Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome Shaken Baby Syndrome is a form of
child abuse and is the most common cause for inflicted brain
injury in the first two years of life. But many of these
injuries can be avoided when parents and caregivers understand
how to respond appropriately to a crying baby. Shaking infants
and toddlers can have dangerous consequences because of their
large heads and immature brains. A baby's neck muscles can't
support the stress of vigorous shaking; when the baby is shaken,
its head moves in a sudden whiplash motion that can cause
bleeding inside the head and increased pressure on the brain.
Shaking a baby can cause irreversible brain damage, learning
disabilities, mental retardation, blindness, deafness, seizures,
paralysis or death. Infants who survive severe shaking may
require lifelong medical care. Many new parents and caregivers
may not understand that crying is the baby's only way to
communicate, and that some babies cry more than others. Babies
will cry because of hunger, the need to s