Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome

What It Is; How to Prevent It

When a crying baby cannot be soothed no matter what you do, it can be very frustrating. It’s normal to feel stressed, upset and even annoyed, especially if you’re already physically and mentally exhausted from caring for your infant.

But if anger and frustration lead you to shake your baby forcefully, the results can be harmful—even life-threatening for your infant.

Shaking your baby this way can cause head trauma called “shaken baby syndrome.” It’s a serious head injury and a form of child abuse.

Because babies cannot yet fully support their heads, a hard shaking or impact can injure their brains. This can cause brain damage, bleeding around the brain, seizures, vision or hearing loss, learning disabilities or even cerebral palsy (the inability to control muscles and body movements).

Shaken baby syndrome is not merely jostling a baby on your knee. It has been described as shaking an infant so hard that anyone watching would know it was not appropriate. It can result from a single episode of shaking or repeated occurrences.

What to Do When Your Baby Cries

When your little one cries, respond as soon as you can (a hysterical baby is even harder to soothe):

Try to figure out the reason for the crying: Is your baby hungry, tired, in pain, too hot or cold, or in need of a diaper change?

Realize that babies can sometimes cry long and hard for no obvious reason. Babies born prematurely, in particular, may cry more than healthy full-term infants. In their first months of life, babies can cry for 1 to 3 hours at a time. These periods gradually lessen and stop, but they can be hard to deal with in the moment.

If you can’t figure out why your baby is crying, try these tips for soothing him or her.

If You Start to Lose Control

If nothing is working and you feel yourself getting too frustrated or even angry, take these steps recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP):

Take a break. Place your baby in a safe place (a crib or playpen with no blankets, bumpers or stuffed animals, due to SIDS risk). Leave the room and let your baby cry for about 10-15 minutes.

Try calming activities for yourself. Take deep breaths in a quiet area; listen to music; call your partner, a friend or family member; do some simple chores.

If you haven’t calmed down after 15 minutes, check on your baby but do not pick him or her back up until you feel calm again.

Once you are calm, return to your baby and pick him or her up. Try the tips for soothing again.

If the crying continues and intensifies, call your baby’s doctor. There may be a medical reason for the crying.

It’s important to tell anyone who cares for your baby about the risks of shaking an infant too forcefully. Let them know the different ways to soothe your baby and what to do if they, too, get frustrated.

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