7-month-old infant shaken by father expected to survive (Cheyenne, Wyoming)

A 7-month-old infant girl, who was shaken by her father for "crying in her crib, interrupting her father's video game" is expected to survive. Daddy is charged with felony aggravated child abuse. Dad is unnamed here, but had been previously identified here at Dastardly Dads as ROBERT T. SCOTT.

This is one of those rare articles that actually explains that 15% of children's deaths are due to shaking or battering, and that 80% of the perpetrators are male--a most politically incorrect thing to say these days, but the unvarnished truth.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700009212/Provo-father-to-stand-trial-in-battered-babys-death.html

Wyoming infant expected to survive after being shaken by her father
By The Survivors Club Staff
February 12, 2010

A baby girl from Cheyenne was crying in her crib, interrupting her father's video game, so he shook her violently causing a brain injury that sent the 7-month-old to an emergency room.

The infant remains at Children's Hospital in Denver with what doctors termed as a "brain bleed," and the 21-year-old father appeared in court on Monday, charged with felony aggravated child abuse, according to Wyoming News.

Fortunately, "it's looking like the baby is doing much better," and may be released in the next few days, said Cheyenne police detective Sergeant Rick Wood, quoted by the news provider.

Statistics suggest that as many as 15 percent of children's deaths are due to battering or shaking and that about 80 percent of perpetrators are male.

ChildHelp.org, a non-profit organization that accepts donations, offers tips for parents and caregivers frustrated with the demands of parenting that may help them deal with anger without resorting to violence.

The source says that if a caretaker gets angry at a child, they need to be sure the baby is safe and then walk away. It is also useful to take time to breathe and then call a friend, if possible. Finding a support system can also ease the stress of taking care of an infant or toddler.

Regardless of the situation, adults should avoid swinging or bouncing a child wildly, and never shake them if they stop breathing, rather pat them gently and call 911 instead.