New York City Health Hospital Corporation Warns Against Shaken Baby Syndrome and Brain Injury
Shaken Baby Syndrome is a serious brain injury which occurs when a frustrated caregiver "shakes" a child, usually to stop him/her from crying. It is considered a form of child abuse. A baby is the greatest gift of all. Yet some parents, siblings, or caretakers whowould not consider hitting a baby, think that shaking a baby is okay. This is WRONG!
Shaking a baby, or even a young child, can cause bleeding inside the brain which may lead to:
Death
Brain Damage
Retardation
Blindness
Paralysis
Seizures
Developmental delays
Protect our future by handling children with the loving care they deserve!
The message is simple - never shake a baby. No matter how tired, angry or frustrated you feel, you must never, ever shake a baby. Shaking a baby can kill or cause serious injuries.
And remember, some play activities are also dangerous such as:
Vigorous, repeated tossing of a small child into the air
Jogging while carrying an infant on the back or shoulders
Bouncing a child on an adult's knee or swinging the child on an adults leg
Swinging the child around by the ankles
Spinning a child around
COPING WITH A CRYING BABY
Make sure all the baby's basic needs (food, diapering, appropriate clothing, etc.) are met
Offer the baby a pacifier
Walk the baby around holding him/her close to you
Call a friend, relative or a neighbor for help
If all else fails, put the baby in the crib, making sure the baby is safe. Close the door and check back every five minutes or so.
If you are a child care provider and cannot handle a crying baby, please let the parent know.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME
Constant crying
Stiffness
Sleeping more than usual
Unable to wake up
Seizures
Dilated pupils
Decreased appetite
Vomiting
Difficulty breathing
Blood spots in eyes
