4.4 Talk Back
We wish we could talk with you individually to hear your thoughts, concerns, reservations, or anticipated challenges in using the Conversations Approach. We have provided some common questions and concerns that have been shared about using the Conversations Approach and responses that may be useful to you.
- What happens if families still do not accept or want to adopt the recommendations after I have shared additional information?
Families will always make their own decisions, and you will be successful if those decisions are made with good information that you share. If families do not want to embrace one or more safe sleep or breastfeeding recommendations, you can focus on those they do endorse and provide information about reducing risks or supporting benefits. For example, you can make sure families who plan to bed-share have a plan for removing problematic items in the bed. Or, you can support families that decide that breastfeeding will not work when mother goes back to her job, by helping them develop a plan to breastfeed as long as possible to get early benefits of antibodies for the newborn. Some families may decide to reject the recommendations altogether. Then you still have an important role: Helping the family plan for the supports they will need to implement their choices (See Module 6).
- I am not sure I can know all of this information. It seems like too much to keep in mind when I talk with families.
First, there are a number of common concerns—sleep for parents being the main one. So being prepared to talk about those issues is important and will become familiar. Secondly, within your community or among the families you serve, there also may be some recurring issues that will allow you to become well acquainted with the information. Finally, there are a set of “cheat sheets” for this module—see the Handouts in the left navigation bar.
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