NEGLECT AND
MY BABY’S BRAIN:
Applying Theory to Practice
David Silverman, Strategy Manager,
Parenting Support
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My Baby’s Brain
Applying policy to practice
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My Baby’s Brain
• The Rationale
• The Implementation
• Theory into Practice
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My Baby’s Brain:
Applying Theory to Practice in
Hertfordshire
My Baby’s Brain is an early intervention
programme promoting secure attachment in
families with babies and young children 0-3, in
the everyday home environment
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My Baby’s Brain
The Rationale
Parenting in the early years is one of the most significant
influences on a child’s wellbeing, resilience and life chances
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My Baby’s Brain
The Rationale
• The volume of the human brain increases more during the first year
of life than at any time (from 400gm to 1000gm)
• This growth spurt continues into the 2nd year, with substantial
production of nerve cells and synapse connections or pathways.
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My Baby’s Brain:
Density of neural connections at 2 months
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My Baby’s Brain:
Density of neural connections at 3 months
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My Baby’s Brain:
Density of neural connections at 6 months
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My Baby’s Brain:
Density of neural connections at 12 months
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My Baby’s Brain
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My Baby’s Brain
• Brain development depends on predictable,
nurturing, repetitive and responsive parental
behaviour, “attuned” to the child’s stage of
development
• This includes specific experiences, including
responsive gaze, handling, and talking to the
baby
Child Abuse and Neglect and the Brain – A Review
(Danya Glaser, Journal 0f Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2000)
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My Baby’s Brain
The Rationale
“Decades of research tell us that mutually rewarding interactions are
essential prerequisites for the development of healthy brain circuits”
‘The science of early childhood development’
Centre on the Developing Child
Harvard University 2007
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My Baby’s Brain
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My Baby’s Brain
The Rationale
• Secure attachments in the first 2 years lay the foundations for
resilience, positive mental health and wellbeing, and the ability to
create healthy relationships in adolescence and adulthood
• Secure attachments in the first 2 years lay the foundations for
secure attachments into adulthood
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My Baby’s Brain
• Attachment has effects across the life-course
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My Baby’s Brain
The Rationale
Neglect and insecure attachments can lead to:
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Difficulties in forming attachments and relationships
Increased risk of physical and mental ill-health
Increased risk of substance misuse
Lower educational achievements
Difficulties in assuming parenting responsibilities
Difficulties in nurturing attachment
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My Baby’s Brain
Implementation
• A multi-agency project conveying to parents of babies (aged 0-3), in a
simple, accessible way, the principles of attachment and early brain
development.
• Printed and on-line resources
• “Five to Thrive” – a simple “5-a-day” message
• Training for Children’s centre workers, health visitors, social workers etc.
who incorporate “Five to Thrive” into their everyday work with parents
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My Baby’s Brain
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My Baby’s Brain
The Implementation
• Weaving “Five to Thrive” into the everyday work of
health visitors, children's centre workers, social workers
etc.
• A common message across agencies
• Conveying to parents of young children (0-3) the
principles of attachment and impact of attachment
behaviours on baby brain development, in simple
accessible language
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My Baby’s Brain: 600+ staff trained
Children’s
Centre staff
GPs
Educational
Psychologists
Intensive Family
Support
workers
School workers
Social Workers
Health Visitors
Student Health
Visitors
Library workers
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Nursery
nurses and
childcare
workers
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My Baby’s Brain: Implementation
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The ‘Red Book’ Child Health Record
NCT and antenatal sessions
150+ early years childcare settings trained
140 childminders trained
Link between My Baby’s Brain and parenting
assessments (Graded Care Profile)
• “Recovery” Project to address insecure attachment (It’s
not too late!)
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Application of My Baby’s Brain: 1
• Child on Supervision Order
• CIN Plan
• Team Around the Family: Social worker, health visitor,
children’s centre – a consistent message
• Parent with learning disability and mental health
problems
• Two children looked after
• Practical application of “Five to Thrive” in CIN visits
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Application of My Baby’s Brain: 2
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Teenage Parent
Her own mother requested support for her at the age of 3
Anger issues
Under-achieving at school
Addiction
Trouble with the police
Domestic violence
Difficult relationships
Possible postnatal depression
Relationships
– Own family
– Children
– Partner
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Impact of My Baby’s Brain
“I don’t want what happened to me to happen to my children.
I love my children and I want to be a good mum. I have
recognised and am working on my own anger issues and I
have to do this to help my children.”
“I am a good parent. I can listen to other people now, I might
not agree or like what they say! I can ask for help and
accept help now. I know that I need help in my relationship
with my partner if we are going to stay together but my
children are more important.”
“Being with my children is all that matters and I want the best
for them.”
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My Baby’s Brain
References
Early Intervention: Next Steps (Allen Report)
Parenting Matters, Chris Paterson. Centre Forum
The Science of Parenting. Margot Sunderland
Why Love Matters. Sue Gerhardt
Attachment Across the Lifecourse. David Howe
Attachment in Common Sense and Doodles. Miriam Silver
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My Baby’s Brain
Thank you
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