Overview

• The Alarm Distress Baby Scale (ADBB), a tool designed to assess and support infant emotional development, will now be implemented in eight NHS trusts across the UK.
• This expansion follows a successful pilot program conducted in two NHS trusts from June to December 2023, which showed overwhelmingly positive results in fostering parent-child bonding and identifying early developmental concerns.
• The initiative is funded by a £210,000 grant from the Royal Foundation’s Centre for Early Childhood and will run until March 2026, involving regions in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
• Health visitors using the ADBB tool have reported improved conversations with parents about infant wellbeing and the ability to provide timely support for families in need.
• The Princess of Wales, who has championed early childhood development as a central focus of her public work, expressed her excitement about the program's expansion and its potential to positively impact thousands of families.