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What is SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME?

Most of the time, Shaken Baby Syndrome occurs when adults, frustrated and angry with children, shake them violently. If you are a parent, or ever care for a baby, it is important to know the dangers of shaking. You also need to tell everyone who cares for your baby, that it is NEVER okay to shake the baby.

Why Is Shaking a Baby A Danger?

  • A babies neck is too weak to support their heavy head. Consequently, when shaken, their head flops back and forth, causing serious brain injury.
  • A baby's brain and the blood vessels connecting the skull to the brain are fragile and immature.

Therefore, when a baby is shaken, the brain ricochets about their skull, causing the blood vessels to tear away and blood to pool inside their skull causing irreparable damage to the brain.
Shaken Baby Syndrome is:
  • A serious brain injury.
  • Occurs when a baby is violently shaken.
  • Occurs when a baby is slammed against a hard object.
  • Shaking usually is done out of anger or frustration.
  • Shaking must be of such force that an independent observer would recognize the act as dangerous.

Shaken Baby Syndrome mostly occurs when a child receives numerous rapid shakes; head impact is not necessary, but does frequently occur.

 

Shaken Baby Syndrome Statistics

  • One shaken baby in four dies.
    Some studies estimate that 15% of children's deaths are due to battering or shaking, and an additional 15% are possible cases of shaking.
  • Of the 37 children that died in Florida in 1995-96 13 died from a combination of Shaken Baby Syndrome/ Head Trauma.
  • Of the thousands that survive death, serious injury usually occurs.
    "SBS" victims range in age from a few days to a few months old; the average is six months.
  • More than 60% of the victims of Shaken Baby Syndrome are male.

  • Almost 80% of the perpetrators of Shaken Baby Syndrome are male

These Shaken Baby Syndrome Statistics are scarry, at best. Please help us spread the word about Shaken Baby Syndrome.

 shaken baby syndrome

Coping with Crying Baby / Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome

  • An infant may spend 2 to 3 hours a day crying
    20%-30% of infants exceed that amount of time.
  • A caregiver momentarily succumbs to the frustration of responding to a crying baby by shaking. Caregivers may be inadequately prepared for children. They may be under stress and cannot deal with the frustrations of parenting.
  • The caregiver personalizes the infants crying as inadequate care-giving.
  • "Shaken Baby Syndrome" usually happens when a caregiver is angry and looses control.

Ways To Soothe A Crying Baby

  • Take the baby for a walk outside in a stroller or for a ride in the car seat.
  • Hold the baby against your chest and gently massage the baby.
  • Rock, walk, or dance with the baby.
  • Be patient; take a deep breath and count to ten.
  • Call a friend or relative that you can trust to take over for a while, then get away, get some rest, take care of yourself.
  • Offer a pacifier.
  • Lower any surrounding noise and lights.
  • Offer the baby a noisy toy; shake or rattle it.
  • Hold the baby and breathe slowly and calmly; the baby may feel your calmness and become quiet.
  • Sing or talk to the baby using soothing tones.
  • Record a sound, like a vacuum cleaner, or hair dryer.

Meet Basic Needs

  • Feed the baby
  • Burp the Baby
  • Change the diaper
  • Make sure clothing isn't too tight
  • Make sure baby isn't too hot, or too cold.

If All Else Fails…

If you suspect the baby is ill, has a fever, swollen gums, etc.
CALL A DOCTOR!.

Together We Can Fight Shaken Baby Syndrome!

Additional Shaken Baby Syndrome Resources

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