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Competing Interests: None declared.

Competing Interests: None declared

Competing Interests: None declared

The Period of PURPLE Crying Program is an educational program delivered to parents of newborn children that aims to reduce the incidence of abusive head trauma/shaken baby syndrome1. The program was developed by a research-based, non-profit organisation and has already been implemented in many countries around the world. It educates parents on what to expect during the first few months of their newborn infant's life, allowing parents to become more informed and better prepared to care for their child. The recent surge in the number of cases of abusive head trauma in children during the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for greater resources being made available to parents. The Period of PURPLE Crying Program is one such resource that could be implemented in Ireland., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) are one of the major causes of preventable developmental delay. There is no register of children with FASDs in Ireland. Up to 81% of Irish women report drinking alcohol during the periconceptual period or pregnancy. We aimed to evaluate self-reported knowledge and practice of doctors working in paediatrics in Ireland with regards to FASDs and alcohol consumption during pregnancy. We circulated a survey to all paediatric doctors in Ireland, either enrolled in specialist training or registered as trainers. Fifty-six respondents (31.3%) were unaware of the existence of FASDs. Sixty-two (34.6%) believed most patients with FASDs have dysmorphic features. Seventy-three respondents (40.8%) routinely ask about maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy in the context of developmental delay. Thirty-one respondents (17.3%) stated that mild alcohol intake in the third trimester of pregnancy is safe. Our survey suggests prenatal alcohol exposure may not be routinely considered in the evaluation of children with developmental delay by paediatric doctors in Ireland.

Developmental screening tools are an integral part of child health surveillance, but only few valid and reliable tests are currently in use in the community. Early detection and referral of children with developmental delay is critical for long term outcomes. Developmental screening, using standardised tests, is increasingly important. The public health nurses in the Midlands currently use a modified version of Denver Development Screening Tool (DDST) for screening infants at 9 months of age. The DDST however fails to identify a high proportion of children developmentally at risk, because of its poor sensitivity, an outcome of which is a high proportion of under-referrals. The low sensitivity of the test is a source of potentially misleading information and may be responsible for many at-risk children remaining undetected. Sensitive and specific screening questionnaires need to be introduced in community child health screening surveillance to minimise the risk of missing children with developmental delay.