Alarm distress baby scale evaluation

This report, produced in collaboration with the University of Oxford, is an evaluation of the use of the Alarm Distress Baby Scale (ADBB) in health visiting practice across the UK. The tool is used by health visitors within routine checks to promote infant wellbeing. The phase two study, which ran from October 2024 – March 2026, explored the impact of training health visitors in the ADBB and its modified version (m ADBB), across eight sites throughout the UK.  While the study found the training to be acceptable and impactful, it also makes clear that learning to observe and interpret babies’ behaviour is complex and requires ongoing practice, supervision, and support.