Shaken Baby Syndrome
What is Shaken Baby Syndrome? Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome Links Statistics
Resources References
What is Shaken Baby Syndrome?
Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is a condition that occurs when an infant or young child is violently shaken. SBS is a form of Abusive Head Trauma (AHT). Inconsolable crying is the reason most often given for why an adult has shaken an infant.
Infant Crying
Crying is the only way in which infants have to communicate with those around them. Crying is meant to be an annoying sound. If crying was a pleasant sound, an infant’s needs could easily be ignored. A baby may cry if they are hungry, too hot or cold, needs to be changed, to release some tension or for no reason at all. Infant crying typically begins to increase at two weeks of age, peaks at two months of age and may last until four or five months of age.
There are times when a parent or caregiver will be unable to stop an infant’s crying and this can be very upsetting and may cause feelings of frustration or inadequacy as a caregiver. Lack of sleep and other stresses in life can increase the feelings of frustration and inadequacy.
Outcomes & Consequences of Shaking
When an infant or young child is shaken, they undergo severe trauma to their brain. The impact of the brain hitting the skull causes bleeding in the brain as well as bleeding into the space around the brain with subsequent swelling of the brain. A decrease in blood flow and delivery of oxygen to the brain occurs with swelling, resulting in further damage to the brain. The damage to a baby’s brain from shaking can cause permanent disability or death.
(Back to Shaken Baby Syndrome)
Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome
Providing information to parents and caregivers regarding infant crying and child development is essential to the prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome. It is important for parents and caregivers to understand that they are not alone in the way they feel when dealing with a crying baby and that it is okay to ask for help.
Making a Plan to Deal with Infant Crying
Parents and caregivers should make a plan for what to do when a baby cries. It is more important to stay calm then to stop the crying. Things that work to stop a baby’s crying one time may not work the next time. If a parent or caregiver feels they may not be able to control their emotions, they need to take a break.
Ways to Soothe a Crying Baby
- Check if your baby is hungry or needs to have a diaper change
- Gently rock and cuddle your baby
- Talk, hum, or sing to your baby
- Take your baby for a walk in a stroller or carrier
- Give your baby a warm bath
- Run the washing machine, dishwasher or vacuum. These ‘white-noise’ sounds may calm your baby.
Ways to Calm a Parent or Caregiver
If a parent or caregiver is beginning to feel overwhelmed or is unable to soothe their baby, it is important for them to know how to safely take a break and calm down.
Place your baby in a safe place, such as a crib. It is okay to leave the room if baby is in a safe place. Set a timer for 10 - 15 minutes so you know when to go back and try to soothe your baby again.
If you are feeling overwhelmed and need a break, try any of the following:
- Take a shower or bath
- Read a book
- Play a game or do a puzzle
- Exercise
- Count to 100
- Make a list of the top 5 reasons why you love your baby
- Make a list of the top 5 reasons why you love yourself
- Hug a pillow
(Back to Shaken Baby Syndrome)
Links
Alberta Network for Safe and Healthy Children
http://www.safechildren.ca/
Never Shake a Baby Arizona
http://nsbaz.org/
Period of Purple Crying
http://www.purplecrying.info/
The National Centre on Shaken Baby Syndrome
http://dontshake.org/
The Shaken Baby Alliance
http://www.shakenbaby.com/
VIDEOS FOR PARENTS
Never Shake A Baby – Phoenix Children’s Hospital (2011)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM_BE4mz0ss
VIDEOS FOR PROFESSIONALS
Rupture of Veins in Shaken Baby Syndrome (2009)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkRZ0y2vEHY&feature=related
(Back to Shaken Baby Syndrome)
Statistics
Between 1988 and 1998 in Canada, 19% of SBS victims died due to their injuries. Eighty-five percent of SBS survivors required long-term multidisciplinary care for neurological conditions and disability and 12% were in a vegetative state (King et al,. Canadian Medical Association, 2003).
Only 1 out of 13 infants who were diagnosed with SBS was found to not be experiencing a disability five years after the shaking incident. (Bonnier et al, 1995).
Joint Statement on Shaken Baby Syndrome
(Back to Shaken Baby Syndrome)
Resources
-
I'M GROWING UP SAFELY: BIRTH TO 1 YEAR - BROCHURE
Saskatchewan Prevention Institute, 2011This brochure contains home safety information on the common causes of injury for children less than one year of age. Specific information and preventative messages are included on the following topics: safe sleep, coping with crying, car seats, falls, drowning, choking, and burns and scalds.
-
4-352 Download
MILLION MESSAGES: BIRTH TO 6 MONTHS - INFORMATION SHEET
Saskatchewan Prevention Institute, Rev. 2010The Million Messages program is the development of a comprehensive plan to standardize messages given to parents about injury by public or community health nurses. Each of these messages is simple, consistent, routine, and targets an issue that affects children at specific stages in their growth and development. The messages are developed for visits during the prenatal, newborn, two months, four months, six months, twelve months, eighteen months, and preschool periods. This program was developed by Capital Health in Alberta.
-
4-900 Download
SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME - FACT SHEET
Saskatchewan Prevention Institute, Rev. 2010Explains what Shaken Baby Syndrome is, including how it happens, the main reasons that cause an individual to shake an infant, the long-term effects of shaking an infant, and how it can be prevented. Aimed at health professionals and caregivers.
-
WHEN YOUR BABY CAN'T STOP CRYING - BROCHURE
Saskatchewan Prevention Institute, Revised 2010Crying has been identified as a “trigger” for Shaken Baby Syndrome. This helpful brochure identifies strategies and suggestions for dealing with a crying infant. The brochure also validates a caregiver’s feelings of frustration and anger. Ideal for use with all caregivers.
-
4-V-351 Loan
NEVER SHAKE A BABY! WHAT PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS NEED TO KNOW - VHS - (18 MIN.)
Health Television Systems Inc., 1998Never Shake a Baby! is a Canadian educational video focused on the prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome. The video validates the feeling of frustration caregivers have and offers strategies to deal appropriately with those feelings. It emphasizes the importance of support systems for parents and caregivers of young children.
-
4-V-352 Loan
IT ONLY TAKES A MOMENT - SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME - VHS - (13 MIN.)
Healthy Child Initiative, Province of Manitoba, 2000This video provides information about Shaken Baby Syndrome in a compelling manner. A father who caused the death of his infant daughter, a physician, an early childhood educator, and a mother of a survivor of shaking are featured in the video. The video provides the viewer with methods of coping with the stress of caring for an infant and emphasizes, through a strong message, to never shake a baby.
-
4-V-353 Loan
ELIJAH'S STORY - VHS - (28 MIN.)
National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome, 2000Elijah’s Story is the true story of a 16-month-old baby boy who was shaken to death by his biological father. The film follows the young family from the birth of Elijah to the 911 emergency call and sentencing hearing. Testimonies are given by Elijah’s mom and grandparents, as well as by the doctor, detective, and judge in the case. Elijah’s mom shares her emotions as she tries to go on, and Elijah’s dad speaks out from prison, encouraging others to learn from his mistakes.
(Back to Shaken Baby Syndrome)
References
King W.J., MacKay M., Sirnick A., the Canadian Shaken Baby Study Group. (2003). Shaken baby syndrome in Canada: clinical characteristics and outcomes of hospital cases. CMAJ, 168(2): 155-9.
Bonnier C., Nassogne M., Evrard P. (1995). Outcome and prognosis of whiplash shaken infant syndrome; late consequences after a symptom-free interval. Dev Med Child Neurol, 37: 943-956.