New research shows ICON is helping parents cope and protect babies
We’re pleased to share the findings of a new study into parents’ experiences of the ICON programme – evidence that ICON’s simple but powerful messages are making a real difference for new families.
Published recently in the journal Child Abuse & Neglect, this evaluation was led by researchers from the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration West (ARC West). It explored how parents of babies aged 2–6 months experienced the ICON programme – and what they found most helpful in managing infant crying.
The research involved interviews with 28 new parents from diverse backgrounds across England. Parents consistently reported that ICON helped them:
- understand that infant crying is normal
- access practical ways to comfort their baby
- feel that it’s okay to put their baby down when overwhelmed
- remember the message to never, ever shake a baby
Many participants said that the freedom to take a safe break when crying became intense was the most impactful part of ICON. Overall, most parents recalled ICON messages and said they used them during everyday caregiving.
The research also highlights opportunities to strengthen ICON even further. Parents suggested better engagement with fathers as well as mothers, tailoring messages to individual family situations, and exploring new ways to reach families – for example, through after-hours helplines or services that support postnatal mental health.
According to the study’s lead author, Dr Julie Brose, the findings show that ICON “acts as a simple but effective public health intervention,” helping parents cope with crying and reducing the risk of abusive head trauma by offering clear, supportive guidance early in parenthood.
You can read the full research announcement and learn more about the study on the NIHR ARC West website.