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    Shaken Baby Syndrome

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    WSET
    Shaken baby syndrome is the leading cause of mortality from child abuse in the United States, resulting in almost 2,000 deaths per year. It occurs when an infant or young child is violently shaken. This can cause internal head injuries due to the disproportionate weight of an infant's head compared to the weak neck muscles. Common effects include blindness, brain damage, and death. Males in their early 20s who are often the baby's father or mother's boyfriend are usually responsible, though women who are babysitters can also sometimes be the perpetrators. Educating all caregivers about shaken baby syndrome and promoting safe ways to deal with infant crying, such as putting the baby down in a crib, are key to

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    Shaken Baby Syndrome

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    WSET
    548 views2 pages
    Shaken baby syndrome is the leading cause of mortality from child abuse in the United States, resulting in almost 2,000 deaths per year. It occurs when an infant or young child is violently shaken. This can cause internal head injuries due to the disproportionate weight of an infant's head compared to the weak neck muscles. Common effects include blindness, brain damage, and death. Males in their early 20s who are often the baby's father or mother's boyfriend are usually responsible, though women who are babysitters can also sometimes be the perpetrators. Educating all caregivers about shaken baby syndrome and promoting safe ways to deal with infant crying, such as putting the baby down in a crib, are key to

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    Shaken Baby Syndrome

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    Shaken baby syndrome is the leading cause of mortality from child abuse in the United States, resulting in almost 2,000 deaths per year. It occurs when an infant or young child is violently shaken. This can cause internal head injuries due to the disproportionate weight of an infant's head compared to the weak neck muscles. Common effects include blindness, brain damage, and death. Males in their early 20s who are often the baby's father or mother's boyfriend are usually responsible, though women who are babysitters can also sometimes be the perpetrators. Educating all caregivers about shaken baby syndrome and promoting safe ways to deal with infant crying, such as putting the baby down in a crib, are key to

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    548 views2 pages

    Shaken Baby Syndrome

    Uploaded by

    WSET
    Shaken baby syndrome is the leading cause of mortality from child abuse in the United States, resulting in almost 2,000 deaths per year. It occurs when an infant or young child is violently shaken. This can cause internal head injuries due to the disproportionate weight of an infant's head compared to the weak neck muscles. Common effects include blindness, brain damage, and death. Males in their early 20s who are often the baby's father or mother's boyfriend are usually responsible, though women who are babysitters can also sometimes be the perpetrators. Educating all caregivers about shaken baby syndrome and promoting safe ways to deal with infant crying, such as putting the baby down in a crib, are key to

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    of 2

    SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME

    TEST
    YOUR
    SAFETY
    I.Q.

    What is the
    most common
    cause of mortality
    in child abuse
    cases in the
    United States?

    Shaken Baby
    Syndrome In fact,
    almost 2000 babies
    die every year as
    a result of this
    abuse.1

    What is Shaken
    Baby Syndrome?

    Shaken Baby
    Syndrome (SBS)
    is a collective term
    for the internal
    head injuries a
    baby or young
    child sustains from
    being violently
    shaken.2

    ThinkFirst about
    DEATH AND INJURY
    STATISTICS
    An estimated 50,000 cases occur each year
    in the United States. 3
    60% of victims are male.

    Victims may be up to 4 years old, 12 but the


    average age is 3-8 months. 13

    Retinal hemorrhages are found in 50-80%


    of shaken babies. 5

    The risk is higher for families living at or


    below the poverty level. 14

    There may be no visible injuries on the baby. 6

    Those involved with domestic violence and/or


    substance abuse may also be at a higher risk
    of inflicting shaken baby syndrome. 15

    Cause
    Most shaking occurs as a frustrated reaction
    to inconsolable crying. 7

    In 65-90% of cases, males in their early 20s


    are the perpetrators. These men are generally
    the babys father or mothers boyfriend. 16

