Dad Matters Warrington, Halton and Cheshire, in partnership with Warrington Hospital’s neonatal unit and the Start for Life Emotional Wellbeing Team for Warrington and Halton, has launched a new initiative to support parental mental health and strengthen early bonding for babies receiving neonatal care.

As part of the project, Dad Matters coordinators Tom Byrne and Nathan Fernyhough have donated a Toniebox along with a number of Creative Tonie figures to the neonatal intensive care unit. The idea behind the initiative is simple, yet incredibly impactful: to help parents stay emotionally connected to their baby through their own voice.

The Toniebox is a child-friendly audio player that plays stories and songs when small character figures, known as Tonies, are placed on top. Creative Tonies allow families to record their own content, including stories, songs, messages or even everyday conversations. These recordings can then be played to babies, giving them the opportunity to hear familiar voices even when parents are unable to be at the bedside.

Research continues to highlight the importance of a parent’s voice in early bonding and neurological development, particularly for premature babies. Familiar voices can help regulate a baby’s heart rate and breathing, while also supporting early language development. For parents, recording their voice can restore a sense of involvement and purpose at a time when many feel separated from their baby’s care.

Reflecting on the launch, Halton coordinator Tom Byrne said:

“I am really excited to see this idea come to life and the initial feedback from families and professionals has been overwhelmingly positive.”

“The Dad Matters core values are rooted in promoting positive mental health and empowering dads to make the most of early bonding and attachment opportunities. Naturally, having a baby in neonatal care poses a significant barrier to this.

“From a dad’s perspective, especially those who are returning to work or cannot spend hours cot side every day, this could be a real game changer in building that connection with their baby. The project also has the potential to support the wider family including mums, grandparents and siblings.

“The staff on the neonatal unit at Warrington have been extremely receptive and accommodating and we cannot thank them enough for their support. Even the manufacturers themselves think it is a great and innovative way of using their product and have donated more Tonieboxes and Creative Tonies so we can continue to grow this offer.”

Helen Higginson, Head of Fundraising at WHH Charity, said: “We are very grateful to Nathan and Tom at Dad Matters and the Start for Life team for their kind donation. The Toniebox will help to support our families on the neonatal unit to feel connected with their baby and we are grateful for this meaningful addition to the ward.”

This partnership brings together a shared belief in the power of compassion, connection and practical support to help families through one of the most challenging moments they will ever face.