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Shaken Baby Syndrome - It is Preventable

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is a term used to describe the signs and symptoms caused by the violent shaking of an infant or small child.

The number one reason a baby is shaken is inconsolable crying.

This fact sheet was developed by the Westchester Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect to help prevent and recognize Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Did You Know?

• Head trauma is the leading killer of abused children, and shaking is usually involved.
• Roughly one-third of SBS cases are missed the first time.
• One quarter of SBS victims die. The remaining can be left with brain damage, hear­ing/sight loss, learning problems, seizure disorders, cerebral palsy, and paralysis. Boy infants are more likely to be injured than girls are.
• Men are more likely to be perpetrators than women are.
• In a study conducted by the Child Abuse Prevention Center, 62% of perpetrators were parents, 3% were step-parents, 20% were live-in boyfriends, and 14% were non-relative care­givers.

Warning Signs

These are the warning signs that a baby may have been shaken.

• Lethargy/sluggishness
• Difficulty breathing
• Extreme irritability
• Decreased appetite
• Vomiting
• Seizures

Shaken Baby Syndrome Can Be Prevented

SBS is a preventable form of abuse. Through education about the dangers of shaking babies as well as by providing tools on how to cope with a crying baby, most incidents of SBS can be prevented. A program developed by Dr. Mark Dias of the Children’s Hospital of Buffalo has been quite successful. By educating new parents before they leave the hospital with their newborn, they have experi­enced a significant decrease in incidents of SBS, even those cases involving child care providers.

Westchester County in 2002 piloted an educational program for parents of newborns to prevent shaken baby syndrome. To learn more about this program call the Westchester County Department of Health at 914-813-5000 or explore their web site at http://www.westchestergov.com/health.

Where to Get More Information

These web sites provide additional information about Shaken Baby Syndrome

National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome
http://www.dontshake.com
The National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome started as a division of the Child Abuse Prevention Center of Utah in 1997. In 2000, it became a private, non-profit corporation working to provide information to professsionals and parents. The site contains answers to questions about SBS, an extensive list of reference materials, announcements of conferences and links to other sites regarding Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Shaken Baby Alliance
http://www.shakenbaby.com
The Shaken Baby Alliance is a non-profit group whose mission is to provide support for SBS victim families, advocate for justice for SBS victims and increase SBS awareness. This site contains information about prevention of SBS, family support, advocacy for victims, a library of resources, and information about justice and legal issues.

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