What is Shaken Baby Syndrome...
This is the term used to describe the damage caused when a baby is violently shaken.
What we know about Shaken Baby Syndrome...
Research tells us that most cases of serious injury or death from shaking a baby usually occur in baby's first months and is associated with:
- inexperienced, unprepared carers, with little knowledge about babies,
- who become overwhelmed and frustrated from a baby's prolonged and inconsolable crying.
What can happen if my baby is shaken?
When a baby is shaken their brain is banged with force against their skull. Because babies are so small, if they are shaken it doesn't take much force to cause:
- baby's blood vessels to stretch and tear
- baby's brain to bleed and swell
- bleeding in the eyes and blindness
- hearing loss
- seizures and epilepsy
- learning difficulties
- permanent brain damage or
- death.
What should I do if my baby has been shaken?
If your baby has been shaken he or she might:
- become really grizzly and hard to settle
- whimper in pain
- be very sleepy or floppy
- have feeding problems
- have bloodshot eyes
- have difficulty breathing
- start vomiting or
- have a seizure.
If your baby has been shaken and you notice any of the signs above you must seek emergency medical help immediately. Waiting will only cause more damage.
Call 000 for an ambulance.
Can Shaken Baby Syndrome be caused by an accident or while playing?
For example, would it happen from bouncing or jiggling on someone's knee or if my baby fell off a change table? This is a common question and the short answer is, No. These things do not cause the type of injuries likely from shaking. Shaken Baby Syndrome is the result of major brain trauma.
Updated: March 2009