A text messaging program called HB4HNEKids successfully delivered health tips to over 6,200 Australian families during their baby’s first five years, with 76-83% of parents regularly reading the messages. Gram Research analysis found that babies whose parents received the texts ate significantly more vegetables, and parents reported better mental health, though the program didn’t affect breastfeeding rates or physical activity levels.
A new study tested a text messaging program called HB4HNEKids that sends parents helpful health tips during their baby’s first five years. Researchers in Australia sent text messages to over 6,200 families alongside regular nursing care. Parents who received the messages reported reading them regularly and found them very useful. The program showed promise for helping babies eat more vegetables and improving parents’ mental health. While the results are encouraging, researchers say more testing is needed to confirm the program really works.
Key Statistics
A 2026 cross-sectional pilot study of 200 parents found that babies whose parents received HB4HNEKids text messages ate 0.23 more servings of vegetables daily at 12 months compared to babies whose parents didn’t receive the messages.
In the HB4HNEKids pilot program, 76-83% of parents who received text messages reported always or very often reading them, spending an average of 5-7 minutes engaged with each message.
Over 90% of parents receiving the HB4HNEKids text messaging program reported that it was acceptable and helpful, according to a 2026 pilot study of 200 Australian families.
The HB4HNEKids program successfully reached 6,243 families (73.4% of families contacted) during its pilot phase from October 2021 to July 2024, demonstrating feasibility of delivering text messages at scale.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether a text messaging program that gives parents health advice during their baby’s first five years is easy to use, if parents like it, and if it actually helps babies and parents stay healthier.
- Who participated: About 200 new parents in Australia who received text messages about child health, plus a comparison group of parents who didn’t receive the messages. Parents were surveyed when their babies were around 6 months old and again at 12 months old.
- Key finding: Babies whose parents received the text messages ate significantly more vegetables (about 0.23 more servings per day), and parents reported better mental health. Over 90% of parents said they liked the program and found it helpful.
- What it means for you: Text messages might be a simple, low-cost way to help new parents make healthier choices for their babies. However, this was a pilot study, so parents should wait for larger studies before relying on text messages as their main source of health advice.
The Research Details
Researchers tested a text messaging program called HB4HNEKids that sends parents health tips through SMS (regular text messages) during their baby’s first 2,000 days (about 5.5 years). The program was delivered alongside regular nursing visits that parents already receive.
The study tracked how many families got the program (feasibility), how many parents read the messages (engagement), and whether parents liked it (acceptability). They also compared parents who got the text messages to a similar group that didn’t receive them, measuring things like breastfeeding rates, how much vegetables babies ate, how much babies moved around, and how parents’ mental health was doing.
Parents filled out surveys when their babies were 5-7 months old and again at 12-14 months old. The researchers used these surveys to see if the text message group had better health outcomes than the comparison group.
The first five years of a child’s life are super important for their long-term health. This study tested whether a simple tool—text messages—could help parents make better health choices during this critical time. Text messaging is cheap, easy to deliver, and reaches lots of people, so if it works, it could help many families.
This was a pilot study, which means it was a small test to see if the idea was worth studying more carefully. The researchers used validated survey tools (surveys that have been tested and proven to measure what they’re supposed to measure). However, the study wasn’t randomized, meaning parents weren’t randomly assigned to get the messages or not—they chose to participate. This makes it harder to know if the text messages caused the improvements or if other factors did. The study also had a relatively small number of survey participants compared to the number of families who received the program.
What the Results Show
The HB4HNEKids program successfully reached 6,243 families (about 73% of families the nursing program tried to contact). This shows the program can be delivered at a large scale.
Among parents who received the text messages, between 76% and 83% said they always or very often read the messages, spending about 5-7 minutes reading each one. More than 90% of parents who got the messages said they thought the program was acceptable and helpful—meaning they liked it and found it useful.
