1. SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME

2. Most of the time, SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME occurs when adults, frustrated and angry with children, shake them violently. If you are a parent or ever care for a baby, it is important to know the dangers of shaking a baby.

3. WHY IS SHAKING A DANGER? A baby’s neck is too weak to support their heavy head. So when shaken, their head flops back and forth, causing serious brain injury. When a baby is shaken, the brain ricochets about their skull, causing blood vessels to tear away and blood to pool inside their skull causing damage to the brain.

4. STATISTTICS One in four babies that are victims of SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME die. The average age for a victim of SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME is 6 months. More than 60% of the victims of SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME are male Almost 80% of the perpetrators of SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME are male

5. WHY DOES SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME OCCUR? An infant may spend 2-3 hours a day crying, and the caregiver momentarily succumbs to the frustration of responding to a crying baby. Caregivers may be inadequately prepared for children. The caregiver personalizes the infant’s crying as inadequate care-giving.

6. WAYS TO SOOTHE A CRYING BABY Take the baby for a walk outside in a stroller or for a ride in the car seat. Hold the baby against your chest and gently massage the baby. Rock, walk or dance with the baby. Lower any surrounding noise and lights Offer a pacifier. Sing or talk to the baby using soothing tones.

7. IF YOU CANNOT SOOTHE THE BABY….. Be patient; take a deep breath and count to ten. Call a friend or relative that you trust to take over for a while, then get away, get some rest, take care of yourself.

8. IF ALL ELSE FAILS…. Call a doctor. The baby my be sick, or have swollen gums, or some other ailment that you cannot see.

9. TOGETHER WE CAN FIGHT SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME!

10. THE UNIVERSAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM is brought to you by: ACCESS/STAR PROGRAM 804 S. MAIN ST. JACKSONVILLE, TEXAS 75766 (903)586-3175 www.accessmhmr.org AND LINK TO THE STAR PROGRAM FUNDED BY: THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES TO REPORT CHILD ABUSE CALL: 1-800252-5400 Or https://reportabuse.ws