BINKI
Congratulations on the birth of your baby! The first months of life are a special and intensive period, during which your baby develops at a rapid pace. Especially during this time, we – the BINKI research team – would like to learn more about the health of young babies. And for that, we need your help!
What is the BINKI study?
The BINKI study is an international research project that looks at how often babies become ill during their first year of life, whether there are differences between regions around the world, and whether there is a link with the type of infant formula a baby receives.
This is an observational study: you do not need to change anything in your daily routine.
During the study, we ask parents or caregivers of babies under one year of age to report weekly via an app whether their child had symptoms that could indicate, for example, a cold or stomach flu.
Contribute to research
By participating, you help us better understand how children develop.
It takes very little time
Participation only requires a short weekly time investment, ranging from 20 seconds to a maximum of 5 minutes.
You receive compensation
We value your time and effort and therefore offer compensation of €20 for every 10 completed weekly questionnaires.
Free welcome gift
At the start of the study, you will receive a thermometer that you can use at home right away.
Age‑appropriate updates
During your participation, you will receive updates and insights tailored to your child’s age.
Refer a friend
Help recruit new participants and receive extra voucher points.
What does participation look like?
Step 1
Check via the sign-up link within 2 minutes whether you are eligible.
Step 2
You will receive an email with study information. Take your time to read it carefully, ask the BINKI research team any questions you may have, and consider whether you would like to participate.
Step 3
Give consent for your participation in the BINKI study.
Step 4
Complete a short weekly questionnaire on your smartphone. Your participation will automatically end when your baby turns one year old.
Signing up is easy and non-binding. Click the link below to indicate your interest.
Leave your email address via the link and we will send you more information about the study and the next steps. If you decide to take part, we will ask you to provide written consent.
Once we have received your consent, you can immediately start completing the weekly questionnaires.
FAQ
How do we handle data?
All data are collected anonymously, with parental consent, and stored securely. This is done in accordance with local legislation and international guidelines for good clinical research (such as the Declaration of Helsinki and Good Clinical Practice).
Why take part?
By participating in BINKI, you contribute to important scientific research that helps us learn more about the development of the immune system during the first year of life. We also gain new insights into how often babies become ill, how parents deal with this, and when they become concerned. The more accurately we understand illness in babies, the better we can define what belongs to healthy and normal development.
What does participation involve?
Participation is very simple and can be done entirely from home. You use a smartphone with a special app that automatically sends a notification when action is required. You can ask questions at any time if you wish, but contact with the researchers is not mandatory.
How long does the study last?
The study starts once parents/caregivers have given consent (this can be done until your baby is a maximum of 3 months old) and ends when your baby turns one year old.
How much time does participation take?
Participation is easy and takes little time. Parents receive one short questionnaire per week via the app about their baby’s health in the past week. If the baby had no symptoms, completing the questionnaire takes about 20 seconds. If symptoms were present, additional questions may appear, increasing the total completion time to a maximum of 5 minutes. The weekly time investment is therefore low, even though the study runs until the baby’s first birthday.
What if I want to stop participating?
You may stop participating in the study at any time, without giving a reason. Stopping has no negative consequences for you or your baby. If you decide to stop, no new data will be collected. Data collected up to that point may still be used in accordance with medical research guidelines, unless you indicate that you want it to be deleted.
How and when will I receive my compensation?
For every 10 fully completed weekly questionnaires, you will receive a €20 bol.com voucher. This will be automatically sent to the email address you provided.
Why babies under one year of age?
Only parents or caregivers of babies under one year old can participate. This is because the immune system of young children develops rapidly during the first year of life. We want to investigate how often babies experience symptoms that indicate illness during this period, whether this differs by season or age, and whether there are differences between the countries participating in the study. We are also interested in whether there is a link between the type of nutrition babies receive and the number of infection-related symptoms they experience.