Shaken Baby Syndrome

Frustration, sleep deprivation can be a fatal combination

By Kristin Ownby

If you are reading this magazine, chances are you’re a parent, grandparent or caregiver. You probably don’t need anyone to tell you that caring for a baby is hard work—especially when the baby is fussy. Often parents, especially first-time or young parents, may experience the feeling that they “just can’t do it” or that they “aren’t doing it right” when their baby won’t stop crying. Couple those feelings with lack of sleep, and sometimes parents lose control. This can lead to shaken baby syndrome.

SBS is a very serious and traumatic brain injury caused when a frustrated adult holds a young child by the arms or torso and repeatedly shakes him back and forth in a whiplash motion. The head is the largest part of a baby’s body, and a baby’s neck muscles aren’t strong enough to control his head movements. Therefore, rapid shaking may cause bruising of the child’s brain, rupturing of blood vessels, nerve damage, detachment of the retina, scarring of the optic nerves, swelling of the brain, and/or the formation of hematomas (blood clots).

If you are the parent or caretaker of a baby, it’s important for you to know that babies don’t cry to make you mad or to purposely keep you from getting sleep.

Crying is one of the few ways your baby can communicate. Her crying may make you feel worried, tense or even frustrated. All parents have these feelings. But it is never OK to take them out on your baby.

Here are some tips if you feel like you are starting to lose your temper with your baby:

° Take a break. If you start to feel angry, make sure your child is safe, go to another room, count to 10, and take some deep breaths.

° Ask for help. Have your partner take over, or call a friend or relative.

° Be patient. Do not take your baby’s crying personally. He is not trying to upset you.

There are safe ways to calm your baby:

° Check the basics. Is she wet? Hungry? Lonely? Too hot or cold?

° Go outside. Take your baby for a walk. Sometimes a change of scenery helps, even for babies.

° Stay close. Some babies need a lot of holding, carrying or gentle rocking. Extra care and attention won’t “spoil” a baby.

Remember: Babies cry no matter what. Keep in mind that sometimes there may be nothing you can do to stop the crying.

If you suspect your baby has been shaken, Celeste Wright, a registered pediatric nurse in Illinois, explains what to look for:

“Parents should pay attention to their babies. If your child exhibits extreme irritability, vomiting, lethargy, poor muscle tone, inability to follow movements, stiffness, seizures/convulsions, difficulty breathing, lack of smiling or vocalization, and poor sucking or swallowing, then you should take your baby to the doctor or local emergency room, because he/she may have SBS.”

If you would like more information about SBS, contact The Children’s Advocacy Center at 266-6918 or CACHC.org.

Kristin Ownby is prevention education coordinator for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Hamilton County.

Sources:

“Shaken Baby Syndrome” by Kristi Patrice Carter in Pediatrics for Parents, October 2001
Never, EVER Shake a Baby, Channing Bete Company, 2008 edition