Think HEART

The Think HEART campaign is a really easy way for parents and health professionals to know the key signs a baby may have an undiagnosed heart condition.

The Think HEART concept was developed by Dr Joan LaRovere at the Royal Brompton Hospital in 2009 – and it’s our mission to get its message to as many new parents and health professionals as possible.

Tiny Tickers offer a range of support materials to help families from the point of diagnosis, we hope you find them useful. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, friends and funders, all these resources are free for parents to download, print, share and use. Some can also be ordered as printed copies via the links below.

Remember – Think HEART

H = Heart rate

Is your baby’s heart rate too fast or too slow? It should normally be 100-160 beats per minute.

E = Energy

Is your baby sleepy, quiet or floppy? Are they too tired to feed, or falling asleep during feeds?

A = Appearance

Is your baby a pale, waxy, dusky, blue, purple, mottled or grey colour?

R = Respiration

Is your baby breathing too fast or too slowly? – There should normally be 40-60 breaths per minute.

T = Temperature

Is your baby persistently cold to touch – particularly their hands and feet?

Information for Families

What to do if you’re worried about your baby

If you have concerns about your baby’s health, please take them to see a healthcare professional to seek advice. Tell your healthcare professional about the symptoms that are worrying you, and ask them to check for signs of a heart problem.

It is especially important to seek advice as soon as possible if you have concerns in the first days and weeks after birth – some undetected heart conditions can cause illness and can even be fatal. However, heart conditions can go undetected for a number of years, so seek professional advice no matter how old your child if you have concerns.