ûFACT SHEET SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME 1

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The term "Shaken Baby Syndrome" (SBS) describes the consequences, which occur when a young child's head is whiplashed back and forth during shaking. Babies can be easily injured when shaken. Their neck muscles aren't strong enough to control head movements, and rapid movement of the head can result in the brain being bruised from banging against the skull wall. Bleeding behind the eyes and in around the brain occurs and can cause serious injury. Depending upon the shaking, consequences may include seizures, partial or total blindness, paralysis, mental retardation, or death. In cases of less violent and sometimes chronic shaking of a young child, long-term outcomes can include attention deficits disorder and learning disabilities.

"Colic" or inconsolable crying precipitates most shaking. The constant crying frustrates and angers parents or other child caregivers until they lose control. Sometimes people shake babies out of frustration over toilet training, feeding problems, or the child's interruption of television viewing. Sometimes ignorance of the dangers of shaking is a contributing factor. People realize that hitting hurts kids, but may not be aware that shaking can be harmfully dangerous as well.

Be patient. No matter how impatient or angry you feel, DO NOT SHAKE THE BABY. If you have had all you can take, take a break and rethink your thoughts. Babies and young children are trying to communicate certain thoughts or feelings with their emotions. It's all about communication. Learn their language and they'll learn yours soon enough.

Some parents believe shaking a baby is a less harmful way of coping with frustrations of caring for a fussy child than hitting or slapping the child. But, according to several pediatric neurosurgeons, vigorous shaking can cause the type of harm to a child that an adult might suffer in a high-speed crash.

A baby's muscles are under-developed and, as a result, babies cannot hold up their head. In addition the head of the baby comprise about 10%-15% of the total body weight where as an adult head comprises only about 2%-3% of total weight.

A baby that has been shaken may be semi-conscious or lethargic (very slow responding). The baby may start vomiting, have difficulty breathing or have spasms or convulsions. If this happens the head may swell and the damage to the brain, if not fatal, can cause mental retardation, cerebral palsy, paralysis, and blindness.

The age range of babies and children with SBS are from less than one (1) month old to twenty-seven (27) months, with the average being seven point six (7.6) months. 52% of these victims died as a result of being shaken and 20% suffered blindness.

The leading reason for deaths after a baby has been shaken is not reporting or recognizing the signs and symptoms and getting proper medical help. 20%-25% of teenagers and Adults do not know what SBS is. The age of the person involved in SBS cases range from 14-46 with an average age of 22. Of these 81% had no previous history of child abuse and 72% had no case history with drugs or alcohol. Preliminary findings are that offenders in these cases do not fit the pattern of the typical child abuser.

Remember the key to successful prevention is education. Always ask and never assume. Directors and Administrators of schools and Day Cares are well learned in early detection of child abuse. Ask for help and keep in mind, knowledge is power and education is the way to a safer and healthy life.

· When shaking occurs, the brain bounces within the skull cavity, bruising the brain tissue.

· The Brain swells, creating pressure and leading to retinal (back of the eye) bleeding. This can cause blindness.

· Some blood vessels feeding the brain are torn away leading to additional brain damage or abnormalities.

*IMMEDIATE CONSEQUENCES*	LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES
Breathing May Stop	Learning Disabilities
Seizures	Physical Disabilities
Limp Arms and Legs	Visual Disabilities
Excessive Drooling	Speech Disabilities
Heart May Stop	Seizures
Death	Death

· Babies' heads are large and heavy, making up 25% of their total body weight. Their neck muscles are too weak to support such a disproportionately large head.

· Deliberately shaking an infant/child out of frustration or anger. This most often occurs when the baby won't stop crying. Other triggering events include toilet training difficulties and feeding problems.

·Check for signs of illnesses, like a fever or swollen gums. If signs are present call your doctor or administer proper care based on symptoms.

·Check to make sure that clothing is not too tight, or that fingers or toes are not bent.

·If you are frustrated and need a break, put the baby in a playpen or crib, go to another part of the house and do something to calm down.

·Turn up the music on the stereo, run the vacuum, turn on the dryer, or let water run in a tub or sink for a few minutes: babies enjoy consistent, rhythmic noise.

·Put the baby in a soft front carrier close to your body and breathe slowly and calmly; the baby may feel your calmness and become quiet.

·Massage the baby's body and limbs gently or tickle soft circles on their face.

·Call a friend or relative you trust to take over for a while, then get away, get some rest and take of yourself.

·If nothing works, put the baby on his/her side in bed, close the door and turn up the radio or TV. Be sure to check on the baby every 10-15 minutes.

· Shaking a baby or child can cause severe consequences such as blindness, brain damage and even death.

· In state studies more than 70% of the perpetrators of Shaken Baby Syndrome are male, of those 42% are not the fathers of the baby.

· In more state studies more than 60% of the victims of Shaken Baby Syndrome are women who are under financial difficulties.

· Babies' necks are too weak to support their heavy heads. Consequently, when they are shaken, the head moves back and forth, side to side creating a neurological problem in which damage cannot be fixed.

· 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 moves violently around. Blood then pools in the lower cavity of the skull.

· If you have met the baby's basic needs and done all you can to try to calm the crying baby, it is okay to leave the baby in a crib or other safe place and go to another part of the house for a while and recheck on the baby every 10-15 minutes, if the baby is laying down and trying to nap remember to lay the baby on Its side.