Care of Next Infant (CONI)

Families who have experienced a sudden and unexpected death of a baby or young child are often anxious when they have another baby.

The CONI programme provides emotional and practical support to bereaved families during pregnancy and the early months of their new baby’s life, allowing them to enjoy this special time.

Within our service, there are Health Visitor CONI co-ordinators in each area who can provide support in the following ways:

• Increased contact with a Health Visitor or Health Professional can be co-ordinated
• The loan of, and/or support to use a movement monitor which picks up movements as the baby breathes. If there is a gap of 20 seconds, an alarm will sound to alert the parents
• Basic life support training can be provided. There is an option to practice this on resuscitation dolls and can include the extended family
• Symptom diaries can be used by the family to record their baby’s health
• Signpost to the Baby Check App that helps parents decide if their baby needs medical attention
• Reinforcement of sleep safe messages.
• Option to use a detailed weight chart to monitor the baby’s growth to help them see changes that may mean their baby should be seen by a health professional or doctor
• Advocate for the family and raise partner professional’s awareness of the family potential or actual needs.

Much of this work is embedded in Health Visiting practice. The CONI co-ordinator is a champion role that disseminates evidence-based information to guide and support good practice.

Our CONI service works with and is supported by the Lullaby Trust.