Plymouth Safeguarding Children Partnership are pleased to announce our new programme, ICON: Babies Cry, You Can Cope! to help parents and carers cope with a crying baby.
Looking after a baby is a very special and wonderful time. We also know it can be a very stressful time and trying to calm a crying baby is something all parents and carers experience. Sometimes as a parent or carer it can feel as if you’re ‘on the edge’ coping with a crying baby. In some cases this has led to a baby being shaken, hit or thrown as a means of stopping it from crying. This can lead to life threatening or fatal injuries.
So, knowing how to cope with a crying baby and that it’s OK to ask for help is a message we want to share with all parents and carers. This includes anyone who may look after your baby.
ICON: Babies Cry, You Can Cope! has the following key messages :
I Infant crying is normal and it will stop! Babies start to cry more frequently from around two weeks of age.
C Comfort methods can sometimes soothe the baby and the crying will stop. Is the baby hungry, tired or in need of a nappy change?
O It’s OK to walk away if you have checked the baby is safe and the crying is getting to you. After a few minutes when you are feeling calm, go back and check the baby.
N Never, ever shake or hurt a baby. It can cause lasting brain damage or death.
As part the ICON programme we are also promoting the DadPad. This is an essential guide for dads in caring for babies and very young children. It is a free app and includes a section on copying with crying so please help us support and share with dads and male carers the ICON message.
Below you’ll find links to a range of resources for parents, carers and professionals, including a Dad Pad poster with a QR code to download the app.
ICON Films – These 5 films talk about…
- Being a parent is great
- The ICON message
- How to comfort your baby
- The crying curve
- Parent relaxation techniques
To access the films please click here
ICON Posters – Please download these posters and put them up in your organisation to help get the ICON message out there…
- ICON Message Poster
- ICON Plymouth Poster
- DadPad Poster
To access the posters please click here
ICON Materials – These materials provide further helpful advice on copying with crying and how to manage. We’ve also made available the ICON sticker template and fridge magnet design. Please get in touch with us if you’d like some help to order supplies of fridge magnets, we’re happy to help. Parents have found the fridge magnet a really helpful way of being reminded of the ICON message.
- ICON Leaflet
- Coping with crying plan
- ICON sticker template
- Fridge magnet design
To access the materials click here
Remember it’s always OK to ask for help. You can speak to your:
- Friends and family
- Health visitor
- GP
- Midwife
- Local children’s centre
You can also get help from the following:
- CRY-SIS National Help line – 08451 228 669 (Lines open 7 days a week 9am-10pm)
- NSPCC – Tel: 0808 800 5000 or Online: www.nspcc.org.uk
- ICON – national campaign website: iconcope.org