Researchers in London created a program called NEON to teach mothers from South Asian backgrounds how to feed, care for, and protect their babies’ teeth properly. They used group learning sessions where moms learned together and shared ideas. The program worked well and moms felt more confident, but the researchers wanted to know if it was affordable. They found that teaching each mom cost about £439, and the total program only used a tiny fraction of what the city already spends on children’s health. This means cities could afford to run this program for more families without breaking their budgets.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How much money it costs to run a program that teaches mothers about feeding babies, caring for them, and keeping their teeth healthy, and whether cities can afford to do this
  • Who participated: Mothers of South Asian background living in two areas of East London (Newham and Tower Hamlets), some attending in-person classes and others joining online
  • Key finding: The program cost about £439 per mother to run, and this amount represents less than 0.05% of what the city already spends on children’s health—meaning it’s very affordable
  • What it means for you: If you’re a parent in a city, this shows that programs teaching better baby care practices don’t have to be expensive. Cities can afford to offer these classes to more families without major budget problems, though costs go down even more when more people join

The Research Details

Researchers looked at all the money spent to create and run the NEON program over a specific time period. They tracked every expense—from paying staff members to printing training books to buying small gifts for community helpers. They separated costs into different categories to understand where most of the money went. Some mothers attended classes in person while others joined online, and the researchers calculated the cost for each group separately. They then compared these costs to the total amount each city spends on children’s health to see if it was affordable.

The researchers used a special method called ‘stepdown procedure’ to fairly divide shared costs (like office space or management time) among different parts of the program. This helps show the true cost of running the program. All prices were converted to 2022 money values so comparisons would be fair and accurate.

Understanding costs is just as important as knowing if a program works. A program might help families, but if it’s too expensive, cities can’t afford to offer it to everyone who needs it. This study shows that good parenting education programs don’t have to drain city budgets, which means more families could potentially benefit from them

This is a real-world cost study of an actual program that was already running, which makes the numbers realistic and practical. The researchers carefully tracked actual spending rather than guessing. However, the study doesn’t compare costs to other similar programs, so we can’t say if this is more or less expensive than other options. The study also happened during COVID-19, which may have affected attendance and costs in ways that might not happen in normal times

What the Results Show

The total cost to design and run the entire NEON program was £68,165 (about $102,658 in international dollars). When divided among all the mothers who participated, each mother cost about £439 to teach in person-classes or £407 for online classes. The biggest expense was materials (50% of costs), which included printed training books, toolkits, and small gifts for community helpers. Staff salaries made up 45% of costs, and equipment and setup costs were only 5%.

When researchers compared this to city budgets, the numbers were surprisingly small. In Newham, the entire program cost only 0.047% of what the city spends yearly on children’s health. In Tower Hamlets, it was even smaller at 0.003%. To put this in perspective, it’s like spending less than one penny out of every $2,000 the city budgets for children.

The researchers also noted that costs would likely go down if more mothers participated, because many expenses (like training materials and staff time) could be spread across more people. Once the program systems are well-established and running smoothly, the cost per mother should decrease further.

The study found that mothers who participated felt more confident about feeding and caring for their babies. Community members who helped run the program found it acceptable and well-received. However, the researchers noted some challenges: not all mothers attended every session, some dropped out, and some mothers still needed more help with specific feeding skills. These attendance problems were worse during the COVID-19 pandemic when people were worried about meeting in groups

This is one of the first studies to carefully calculate the cost of this type of community-based parenting education program in the UK. Most previous research focused on whether programs work, but not on how much they cost. This study fills that gap by showing that effective parenting programs can fit within existing city health budgets, which is important information for cities deciding whether to offer these programs

The study only looked at costs in two specific areas of London, so costs might be different in other cities or countries. The program ran during COVID-19, which made attendance harder and may have increased some costs (like technology for online classes). The study doesn’t compare this program’s costs to other parenting education programs, so we can’t say if it’s the cheapest option available. The study also didn’t measure long-term benefits to babies, so we don’t know if the money spent leads to lasting health improvements

The Bottom Line

Cities and health organizations should consider offering this type of parenting education program because it appears to be affordable and mothers find it helpful (moderate confidence). The program seems especially suited for communities where English might not be the first language, since it uses community members as teachers. To make it work best, cities should plan for ways to help mothers attend regularly and provide extra support for specific feeding skills (moderate confidence)

City health departments and community health organizations should care about this research because it shows affordable ways to improve baby health. Parents, especially those from South Asian backgrounds, should care because it shows that good parenting education programs exist and are accessible. Healthcare providers should care because it offers a cost-effective way to reach families. People who don’t live in London or aren’t from South Asian backgrounds should be cautious about assuming the same costs and benefits would apply to their communities

Mothers reported feeling more confident fairly quickly (within weeks of starting classes), but lasting changes in how babies are fed and cared for may take several months to develop. Long-term health benefits to babies (like better nutrition or fewer dental problems) would likely take years to measure

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track attendance at parenting classes or educational sessions weekly, noting which topics were covered (feeding, care, dental hygiene) and confidence level before and after each session on a scale of 1-10
  • Use the app to set weekly goals for one specific baby care skill learned in class (such as introducing new foods or establishing a tooth-brushing routine), then log daily progress and any challenges faced
  • Create a monthly summary view showing attendance trends, confidence growth over time, and which topics need more practice, allowing users to identify patterns and celebrate improvements in their parenting skills

This research describes the costs of running a parenting education program in London and is not medical advice. While the program showed promise in helping mothers feel more confident, individual results may vary. Before making changes to your baby’s feeding or care routine, consult with your pediatrician or healthcare provider. This study was conducted during COVID-19, which may have affected results. The findings apply specifically to the London communities studied and may not apply to other areas. Always seek professional medical advice for your child’s specific health needs.