Christmas cheer with a reminder: ICON urges parents to cope with crying babies this festive season
As homes fill with tinsel, visitors and high expectations, ICON: Babies Cry, You Can Cope is reminding parents and carers that Christmas can be a particularly pressured time and that a crying baby can add to the stress and make everything feel overwhelming..
The ICON message – Babies Cry, You Can Cope – is especially important during the festive season, when routines are disrupted, sleep is in short supply, and there is often an unspoken pressure for everything to be “perfect”.
From late nights and busy social calendars to family expectations and financial strain, Christmas can add layers of extra stress for new parents. Babies, however, are blissfully unaware of festive schedules and may cry more when routines change or when adults around them are tired, tense or overstimulated.
Dr Suzanne Smith, nurse, health visitor and founder of ICON, said: “Christmas is meant to be joyful, but for parents of babies it can be exhausting and emotionally intense. There’s pressure to make memories, keep everyone happy and hold things together — all while running on very little sleep. A crying baby can add to the pressure, and that’s not anybody’s fault but take it as a cue to pause and seek support.”
“If you’re feeling overwhelmed with your baby’s crying, the safest thing you can do is put your baby down in a safe place and take a moment to calm yourself, just for a few minutes, so that you’re not approaching your baby in a frustrated or angry way.”
ICON encourages parents and carers to plan ahead during the festive period — sharing the load where possible, talking openly about stress, and knowing where to turn for support. Simple steps like taking breaks, keeping expectations realistic and remembering to look at your crying plan to help you cope.”
This Christmas, ICON’s message is clear: enjoy the sparkle, lower the pressure, and remember that when babies cry, you can cope — and help is always available.
For more information about the ICON programme and support for parents, visit www.iconcope.org