| Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) Options | | | | how to talk. It does not always mean |
| Shaken Baby Syndrome or SBS, refers to | | | | that the caretaker is doing anything |
| the symptoms resulting from violent | | | | wrong. |
| shaking of an infant child, a | | | | We have all been around the baby who |
| preventable abuse. This usually happens | | | | continues to cry. You feed the baby, you |
| when the caretaker gets stressed and | | | | check the diaper, you try burping the |
| frustrated while the baby is crying, and | | | | baby, you checked the child's |
| attempts to shake the baby to stop it | | | | temperature, and you tried turning down |
| from crying. This causes neurological | | | | the noise in the room...but the baby |
| damage from the whiplash effect on the | | | | still continues to cry. Again, it does |
| spinal cord and brain. | | | | not necessarily mean that you have done |
| In America alone, there are around 1500 | | | | anything wrong. It could just be that |
| shaken babies every year who are brought | | | | the infant has gas or is starting to |
| in for treatment. Of these young | | | | have teeth come through. |
| victims, more than 1/4 do not survive | | | | Some Alternative options that you can |
| their injuries. Those that survive will | | | | try: |
| have many problems from the trauma that | | | | - SPEAK SOFTLY to the baby |
| will last their entire life. There is no | | | | - SING to the baby |
| doubt many others that suffer the | | | | - ROCK the baby |
| symptoms that were never brought in for | | | | - MASSAGE the baby's back |
| treatment. | | | | - OFFER A PACIFIER (but don't force it) |
| This syndrome can be prevented by | | | | - PLAY SOFT MUSIC like classical, or |
| continued education and preparation | | | | nursery music |
| before (or while) having children. The | | | | - WALK the baby in a stroller |
| mother, or father, or babysitter must | | | | - ENTERTAIN the baby |
| learn what the baby's needs are and | | | | In the end, every mother or father says |
| learn a lot of patience. All babies will | | | | that raising children was worth it. |
| cry. This is a way for them to | | | | Babies can't cry forever. |
| communicate, since they do not yet know | | | | |