Shaken Baby Syndrome

A lot of us are unaware of how fragile babies are. When we play with our babies we tend to over do it. We thought that it is alright to throw baby in the air when we are playing with him or jiggle him just to make him laugh.

There are a lot of cases of babies having died of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) probably becasue a lot of people are unaware of the dangers of shaking a child.



Why It Is Dangerous To Shake A Baby Or A Child:

• Babies and small children have:

• weak necks
• large disproportionate heads
• fragile brain tissue and blood vessels

• Injuries include:

• internal damage and bleeding (called subdural hemorrhage or hematoma)
  
• brain swelling
• blindness
• hearing loss and speech impairment
• spinal, neck or rib injuries, bone fractures
• weak motor skills, learning disabilities and other developmental delays
• seizures
• coma
• death (happens in 1 in 4 babies who suffer from Shaken Baby Syndrome)

The damage is even greater when the shaking ends with an impact (hitting a wall or a crib mattress, for example), because the forces of acceleration and deceleration associated with an impact are so strong.

Impaired For Life:

Even a few seconds of shaking can injure a baby for life even if there are no obvious signs of injury. Some very subtle symptoms include: lethargy, weakness, excessive sleepiness, and loss of appetite. You may also notice breathing problems, vomiting and seizures.

Dealing With "Baby Frustration:"

Feelings of desperation and anger drive some parents to shake their babies in a last-ditch effort to get them to stop crying. But the result - a real tragedy - is often severe, permanent brain damage, even death. Before you get to the point where shaking feels like a solution, get help. Your baby's doctor is a good place to start.

If you're growing frustrated with your baby's incessant crying, put him in a crib or playpen and leave the room at once. Sit down, close your eyes and relax by counting from 1 to 20.

Immediately ask another adult to take over the baby's care. If no one can help you, try to think of a logical reason why the baby's upset. Remember babies cry for a reason. It is their way of communication. Ask yourself the following:

• Is he sick? Maybe he has colic? If he does, have your doctor check the baby.
• Are his clothes uncomfortable? Are his clothes constricting his movement? Is his clothing too hot/warm for him or is he cold?
• Is his nappy or diaper wet?
• Is he hungry?

Another thing to be careful of when caring for baby is falling or dropping. Even a short distance of 3 feet on to a padded surface can cause similar symptoms and injuries to SBS. Make sure that there is someone keeping an eye of baby AT ALL TIMES.