Prevent Shaken Baby Injuries

 Did you know?

• Babies can cry up to 5 hours a day and still be perfectly normal.
• Crying, especially inconsolable crying is the main trigger for shaking an infant.
• Shaken baby syndrome occurs most often at two to six months of age.
• Shaking a baby can cause seizures, blindness or deafness, paralysis, permanent brain damage, developmental delay, and even death.

Tips for soothing crying infants

• Change or feed the baby
• Take the baby for a walk in a stroller or infant carrier
• Rub the baby's tummy
• Offer a pacifier (soother)
• But remember, sometimes healthy, normal babies cannot be comforted and that is OK.
• If you become too frustrated with the crying, put the baby in a safe place a walk away until you calm down.

You can prevent shaken baby injuries

• It’s more important to calm yourself, before you try to calm your baby.
• Learn more about normal infant crying at www.dontshake.ca.
• Never, ever shake your baby.
• Tell others about normal infant crying and the dangers of shaking.

Updated:  Oct. 10/07
Source:  Prevent SBS British Columbia