SUPPORT
It only takes a few seconds to change lives forever! Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is the collection of signs and symptoms resulting from the violent shaking of an infant or small child.It is a form of child abuse.
In America last year, approximately 1,200 - 1,400 children were shaken for whom treatment was sought. Of these tiny victims, 25% -30% died as a result of their injuries. A third will likely have lifelong complications. A third may appear to do OK; however, several of this group will have learning and/or behavioral challenges when they start school.
"Babies cry. Some cry a lot. Crying is part of normal child development. Try to find out why your baby is crying (wet diaper, hungry, needs to cuddle), but if nothing works, it's OK to let your baby cry." ~Dr. Ron Barr
Parents, Family & Child Care Providers
Visit the New Parent Network to find tips for parents. Check out the tip for Wednesday, April 1, 2009-about Never Shake A Baby Arizona's message on soothing crying!
How to Calm Your Crying Baby
Baby Brain Map To learn more about crying and infant brain development and how parents can help: Use the Zero to Three Baby Brain Map.
Click on the Select Age Bar: Newborn to 2 months period. Click on the "Crying" area on the picture of the brain. Click on the questions in the box to the right; read the answers in the box below. Click on the "Touch" area on the picture of the brain. See how the answers for "Touch" relate to the answers for "Crying". “This is great information that we as parents must remember.” –ParentNew Parent Tips Put your own oxygen mask on first! Parenting can be stressful.
To help your baby and yourself weather the storms, first take care of yourself. This link is to Advice for New Moms and Dads compiled by Prevent Child Abuse America. Check it out.
And sign up for monthly e-newsletter from the Prevent Child Abuse national organization whose goal is to strengthen families.
ADHS Posts Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome Video The Arizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Women's and Children's Health, has posted our Preventing Shaken Baby video on their website. If you go to the ADHS/BWCH home page, you can also find the video link under Media Archives (in left hand column).Thanks to ADHS/BWCH for helping us to provide this public education on how to soothe infant crying and reduce parent frustration. Thanks to Phoenix Children's Hospital for producing this life saving video!
Medical Professionals
Rotational Cranial Injuries-Technical Report Legal & Law Enforcement ProfessionalsInvestigation Guidelines Research-Based Program: Research and EvaluationNever Shake a Baby Arizona was piloted from 2003-2005 at Flagstaff Medical Center and University Medical Center in Tucson. More than 7,600 families participated in the program. Parent comments overwhelmingly stated that the program was very helpful to them. Click here for the link to the journal article published by the New York program that we use as the model for our program. Hospitals around the state are implementing Never Shake A Baby Arizona (NSBAz). OB nurses, Childbirth Educators, and other hospital staff are trained to teach parents about crying as normal infant behavior and how to soothe their babies. Nurses also teach parents to be aware of their frustrations with infant crying and steps to take to relieve them. Shaken Baby Syndrome is generally triggered by infant crying, so learning how to calm a crying baby and/or take care of yourself as parent/caregiver can help to prevent it. Additionally, Home Visitors in the Healthy Families, Health Start, and Newborn Intensive Care Programs reinforce the NSBAz messages to further help parents to protect their babies.
 PEDIATRICS: THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS ARTICLES Download A Pediatrician's Perspective on Child Abuse Reporting Download Professional Education in Child Abuse and Neglect Download Strategies for Saving Children's Lives Download Pediatric Leadership in Child Abuse Download Support for Reporting Child Abuse Download Child Abuse Roles for Professionals Download Primary Care Clinician Decision-Making
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Signs & Symptoms Shaken Children Can Have Learning Disabilities We know that even 25% of children who appear to have no bad effects from having been shaken can still experience learning disabilities when they ... READ MORE |
Education is Prevention
Shaken Baby Syndrome is 100% preventable.
A major step in prevention will be achieved if the public health message "Never Shake a Baby" can be made part of our culture, just like "Don't Drink and Drive". Many people don't know that shaking a baby or a toddler can be dangerous.
is two fold.
1. Educate the public about the serious medical and legal consequences of shaking a baby, provide methods of coping with the stressful demands of a crying baby or difficult toddler, and provide guidance on selecting caregivers for infants and young children.
2. Deliver tailored messaging with coping information to those who are at higher risk of shaking a baby, and equip those providing guidance and service to high-risk groups with the appropriate Never Shake A Baby Arizona prevention resources.