Understanding the experience for the family

The infant and family may have been through an unexpected, traumatic and life-changing experience by the time you receive a referral for intervention. They may be travelling down a parenting trajectory very different from the one they anticipated and thus grieving for the parenting role and the child they had imagined. Possible scenarios include:

• A traumatic birth experience.
• Infant born prematurely and has spent six months in NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit).
• Health complications with the infant resulting in prolonged and repeated hospital admissions.
• Child born with a serious medical condition which was not detected while pregnant

It is important you understand the journey of the family and where the child and family are at in terms of their understanding, acceptance and capacity to engage in order to tailor your recommendations appropriately.

At times your intervention may focus more on supporting the parent in their transition and acceptance and skill building in their new occupation as a 'parent'. This could involve:

• Listening and validating this journey for the parent.
• Sharing in their delight in seeing their child develop competence in a skill – however big or small this may be
• Highlighting and pointing out areas of their child’s success.
• Helping parents build confidence with handling, holding and positioning their baby so they can engage in typical parent occupations (i.e. feeding, soothing, bonding with their baby) whilst they are unwell or have multiple attachments
• Supporting siblings in how to play and engage with their new sister or brother.