Shine the Light: Shaken Baby Syndrome

Published April 24, 2015
By Joyce Atlee
Family Advocacy Outreach Manager

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, OKLAHOMA --
Never shoot a baby. Never stab a baby. Pretty obvious statements, right? But many people who would never dream of using lethal weapons against a small child are surprised to find themselves facing a parent's worst nightmare when they use a not-so-obvious weapon -- their own hands!

Never shake a baby! Shaking a baby or young child can kill. Twenty-five percent of shaken babies die. Victims who don't die may end up with lifelong hearing loss, blindness, paralysis, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, seizures, mental retardation, learning and behavior problems, speech difficulties or simply exist in a vegetative state. Most victims are under one year old, but there have been cases of children as old as five being injured or killed by shaking.

Sometimes babies are shaken as part of an ongoing pattern of child abuse, but often a parent or caretaker simply becomes frustrated by the child's crying and responds violently. Often, the same people who know they should not hit or slap a young child, say they didn't know shaking would hurt the baby.

Vigorous shaking repeatedly pitches the brain in different directions. A young child's neck muscles are underdeveloped and their brain tissue is fragile. Their small size and structure further increases the risk of injury. According to the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome, "whereas an adult's head accounts for approximately 10 percent of their body weight, a baby's head is disproportionately large and accounts for about 25 percent of body weight."

The sudden motion of shaking can cause parts of the brain to pull away, tearing brain cells and blood vessels. A typical angry shaking repeats the violent motion many times in succession. In addition, the force is multiplied 5 to 10 times more than if a child had simply tripped and fallen. Often, the shaking is followed by slamming the baby down onto the crib or elsewhere (Shaken Impact Syndrome). The deceleration impact adds further injuries.

The majority of shaken baby crimes are committed by males with a relationship to the child's mother. Biological fathers and mothers' boyfriends outnumber babysitters, child care providers and mothers. Typically, a person has been left alone to care for the child. When the child cries, the person is unable to comfort the baby, becomes stressed, angry and frustrated and shakes the baby. It works. The baby stops crying. I

f the child doesn't die immediately, it usually becomes unconscious or lethargic. The baby may experience convulsions, vomiting and retinal hemorrhages (blood in the eyes). Sometimes there are no visible signs, and for many years, physicians failed to diagnose Shaken Baby Syndrome or attributed the injuries to other causes.

It wasn't until the 1970s that Shaken Baby Syndrome was first officially recognized.

Since then, knowledge has continued to increase. However; even today, physicians sometimes fail to accurately diagnose Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Tips to calm a crying baby:

· Check to see if the baby is hungry, ill, too warm, too cold, or needs to be changed.
· Rock the baby.

· Walk with the baby and change baby's position

· Wrap the baby in a blanket and hold it.

· Play some music.

· Rub the baby's back.

· Give the baby a pacifier.

· Read or sing to the baby.

· Leave a soft light on in the baby's room.

· Take the baby for a ride in the car.

· Give the baby a warm bath.

If everything you try fails...

· Let the baby cry.

· Put the baby down in a safe place. Check on the baby at intervals.

· Call someone to help you.

· Give yourself a break -- find a quiet place for yourself.

· Play some music.

· Try to read, work on a hobby, or practice stress management techniques.
It's also a parent's responsibility to be careful who takes care of your child. Use common sense! Don't let anyone take care of a fussy baby by himself or herself, if:

· They have a hot temper.

· They are afraid of losing control or have been known to lose control in the past.

· They can't pay full attention to the baby.

· They don't know how to handle a child who is difficult to comfort.

· They don't know how to handle a child who is demanding, crabby or annoying.

· They think that babies 0-18 months "do things on purpose to make you angry."

With greater awareness of the problem have come more prevention resources to help parents and other caretakers learn how to deal with the frustrations of caring for young children.

Here at Tinker AFB and most other military installations, the Family Advocacy New Parent Support Program can provide information and support for new and expectant parents.

For information about Shaken Baby Syndrome, parenting tips, baby-proofing your home, or child abuse prevention, call Family Advocacy at 582-6604 or come by the office located in Bldg. 1094 (the 72nd Medical Group).