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