    Shaken Baby Syndrome results from


    vigorously shaking a baby for usually around
    5-20 seconds. 8

    When a woman is responsible, she is generally


    the babysitter or childcare provider rather than
    the mother. 17

    Because a babys head is so heavy in


    comparison to the rest of the body and
    the neck muscles are not yet strong, a babys
    head can shake back and forth 40-80 times
    in just seconds. 9

    Effects
    One third of all shaken babies will suffer
    developmental problems 10 which include:
    Partial or Total Blindness
    Hearing Loss
    Seizures
    Developmental Delays
    Impaired Intellect
    Speech and Learning Difficulties
    Problems With Memory and Attention
    Paralysis
    Severe Mental Retardation 11

    www.thinkfirst.org

    WHO IS MOST LIKELY


    TO INCUR THIS TYPE
    OF INJURY?

    HEALTH COSTS
    The primary hospitalization of a shaken baby
    is estimated to be $75,000-$95,000. 18
    For survivors, a lifetime of special care is
    needed, which can cost $300,000 in the first
    five years alone. 19
    Society bears much of the expenditure through
    insurance, government assistance, and higher
    special education costs. 20

    ThinkFirst about
    PREVENTION TIPS

    STILL NOT CONVINCED?

    Educate all caregivers on the dangers of shaking


    an infant:

    The average baby cries for two to three hours


    every day, and 20-30% of all infants surpass this
    length, often significantly. 23 Since crying is the
    number one trigger of shaking a baby, parents and
    childcare providers must avoid anger and control
    frustration. Although the sound of crying can
    cause tension, it is important to realize that
    babies cry as a form of communication, not an
    indication of parenting skills. Remember, crying
    will not kill anyone, but shaking a baby, whether
    out of frustration or fun, can. An estimated 2550% of parents and caretakers are uninformed of
    the dangerous results of shaking a baby. 24 Protect
    your child by alerting anyone who interacts with
    your baby on the dangers of shaking. Find safe
    ways to deal with the tensions of parenting, and
    no matter what, never ever shake a baby!

    THINK FIRST
    STOP
    The first step is to place the baby in a crib
    or playpen and leave the room in order to
    calm down. 21
    CALM DOWN
    Call a friend or neighbor.
    Take ten deep breaths, and then take
    ten more.
    Do something for yourself: Play music,
    close your eyes, run the vacuum.
    Make sure the baby is fed and dry.
    Take the baby for a ride in a stroller or car.
    Offer the baby a pacifier.
    Cuddle the baby close to your chest and
    rock or walk the baby.
    Put the baby in a baby swing.
    If nothing works, put the baby back in
    the crib and check back in 10 minutes.
    Call a healthcare provider, medical
    attention may be required. 22

    5550 Meadowbrook Drive


    Suite 110
    Rolling Meadows, Illinois 60008
    Phone (847) 290-8600
    Toll Free (800) THINK-56
    Fax (847) 290-9005
    Email [email protected]
    Web www.thinkfirst.org

    SOURCES:
    1, 4, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 22

    http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/shaken_p3.html
    Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/g2601/0012/2601001246/print.jhtml
    5
    National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome http://www.dontshake.com/sbsquestions.html
    6
    N.F.A.N.C. http://www.gangfreekids.org
    9, 10
    www.jsonline.com/Alive/column/apr02/32320.asp
    15
    www.aap.org
    18
    The National Conference on Shaken Baby Syndrome: A Medical, Legal, and Prevention Challenge, Executive Summary
    Alexandria, VA: National Association of Childrens Hospitals and Related Institutions, 1996
    19
    www.state.me.us/dhs/bohdcfh/inj/fs_sbs.html
    20
    www.shakenbaby.com/intro_prevention.htm
    23
    Childrens Advocate, Action Alliance for Children www.4children.org/news/502babye.htm
    24
    National Shaken Baby Syndrome Campaign 2000 http://www.preventchildabuse.com/shaken.htm
    2. 3, 17, 21

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