When comparing babies whose parents got the text messages to babies whose parents didn’t, babies in the text message group ate significantly more vegetables at 12 months old. Parents who received the text messages also reported better mental well-being scores. While parents in the text message group reported slightly higher breastfeeding rates (about 5 percentage points higher), this difference wasn’t large enough to be statistically significant (meaning it could have happened by chance).
The study found no statistically significant differences in how much babies moved around between the two groups. This suggests the text messages may not have influenced physical activity levels in babies during this age period. The researchers noted that more research is needed to understand why the program helped with vegetable intake and parental mental health but not with other health behaviors.
This study adds to growing evidence that text messaging programs can help parents make healthier choices for their families. Previous research has shown that text-based health programs can work, but most studies have been smaller or tested in different settings. This study is notable because it tested the program alongside regular nursing care that families already receive, making it more realistic to how the program would actually be used in real life.
This was a pilot study with a relatively small number of survey participants (200 parents who got the messages). The study wasn’t randomized, so we can’t be completely sure the text messages caused the improvements—other factors could have played a role. Parents who chose to participate in surveys might be different from parents who didn’t, which could affect the results. The study only looked at parent-reported information (what parents said about their babies), not actual measurements. More research with a larger, randomized design is needed to confirm these findings.
The Bottom Line
According to Gram Research analysis, text messaging programs like HB4HNEKids show promise as a way to help parents make healthier choices for their babies, particularly around vegetable intake and parental mental health. However, this is still early-stage research. Parents should use text message programs as a helpful tool alongside regular medical care, not as a replacement for it. Confidence level: Moderate—the results are encouraging but need confirmation from larger studies.
New parents and families with babies under 5 years old might find this helpful, especially if they want extra support and reminders about healthy habits. Healthcare providers and public health programs should pay attention because text messaging is a low-cost way to reach many families. Parents who don’t have regular access to healthcare or prefer written information might benefit most. This may be less relevant for families who already have strong health support systems in place.
Based on this study, parents might see changes in their baby’s eating habits within a few months of receiving regular text messages. Improvements in parental mental well-being might also happen relatively quickly, though the study measured this at 6 and 12 months. Long-term benefits would require continuing the program over years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can text messages really help parents take better care of their babies?
According to a 2026 pilot study, text messages showed promise—babies whose parents received health tips ate more vegetables and parents reported better mental health. However, this was early-stage research, so larger studies are needed to confirm the results.
How often do parents actually read health text messages?
In the HB4HNEKids study, 76-83% of parents reported regularly reading the text messages, spending about 5-7 minutes on each one. This suggests parents find them valuable enough to engage with consistently.
What health improvements did babies show from text message programs?
The HB4HNEKids program showed babies ate significantly more vegetables when parents received text tips. Parents also reported better mental well-being. However, the program didn’t affect breastfeeding rates or how much babies moved around.
Is a text messaging health program better than regular doctor visits?
Text messaging programs work best alongside regular medical care, not instead of it. The HB4HNEKids program was delivered with routine nursing visits, suggesting it’s meant to support—not replace—standard healthcare.
How many families can a text message health program reach?
The HB4HNEKids program reached 6,243 families during its pilot phase, showing that text messaging can deliver health information to large numbers of families cost-effectively alongside existing healthcare services.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track daily vegetable servings your child eats and rate your mental well-being on a simple 1-10 scale each week. Compare these measurements every month to see if they’re improving.
- Set a reminder to read one health tip text message per day and try to apply one suggestion from that message to your family’s routine that week. For example, if the message is about vegetables, try adding one new vegetable to dinner.
- Keep a simple log of your child’s meals (especially vegetables) and your own mood or stress level weekly. Review this log monthly to spot patterns and see if the health tips are making a real difference in your family’s life.
This research describes a pilot study testing a text messaging program for parents. While the results are promising, this was an early-stage study with a small number of participants and wasn’t randomized, so larger studies are needed to confirm effectiveness. Text messaging programs should complement, not replace, regular medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. Always consult with your pediatrician or family doctor about your child’s health and nutrition. Individual results may vary based on many factors including family circumstances, existing health conditions, and adherence to recommendations.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.