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Babies and pregnancy

We can provide you with support and resources in relation to babies and pregnancy.

Treasure Chest aims to provide new families a chance to talk with peer supporters as well as other families who are breastfeeding or combination feeding. This is a free service.

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ICON - Babies Cry, You Can Cope programme supports parents and carers manage normal infant crying and to prevent abusive head trauma injuries to babies caused by shaking, also referred to as ‘shaken baby syndrome’.

ICON is an evidenced-based programme designed to help parents and carers understand the normal crying pattern of young infants and to help them develop successful coping mechanisms to deal with this.

The ICON programme delivers four simple messages before the birth and in the first few months of a baby’s life:

  • I - Infant crying is normal
  • C - Comforting methods can help
  • O - It’s OK to walk away
  • N - Never, ever shake a baby

Within the advice for parents and carers section of our website you will find information in relation to ICON - Babies Cry, You Can Cope programme, which supports parents and carers to manage normal infant crying and to prevent abusive head trauma injuries to babies caused by shaking, also referred to as shaken baby syndrome.

The ICON Website has a wealth of information including:

  • advice for professionals - which includes help and resources for disseminating the ICON message to parents
  • advice for parents - which includes lots of useful videos and resources to support parents and to also use when engaging with fathers

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The North Yorkshire and York Child Death Overview Panel has created a new Sudden and Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) Prevention - One Minute Guide for Professionals, please take a look and share with your colleagues.

The Lullaby Trust have produced further information regarding Reducing Sudden Deaths in Yorkshire and the Humber, and a Baby Summer Safety video on how to keep your baby cool when the temperature rises.

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The North Yorkshire and York Safeguarding Children Partnerships have been working with multi-agency partners to create a programme of work aimed at reducing the risks of Sudden Unexpected Deaths in Infancy (SUDI) with a particular focus on reducing the risks for families with increased vulnerabilities.

Day or Night, Sleep Right is a key message to those who care for infants across North Yorkshire and York. The Day or Night, Sleep Right campaign has been created to raise awareness of the importance of safe sleeping environments for infants to reduce the number who may be at risk of SUDI.

Alongside multi-agency and single agency training sessions which are currently being delivered, a Basic Awareness Video has been created for professionals:

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Summer Safety

The Lullaby Trust have produced a Baby Summer Safety video on how to keep your baby cool when the temperature rises.

Safer sleep in winter - How to keep your baby safe when the weather gets cold

We know that the colder months can be difficult for families. They may be worried about the costs of living and have to make difficult choices for their family, or they may be worried about paying their heating bills. Families may be concerned about trying to keep their home warm, keeping draughts out and keeping their baby warm.

The recommended room temperature is 16 to 20 degrees, this may be difficult to maintain in the colder months. It can be tempting to wrap babies up to keep them warm, however we know that overheating a baby increases the chances of SIDS (also known as cot death). Research shows babies are better to be cooler than too hot.

The Lullaby Trust website contains useful safer sleep in winter tips including things to consider for your baby and their sleep space during the colder months.

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We've produced a number of resources in relation to prebirth and babies:

Here are some websites you may also find useful:

Prenatal support in York

Pregnancy or having a young baby or toddler can bring lots of mixed emotions, from happiness to exhaustion and loneliness. It can be a stressful time for mums, partners and the wider family. If you're working with a family who may need support, there are lots of places they can go for advice and support about their emotional or mental health, including their midwife, health visitor, or GP. The RAISE York website has a webpage with useful links for support.

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We've published some 7 point briefings in relation to babies.

These can be found on our learning and development page.

Addtionally, the National Panel published a review which sets out recommendations and findings for national government and local safeguarding partners to protect unborn babies and vulnerable infants at risk of serious harm. It examines what happened to baby Victoria Marten and sets out national learning for the child safeguarding system. Read Protecting all vulnerable babies better (.pdf).

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Every child can communicate, it's our responsibility as adults to interpretate it and to understand their lived experience.

Practice guidance and accompanying tool and a PRESENT leaflet has been developed by the City of York Safeguarding Children Partnership in response to multi-agency audits and reports identifying an absence of the voice of the pre-verbal child.

Acknowledgment of, and insight into, the lived experience of children provides essential understanding that is required to safeguard, promote positive infant mental health, and realises the human rights of infants and very young children. It's suggested that this tool and guidance can be used to support direct observation of children, record keeping, report writing, personal reflection, reflective discussions, and professional supervision.

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What happens in the first few years of a child’s life can shape their whole life. Our brains develop more in the first few years of our lives than at any other time. What happens to us when we’re very young can shape how healthy we are as adults, how we control our emotions and cope with stress and many other things.

We also know that being a parent can be tricky sometimes. Whatever parents’ questions, concerns or issues, they’re not alone. There are lots of places in York where they can get advice and people who can help.

That’s why in York we have developed a special guide for parents focusing on the period from conception to age 2 (the first 1001 days!). ‘Supporting Your Parenting Journey: Expecting a baby; babies and young children’ is an information booklet handed to all expectant parents by midwives and again by registrars at birth registration.

The Raise York Parenting Booklet has lots of information to help parents, their family and their new baby. There’s helpful advice on a range of topics, including feeding and looking after emotional and mental health. It also reminds families that they can get the latest information about what support is available in their local area at https://www.raiseyork.co.uk/directories

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Perinatal mental health means parents’ mental health from pregnancy until the baby is 2 years old. Good parental mental health is essential for parents and babies to thrive.

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Emotional wellbeing visits are provided by Health Visitors and Nurses who are skilled practitioners in identifying perinatal mental health concerns and providing support. The visits aim to support parents to balance the needs of their baby with their own physical and emotional needs. Up to 6 emotional wellbeing visits can be offered and each visit is focussed on parent’s strengths, difficulties and strategies. Sometimes Health Visitors and Nurses will support parents alongside GPs or other providers when a little more support is required.

Parents can directly request support by contacting the Healthy Child Service by phone: 01904 555475 or email: [email protected].

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