During the first stage, the research team worked with parents and NHS Health Visitors to develop a package of support materials for parents of babies who cry excessively. These included the first version of this website, a booklet, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy [CBT] sessions with a clinical psychologist.

This first study is complete and was successful in reducing anxiety and depression and improving the coping and mental health of parents with excessively crying babies. Parents and Health Visitors wanted the Surviving Crying materials to be included in the NHS. The Health Visitors involved wanted similar materials to be included in Health Visitor training. These findings are published and available by e-mailing Ian St James-Roberts: i.stjamesroberts@ucl.ac.uk

The Stage 1 Research Team:

As well as being researchers most of the team were experienced parents, and at least one had survived their own baby’s excessive crying. This stage of the research was led by Ian St James-Roberts and Jayne Brown (see above). The other research team members were Dr Rosemary Garratt, Deborah Bamber, Dr Charlotte Powell, Dr Jaqui Long.

Collaborators in the First Stage of Research: This first study was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme who fund research about the clinical and cost-effectiveness, and broader impact of healthcare.

This first study was based at De Montfort University, Leicester, and undertaken in collaboration with staff from Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust; University College London (UCL); UCL Institute of Education; the University of Leicester; the University of Cambridge, the Institute of Health Visiting, Middlesex University; and the charities the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) and Cry-Sis.

This study could not have taken place without the help of the following: LPT staff, Nicky Turney, Joanne Chessman, Gail Melvin, Lynn Hartwell and Joanna McGarr. We thank the members of our Management Group and our collaborators: Charlie Owen, University College London; Jan and John Bullen, Cry-sis. The research was supported also by the NIHR Clinical Research Network.

During this first study, the research team met many parents who had a recent experience of having a crying baby. Twenty of these parents took part in focus groups talking about their experiences, and very kindly went on to contribute valuable time and support to the development of this website and the accompanying support sessions. Later, 52 parents whose babies were currently crying excessively, and 50 Health Visitors helped to evaluate the Surviving Crying materials developed in this study, including this website.

The research team are grateful to all the parents and Health Visitors who have been involved in this study. Some continue to take part on an advisory basis, and we are thankful for their ongoing support.

It was clear to us that it was not feasible in the long term for the CBT element of the Surviving Crying programme to be delivered by a psychologist. So, in this second study we aimed to answer the following questions:

1. Is it feasible to train Health Visitors to deliver the Surviving Crying CBT-based sessions; can they deliver these and the other Surviving Crying materials as part of routine NHS services? 2. Do parents and Health Visitors maintain their involvement in, and use of, the materials? 3. Do parents show the same benefits as in the first study and do they, and Health Visitors, consider the services to be valuable and suitable for use in the NHS?

The findings from this stage in the research are being prepared for publication. However, we can say that we did successfully train Health Visitors to use CBT approaches in supporting parents of babies who cried excessively. For further details contact i.stjamesroberts@ucl.ac.uk

The Stage 2 Research Team: This stage of the research was also led by Jayne Brown and Ian St James-Roberts. The other research team member was Dr Sarah Griffiths.

Collaborators in the Second Stage of Research: The second study was funded by the Burdett Trust for Nursing who make charitable grants to support the nursing contribution to healthcare. This study was also based at De Montfort University, Leicester and was undertaken in collaboration with Lincolnshire County Council, the Institute of Health Visiting, Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge.

This study could not have taken place without the support of the following Lincolnshire County Council Staff Sylvia Wilkinson, Hannah Whittaker, Heather Wilson and Linda Dennett; and of course, the support of all the contributing Health Visitors, and parents – thank you all.

This is now the third stage in the research and the aim here is to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the NHS services which use Surviving Crying, compared to the existing NHS services. This is a randomised controlled trial which means that some parents who participate in the study get care as normal and some get care as normal plus the Surviving Crying Programme which includes this website, a booklet, and support from a practitioner who is trained in using CBT approaches to support parents and carers of babies who cry excessively. This study, like the first, is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme and is taking place throughout England.

The Research Team and Collaborators: This study, like the ones before, is led by Jayne Brown and Ian St James Roberts and it is being undertaken at Nottingham Trent University. We are supported by Leicester Clinical Trails Unit which is part of the University of Leicester. We are collaborating with staff from the Universities of Leicester, Warwick, Cambridge and continue our relationship with Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, the Institute of Health Visiting, and the Charity Cry-sis; and continue to be advised by parents who have had babies who cried excessively. We began this trial in September 2021.