1. Better the Baby Cry... How the Program was Built: Tools for the Community Educator

2. Literature Search n Child Abuse and Neglect: The International Journal n American Medical Association n American Academy of Pediatrics n Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine n Association for Retarded Citizens n United States Department of Health and Human Services n University - hospital - other websites

3. “Keeping Connected” April, 1998: Shaken Baby Syndrome n Child Abuse Prevention Month in the Military n Three Sets of briefing slides with commentary n Lists of electronic mailing lists and web sites Http://child.cornell.edu/sbs.html/ n Camera-ready masters

4. “Better the Baby Cry” Briefing Slides n Three Sets of briefing slides with commentary –basic information –concerning babysitters –caring for a crying baby

5. Camera Ready Masters n Providing community educators with useful tools –Ways to Soothe a Crying Baby Leaflet –Shaken Baby Syndrome Leaflet –Parent and Babysitter Pledge Cards –Guidelines For Hiring Babysitters Handout

6. Special Focus on Baby Sitters n SBS Conference Feedback n Evaluation Results Suggest Novelty n Focus on “Untrained Care Takers” n The Babysitter Pledge Card: what we teach

7. Careful screening of baby sitters may reduce the possibility of injury to your child. The Baby Sitter Connection

8. Who Will Be Taking Care of Your Baby? n Is the person you hire the only person who will be taking care of your baby? –will other adults be present when your child is there? –will the care of your baby ever be delegated to another adult? –how many other children will be present when your baby is there - including the sitter’s own children? –will any of these children be expected to care for your baby - if only for a few minutes? –will the other children have contact with - or play with your baby?

9. If Your Babysitter is a Teenager n Is the babysitter old enough - or mature-enough to manage alone? n Does the babysitter understand the physical, emotional, and intellectual limitations of babies and children? n Does the babysitter know how to maintain a safe environment for children? n How is the babysitter doing at school? –doing well? or having problems? n Who are the babysitter’s friends? –how do they act around each other?

10. Teenager, continued... n Has the babysitter taken any child care courses? n Is the babysitter “rough” with siblings? n How is the babysitter disciplined at home? n How was the babysitter disciplined when she was the age of your child? n Does the babysitter agree to contact you right away if there are any problems?

11. Important Things to Know About Your Babysitter Does your babysitter: –use alcohol while taking care of children? –use drugs while taking care of children? –smoke while children are there? –need to take medication? »could side effects impair the ability to care for children? Does your babysitter have personal problems? –domestic violence? –fighting with neighbors?

12. Babysitter History Has your babysitter ever been in trouble with the police? Has your babysitter ever been reported to CPS? Is your babysitter certified by an agency? –does the agency observe her on a regular basis? Does she have experience taking care of children the age of your child? What kind of discipline did she experience in her own childhood? –did anyone ever try to “shake some sense into her?”

13. What Are Your Babysitter’s Expectations? Is your baby expected to sleep at specific times? Is your baby expected to eat at specific times? Is your baby expected to behave in a specific way? Is your baby expected to be quiet? Is your baby expected to be obedient? Is your baby expected to be easy to please?

14. Have You Checked on This? Have you personally seen where your baby will eat.....sleep.....play? Have you talked to other parents who have used her as a babysitter? Have you personally checked out ALL of her references? Have you asked her to talk about “what is it like” for her to work as a babysitter? –her frustrations –what she likes about the job –what she dislikes about the job

15. Babysitter Attitudes Does your babysitter have a genuine interest in children? Does your babysitter LIKE children? Does your babysitter like children the age of YOUR child? Does your baby sitter pay attention to your child’s needs? Does your babysitter play with your child? Does your babysitter speak about your child with pride and pleasure?

16. Babysitter Behavior age appropriate responsible resourceful patient good sense of humor relaxed

17. Skills Your Babysitter Needs to handle a baby who is fussy about eating to handle a baby who doesn’t go to sleep easily to handle a baby who is upset when you leave to handle a baby who cries hard for a long time to handle a baby who doesn’t do what she expects

18. CRISES Will your babysitter talk to you about any problems with your child? Will your babysitter call you immediately if she feels unable to handle your child? Is your babysitter able to recognize an emergency? Is your babysitter able to react appropriately to an emergency?

19. Shaken Baby Syndrome What does you babysitter know about Shaken Baby Syndrome? –you can provide information about »the effects on the baby »signs and symptoms of SBS »what to do if shaking is suspected Are there any circumstances in which she might shake a baby? –if the baby weren’t breathing.....? –if they were playing with the baby.....? –if.................................................................?

20. The Only Correct Answer n The only correct answer to “Would you ever shake a baby?” is: n “I WOULD NEVER....!”

21. Warning Signs of SBS Unable to turn head Body pulls to one side Difficulty in breathing Seizures Lethargic, hard to rouse Dilated or pin-point pupils Eyes don’t respond to light Blood pooling in eyes

22. What To Do If You See These Warning Signs Take the child to the nearest emergency room IMMEDIATELY. Be prepared to provide any helpful information to medical staff.

23. The Best Advice n Remind your babysitters EACH AND EVERY time they care for your child that they are NOT to shake your baby under any circumstances. n Leave a number where you can be reached in case the babysitter is unable to cope. n Encourage your babysitters to call you if they feel they need to.

24. What’s the hidden message?...... Better that the baby cry than the baby die...