Table 6.

Themes and sub-themes identified by the thematic analysis of interviews with parents of infants who took part in the study

Decision to take part	Proximal: Contact by known gatekeeper (consultant or charity); Sense of gratitude towards the gatekeeper; Clarity of communication by research team. Distal: Desire to help other families and preterm babies; Interest in infants’ cognitive development.
Facilitators	Extrinsic: Staff being flexible and approachable; Regular reminders from staff; Manageable schedule; Sessions conducted at home; Intrinsic: Assessing baby’s progress; Baby enjoying the tasks
Obstacles	Fitting lab visits with baby’s routines, as well as other practical challenges (e.g. arranging siblings’ child care; work patterns). Baby’s sleep patterns and moods; Maintaining infants’ concentration
Improvements	Provision of exercise before long sitting sessions; Provide meals or refreshments; Minimise concerns about potential for infections. More specific information about duration of training tasks.