ICON
Supporting parents and caregivers
With thousands of practitioners trained, spanning disciplines from health visiting to neonatal care, ICON stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication of those committed to nurturing a safer, more compassionate world for our youngest citizens.
About ICON
The idea for the ICON programme and the different interventions within it was conceived by Dr Suzanne Smith PhD following a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travel Fellowship to USA and Canada in 2016 which included the study of effective interventions and research into the prevention of Abusive Head Trauma (AHT).
Research suggests that some lose control when a baby’s crying becomes too much. Some go on to shake a baby with devastating consequences. Suzanne found that the most effective evidence-based programmes studied provide a simple message that supports parents/caregivers to cope with infant crying.
Apart from preventing AHT, most people who have ever cared for a baby appreciate some advice about how to comfort a crying baby and how to cope when it goes on for a long time.
What ICON stands for
ICON is all about helping people who care for babies to cope with crying.
I – Infant crying is normal
C – Comforting methods can help
O – It’s OK to walk away
N – Never, ever shake a baby
Speak to someone if you need support such as your family, friends, midwife, GP or health visitor.
ICON is here to help prevent abusive head trauma. ICON is an evidence based programme consisting of a series of brief ‘touchpoint’ interventions that reinforce the simple message making up the ICON acronym.
ICON was conceived following years of study and research into prevention of Abusive Head Trauma (AHT). The ICON founder, Dr Suzanne Smith PhD, consolidated the study and research with a visit to USA and Canada in 2016 (courtesy of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travel Fellowship) to see the prevention programmes in action and to understand more about what makes such programmes a success.
To date we have trained thousands of practitioners, including Health Visitors, Neonatal Nurses, Family Support Workers, Psychologists, Occupational Therapists and many others who work with babies from birth to three months old.
Since 1947, Harlow has been trusted by the NHS, pharmaceutical companies and the public sector to deliver exceptional print and digital service and enduring innovations