, police, primary care, parent ambassadors, health visitors, and the education section. These are open to everyone, and the access details are available here.

Follow: #ICONcope and #ICONweek2022

New GPP resource for members

During Infant Mental Health Awareness Week (#IMHAW2020), iHV publishes a new resource for members – Good Practice Points: Understanding babies who cry a lot.

All babies cry and some cry a lot. Some babies may be sensitive to stimuli such as sound, light or changes of environment. Some babies may seem scared or anxious and want to be held and cuddled most of the time.

This Good Practice Point sets out what health visitors need to know about supporting and working with parents to help them understand babies who cry a lot. It provides up-to-date evidence and references.

Go to GPP Understanding babies who cry a lot

If you would like access to this new GPP and our other member resources, please join us to get access to these and also to book your place on our new iHV Insights webinar sessions – the next one is being held on 18 June on the subject of Domestic Violence and Abuse.

The iHV is a self-funding charity – we can only be successful in our mission to strengthen health visiting practice if the health visiting profession and its supporters join us on our journey. We rely on our membership to develop new resources for our members.

So do join us now!

New resource for parents – Coping with a crying baby during the COVID-19 pandemic

Further to the Parents Tips published yesterday on managing the most common childhood illnesses, “Coping with a crying baby during the COVID-19 pandemic” is our next publication to help parents during these times.

It is hard at the best of times coping with a crying baby. However, it is much more difficult when you are confined to the house and separated from your usual activities and support from family and friends. With this in mind, we have put together a few facts on infant crying which we hope you find helpful – and, most importantly, some tips on how to get through this time and feel more in control and safe.

The new Coping with a crying baby during the COVID-19 pandemic Parent Tips includes:

A few facts about crying
When should you worry about a baby’s crying?
Coping with a crying baby – what can you do?
Things you can do to soothe your crying baby
Where to get help

Download PT - Coping with a crying baby during the COVID-19 pandemic

This new Parent Tips, together with those published yesterday, can be found in our **Parenting Through Coronavirus (COVID-19)** webpage – under the section “What to do if your child is unwell”