1. Coping with CRYING SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME

2. What do BABIES do? Eat Sleep Have dirty diapers Cry
Most babies cry 2-3 hours a day for the 1st 2 -3 months of life
5 p.m. to Midnight is often a fussy time

3. A parent responding to an infant’s cry is a vital part of
EMOTIONAL NURTURING.
It will help the baby to learn to TRUST and BOND with the parents or caregivers.

4. 4 Basic Cries: … the HUNGRY Cry … the CRY of PAIN
Rhythmical rise & fall - demanding not desperate
… the CRY of PAIN
Loud gasp - shrieks
… the BORED or GRUMBLING CRY
Low pitched - not demanding - increases when ignored
… the ANGRY CRY
Loud - demanding - not a type of cry until about 6 months of age

5. Check to see if Basic Needs are met:
Hungry
Burped
Diaper Change
Clothing Comfortable
Crying to release Stress (Pacifier)
Wants to be held
Room too hot or cold

6. Check to see if baby is SICK-
Temperature
Gums:
swollen - red - drooling (teething)
Ears
Red - warm - draining
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Allergies
Runny nose - red eyes
Clear = Allergies Green = Infection

7. COLIC: Pull legs up to stomach Breast Feeding LACTOSE Intolerance:
stomach problems / gas
Breast Feeding
onions, garlic, broccoli, cauliflower, spicy foods, chocolate, etc.
LACTOSE Intolerance:
√ with doctor / Change formula (soy or goat)
Often Outgrows colic by 3-4 months
more movement and solid food

8. When the Caregiver is tired & Baby Cries a lot:
Natural to feel FRUSTRATED
High Risk of
LOOSING CONTROL
PLAN AHEAD WHAT TO DO!

9. BRAINSTORM ways to
COPE with CRYING

10. SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME:
Term used to describe the many signs and symptoms resulting from the violent shaking of an infant or young child.

11. What do you Know?
T F 1. Babies’ heads and bodies are the same proportion as adults.
T F 2. Babies cry an average of 30 minutes a day.
T F 3. More serious injuries are caused by shaking a baby than if the baby fell from a distance of 10 feet.
T F 4. Shaking a baby once can cause death.
T F 5. The medical cost for a baby that is shaken can be thousands of dollars.
T F 6. If you have tried everything and your baby is still crying, it is okay to leave the baby in the crib for a few minutes.

12. Quiz KEY FALSE- Babies larger FALSE- Average of 2-3 Hours
T F 1. Babies’ heads and bodies are the same proportion as adults.
FALSE- Babies larger
10% body weight vs. 2%
T F 2. Babies cry an average of 30 minutes a day.
FALSE- Average of 2-3 Hours

13. T F 3. More serious injuries are caused by
T F 3. More serious injuries are caused by shaking a baby than if the baby fell from a distance of 10 feet.
TRUE
T F 4. Shaking a baby once can cause death.

14. FALSE - up to a Millions +
T F 5. The medical cost for a baby that been shaken can be thousands of dollars.
FALSE - up to a Millions +
T F 6. If you have tried everything and your baby is still crying, it is okay to leave the baby in the crib for a few minutes.
TRUE

19. 1) Baby’s brain bangs against skull. 2) Small blood vessels
are torn - bleeding
3) Blood clots press on
brain.
4) Vertebrae crush the
spinal cord.
BRAIN DAMAGE
RETARDATION
LEARNING DISABILITIES
PHYSICAL DISABILITIES
PARALYSIS
BLINDNESS
and DEATH
may occur.

20. SIGNS & SYMPTOMS of SBS Concussion Vomiting Irritability Lethargy
Trouble feeding
Sleepy
coma

21. If your baby is crying…
1. Is the baby hungry? Some babies eat every 2 hours or more.
2. Check to see if the baby needs a diaper change.
3. Check the room temperature. Is the baby too hot or too cold?
4. Try cuddling or holding the baby. You can’t spoil a tiny baby -
they need to feel safe and loved.
5. Walk with the baby.
6. Gently rock or bounce the baby in your arms. Never shake!
7. Try shushing in the baby’s ear.
8. Wrap the baby in a swaddling blanket.
9. Offer the baby a pacifier.
10. Put the baby down for a nap.
11. Try giving the baby a soothing bath or massage.
12. Put the baby in a car seat and take a car ride or put the baby
in a stroller and go for a walk.
13. Listen to music with the baby.
14. Sing to your baby.
15. Put the baby in a baby swing.
16. Try some background noise such as a vacuum sweeper.
17. Call a friend or family member for support.
18. Try not to blame yourself or to be angry or blame your baby.
Know that crying is just what babies do.
19. If you are unable to calm your baby, lay the baby on its back
in a safe place, such as a crib, and leave the room to take a
few minutes to calm yourself. Remember to check on the
baby often.
20. If you think the baby is sick, call your pediatrician

22. STATISTICS: 70% of the perpetrators are MALE
(father, step-father, boyfriend, etc.)
56% of the victims are male babies
Average age of shaking is 3-8 months
26 SBS cases in Utah in year 2000
(up from 13 in 1999)
25% of the SBS victims die immediately after being shaken
75% will live with complications because of the shaking.
SBS is the leading cause of death in infants due to child abuse/neglect.

23. 28% surviving victims return to THEIR HOMES.
11% adopted by GRANDPARENTS
11% placed in FOSTER CARE

24. Dr. William M. Palmer
(Medical Director of the Child Protective Team at Primary Children’s Hospital & University Hospital)
“Most people do not intend to hurt the child. They lose their impulse control; they just want the baby to shut up.”

25. A HAND SLAP on the face of an infant under 15 months can cause similar damage
THROWING a child up in the air and catching it
TWIRLING a child under age 2 by it’s arms or legs
BOUNCING ROUGHLY on knee/foot can also have damaging affect on baby

26. HELPFUL HINTS:
ALWAYS support the neck of infants, babies and small children.
If upset - CALM DOWN before dealing with your child.
When playing, never THROW or TOSS your child.
Screen all babysitters carefully. Know their temperament.

27. Never
Shake a Baby
Or TODDLER!

28. USOE Child Development Curriculum, 1994
The Child Abuse Prevention Center
Davis County Health Dept.