How to Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome

Shaken baby syndrome is a brain injury resulting from aggressively shaking a baby. If you have a baby or you care for a baby, you need to be aware of shaken baby syndrome. An estimated 600 to 1,400 cases of shaken baby syndrome occur annually. Most victims are between 3 and 8 months old. Sadly, approximately 20 percent of victims die within days of the injury. Fortunately, this syndrome is completely preventable.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Recognize that shaken baby syndrome typically occurs when an adult becomes frustrated with a baby's continuous crying.
2. Create a support system to help you through the first few months. Call your family and friends and ask for them to watch your baby for an hour while you get rest.
3. Plan out a sequence of steps you will take when your baby starts crying. Write down these steps, laminate the paper, and leave it near your baby's crib. When the baby cries, take out the paper and start working through the steps one at a time.
4. Identify a safe place where you can place your baby if you become completely frustrated. During this time, take deep breaths, read a short article in a magazine or call a friend or family member,
5. Educate your spouse, employees, and others who may care for the baby about the consequences of shaking a baby. Show them the list of steps you keep near the baby's crib. Provide them with emergency contact numbers they can use if they become too frustrated to work with the baby.
6. Evaluate the quality of any child care facility or personnel before leaving your child in their hands. Ask if they are trained in the prevention of shaken baby syndrome. If you are a day care employer, carefully evaluate potential employees.
7. Contact the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome at [phone]. They offer a wide selection of brochures and other materials that are good to keep in your home or facility.

Tips & Warnings

• While crying may seem abnormal, healthy babies cry 2 to 3 hours a day. Crying typically peaks when a baby is 2 months old.
• Don't be ashamed if your baby's crying is frustrating you. It is better to acknowledge the frustration and seek help than to attempt to deal with the situation alone.