Let's face it, being a parent is hard work. Your little bundle of joy cries more than you ever expected and can drive you crazy at times. Listening to a crying baby can be frustrating, especially when it never seems to end. As a parent, you have limited energy, patience and tolerance. It's normal to feel overwhelmed, helpless and angry by the baby's constant demands of your baby.

Remember, no matter how frustrated you may become, NEVER SHAKE A BABY.

What is Shaken Baby Syndrome?
What happens when a baby is shaken?
Why would someone shake their baby?
What are the signs and symptoms of Shaken Baby Syndrome?
What should I do if I think my baby has been shaken?
What can I do to prevent SBS?

Resources for Parents and Caretakers:

"How to Calm A Crying Baby" brochure/reference card
Caregiver Contact Sheet
Links to additional resources for parents, family and professionals

What is Shaken Baby Syndrome?

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is the diagnosis given to the many serious, and sometimes fatal, injuries and permanent disabilities that can occur when an infant or young child is violently shaken. Not only is it a serious type of head injury, it is a serious form of child abuse.

The baby's brain is very fragile. Babies' neck muscles are not strong, therefore when a baby is shaken, his head flops back and forth, causing the brain to slam against the inside of the skull. This causes the blood vessels to tear and blood to collect inside the baby's skull, causing irreparable damage to the brain.

Shaken Baby Syndrome occurs most frequently in infants younger than six months old, but children at old as three can receive severe injuries from shaking.

In America last year, over 1,200 children were treated for SBS. Of these tiny victims, 20% died as a result of their injuries. The rest may have lifelong complications.

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What happens when a baby is shaken?

Shaking a baby causes severe injury to the baby's fragile brain. In fact:

* 20% of shaken babies die
* 80% of shaken babies may have serious injuries and long-term disabilities including:

Brain damage Blindness Deafness or hearing loss Spinal injury / paralysis Cerebral palsy Seizures Severe motor dysfunction Mental retardation Speech or learning disabilities

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Why would someone shake their baby?

Shaken Baby Syndrome can happen when a parent or caregiver gets frustrated and loses control, even just for a moment. This often happens when the baby gets fussy and cries for extended periods of time.

The number one reason given for shaking a child is "I just wanted the baby to stop crying." Shaking usually occurs when parents, babysitters or other caregivers become frustrated and loses control because of persistent crying.

For tips on calming a crying baby see consoling a crying baby


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What are the signs and symptoms of Shaken Baby Syndrome?

A victim of Shaken Baby Syndrome may show one or all of the following signs and symptoms:

Difficulty breathing
Poor sucking or swallowing
Poor Feeding/Eating
Vomiting
Pale or blush skin
Extreme irritability
No smiling or vocalization
Seizures
Lethargy or semi-consciousness (difficulty staying awake)
Rigidity
Inability to lift head
Tremors (shakiness)

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What should I do if I think my baby has been shaken?

Get immediate medical attention for your baby if you or a caregiver has shaken your baby, or if you suspect that your baby has been shaken. Call 911, call your child's doctor, or take your baby to the nearest emergency department.

If you baby's brain is damaged or bleeding from severe shaking, it will only get worse without medical treatment. Immediate treatment may save your child's life and prevent serious permanent damage and health problems from developing.

Tell medical personnel that you think or know that the baby has been shaken. A doctor who is not aware that a child has been shaken may assume the baby is vomiting or having trouble breathing because of an illness. Mild symptoms of shaken baby syndrome are similar to symptoms of infant colic, feeding problems and fussiness. The physician should have complete information so that he or she can treat your child properly. Without this knowledge, the doctor may spend precious time looking for other causes of illness.

Many incidents of Shaken Baby Syndrome are not reported out of fear. Don't let embarrassment, guilt or fear get in the way of your child's health or life.

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What can I do to prevent SBS?

Parents and caregivers need a plan of action to deal with a crying baby. Parents should share the dangers of shaking with everyone who cares for their child. Just saying "Don't shake a baby" is not enough.

For Parents
Print copies of these tips on calming a crying baby and put them in locations around your home where you and the baby spend a lot of time. Put one on the kitchen refrigerator, in the baby's bedroom and in the family room.

For Babysitters and other caretakers
Share this sheet with care takers every time you leave your baby in the care of a spouse, boyfriend, relatives, friends or babysitters. This handy sheet outlines when to feed the baby, when to put the baby down for a nap, and has tips for the baby's caretaker to prevent shaken baby syndrome.

Don't leave your baby in the care of other people without telling them that it is NEVER okay to shake the baby. Make sure that everyone who cares for your child knows about the dangers of shaking. Tell them that allowing a baby to cry is OK if the baby's needs have been met. Let them know that it is OK to call for help if they get frustrated.

For those families without young children in their homes
Parents often need a break. Reach out to stressed parents by helping them with babysitting and household chores. Please help if you are asked to look after a crying baby. Know when you have reached your limit of frustration and get help if you need it. You can also help by being there to listen to their problems.

Parent and Caretaker Resources

Downloads:
"How To Calm a Crying Baby" brochure - Download PDF
Caregiver Contact Sheet - Donwload PDF

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Links to additional resources for parents, family and professionals

The National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome www.dontshake.com
This site includes prevention programs and materials, a library of resources, conference information, speaker listings, and information targeted to parents, childcare providers, medical professionals, legal professionals, investigation professionals and educators.

Shaken Baby Alliance www.shakenbaby.com
This is an advocacy website for SBS children and their families working alongside friends and professionals in a community effort. Family and victim support network for families affected by SBS that provides medical information, answers to common questions, prevention, family support, support group resources, victim advocacy, recommended reading and links to related sites.

Babysitters and ShakenBabySyndrome child.cornell.edu/army/sbs/sitterslides/index.htm This is a site containing a slide show presentation about interviewing, evaluating, and training babysitters to reduce the possibility of injury to your child.

National Shaken Baby Syndrome Campaign www.preventchildabuse.com/shaken.htm
This site is full of Information regarding SBS, how it happens, suggestions for parents and what you can do to prevent a tragedy.