The Difference We Make
We want to make sure we are doing everything we can to help our families have the best chance of a fair start. This means we need to be sure that we can help them make positive changes in their lives.
We work with parents and babies to find out the difference WILD makes, so that we can learn together about what works to make those changes happen.
Over the last year we have learned a lot about the changes that babies and parents have experienced.
Article 6
Every child has the right to life
Governments must ensure children survive and develop to their full potential
Babies of young parents do not have this right met:
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60% non-accidental infant death reviews had a mother who was a young parent
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4 times risk of sudden infant death syndrome
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Babies of young parents over-represented in sudden, unexpected deaths of infants
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21-30% higher rate of low birth weight and prematurity
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More likely to experience late or no maternity care, and concealed pregnancy.
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Twice as likely to need emergency hospital care for accident or illness
How WILD has helped this year:
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Safer Sleep support to prevent infant deaths, using evidence based interventions
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New antenatal support focused on parental physical and mental health, preparation for parenthood, and addressing risk factors. WILD is one of the only two pilot projects for this new NSPCC Baby Steps project.
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Help and advice to keep babies safe and well
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Wellbeing and crisis support resources to meet basic needs
The change we have seen:
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are warmer at home
have improved sleep and daily routines
needs are better known because families feel safer with services
families with the most complex barriers to parenting safely get help earlier
Article 19
Protection from violence, abuse and neglect
Governments must do all they can to ensure that children are protected from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect and bad treatment
Babies of young parents do not have this right met:
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42% recurrent child removals are children of young mothers
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40% across the UK experience domestic abuse, (55% at WILD)
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Young fathers are over represented in non accidental head injuries to babies (40% of national panel report)
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Over 50% of WILD babies have safeguarding records; 47% risk indicators for emotional abuse, 38% neglect, 27% emotional abuse, and for 3% it's not safe to visit them at home
How WILD has helped this year:
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Support to prevent non-accidental head injuries, antenatally and in first six months, using evidence-based ICON interventions
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Support for families where children have been removed or are at risk of removal
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Domestic abuse support, advocacy and referral, including DASH and MARAC
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Support to build positive family relationships
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Help for parents to mentalise the needs of their babies and meet their needs
The change we have seen:
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better engage with safety plans
are exposed to less violence and harm
better prioritise their children's safety
are safer in crisis situations
Article 24
Every child has the right to the best possible health
Governments must provide good quality health care, clean water, nutritious food, and a clean environment and education on health and well-being so children can stay healthy
Mental Health
Babies of young parents do not have this right met:
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40% babies of young parents across UK have a mum who has perinatal mental illness (3 times the average rate)
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60% pregnant WILD mums have experienced suicidality
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National rise in teenage maternal deaths through suicide
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Young dads are more likely to experience depression, anxiety and conduct issue.
How WILD has helped this year:
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Evidence-based infant-parent activites in homes and communities to build attachment
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Evidence-based support for parents to understand and respond to infant development
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Use of trauma-responsive methodology to address whole-family mental health
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Suicide prevention safety planning
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Referral and advocacy with mental health services
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Creative self-expression activities to build emotional regulation
The change we have seen:
babies have parents who are more relaxed and better manage stress
babies have parents who better notice and respond to their cues
babies have parents who are more available and consistent
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of babies are more secure due to improved parenting relationships
Physical Health
Babies and their young parents do not have this right met:
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69% of WILD babies have neglect risk factors
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Babies of UK young parents have delayed physical development
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44% WILD babies live with a parent who smokes
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1 in 5 WILD babies is homeless or in emergency accommodation
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Half of WILD families do not access dental care
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Low UK rates of young parent breastfeeding
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Rise in parental disordered eating
How WILD has helped this year:
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Support to develop positive daily routines
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Physical play, sport, tummy time and natural world activities
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Infant feeding, cooking skills and food budgeting activities
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Oral health activities, resources and help to access dental care
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Help with housing, emergency food and household resources
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Smoking cessation support
The change we have seen:
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of babies have breast/ chest feeding initiated
are more physically active
are more confidently fed and weaned
spend more time outdoors
Reproductive Health
Young parents do not have this right met:
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Young parents are twice as likely to have experienced childhood sexual abuse
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WILD young mums are reporting an increase in sexual violence
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Young mums have higher risk factors for cervical cancer
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Due to school absence, some young parents have missed their HPV vaccination
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Half of WILD mums know very little about reproductive health, and share characteristics of absence from school, involvement with children's social care, complex adversity, and lack of wider family support
How WILD has helped this year:
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Reproductive health workshops focused on understanding body parts, pelvic and cervical health, consent, contraception, prevention of illness
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Support to access sexual health, vaccination, and post-natal pelvic health
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Support to build body confidence and negotiate positive intimate relationships
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Additional support for young parents experiencing concerns about menstrual cycles, birth trauma, continence, vaginal pain, contraception misinformation, recent sexual assault and violence, impact of sexual violence or historical CSA
The change we have seen:
young mums felt they would take up cervical screening in the future
felt more positive about their body parts
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better understood risks and preventative measures
felt more able to ask for help with gynaecological health
Article 29
Education must develop every child's personality, talents and abilities to the full
Babies of young parents do not have this right met:
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Several months' language delay on starting school
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Additional physical development delay
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Twice as likely to need additional support re SEND at school
How WILD has helped this year:
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Weekly child development and physical activities and projects, including Move This May, Sensory September
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Infant music and signing in every session
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Access to nature and outdoor play, including our WILD Garden
The change we have seen:
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babies and children have more regular social interactions
babies and children experience more song and music time at home
families have more regular support to build language skills
of parents feel more confident engaging in developmental play with their children