Nursery World - NSPCC highlights parental support

A leading children's charity has called for the families of babies and toddlers to be given more support in order to protect infants from being harmed or killed by parents in times of great stress. The call was made earlier this week by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), as it launched a campaign to highlight the fact that in Britain babies and toddlers are more vulnerable to harm than any other age group, with almost two-thirds of child homicide victims under the age of four. The charity pointed out that support for new parents was also diminishing, with the number of postnatal visits by midwives and health visitors declining by a quarter in the past ten years.

The call was made earlier this week by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), as it launched a campaign to highlight the fact that in Britain babies and toddlers are more vulnerable to harm than any other age group, with almost two-thirds of child homicide victims under the age of four. The charity pointed out that support for new parents was also diminishing, with the number of postnatal visits by midwives and health visitors declining by a quarter in the past ten years.

NSPCC director Mary Marsh said, 'Most parents are caring and can't ever imagine harming their fragile baby or toddler. But the pressures of parenting, combined with other stresses and strains, can make even the most loving parent snap and lash out.

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