Never, never shake a baby: 65-90% of shakers are males, mostly fathers and boyfriends (Nassau, Bahamas)

Given the statistics on male caregivers and shaken baby syndrome, is it any surprise that some fathers rights people are now claiming that shaken baby syndrome doesn't exist? Not really sure how they explain how healthy babies suddenly develops fatal brain damage, fractured skulls, broken ribs all by their lonesome (when--by the strangest of coincidences-- Dad is the only adult at home), but logic isn't necessarily their strong suit. Kind of reminds me of Holocaust deniers, frankly. Same kookiness. Next we'll be hearing how the 3-month-old baby must have been injured while downhill skiing. And you'll be bashed as a feminazi if you're skeptical.

http://www.thenassauguardian.com/social_community/352427252118315.php

Monday, April 12, 2010

Never, never, never shake a baby

By Shavaughn Moss ~ Lifestyles Editor ~ shavaughn@nasguard.com:

We've all seen the images of a child being violently shaken — on television news that is, and it's most often a caregiver secretly videotaped by suspicious parents with a nanny cam.

It's a shocking sight to behold, and while it should never happen, it does. In most instances the perpetrators have tried to justify their actions by saying they just wanted the crying baby to shut up and resorted to shaking it.

This shaking is a serious form of child abuse known as Shaken Baby Syndrome according to Maria Kelley, a member of the National Child Protection Council and assistant director of Health Social Services in the Ministry of Social Development.

"Shaken Baby Syndrome usually occurs when a parent or other caregiver loses control and shakes a baby out of anger or frustration, often because the baby will not stop crying," said Kelley who added babies cry when they have to "tell" an adult that they need something. "They might need to eat, to have their diaper changed or to be held. The baby could be too hot or too cold, or in pain. Sometimes babies cry because they need to release some tension of their own." Kelley says crying is normal and the amount of time a baby spends doing it varies with age, health and temperament.

While Josie Brown (name changed) a 40-year-old mother of two admitted that she is one of those mothers who has felt like shaking her children when she got frustrated, but said she never did it.

"I felt like it, but I've never done it, because I know the consequences. I ain't stupid, and at the end of the day, you know what that would cause. I don't want no harm come to my child. At the end of the day you know that ain't right."

Brown says she's seen babies being shaken out of frustration, but only in movies, and has never actually seen it happen in real life — not even on the television news, so she does not believe someone would actually shake their child.

According to Kelley, for parents, crying is an annoying sound, as it's supposed to be. She says if it was a pleasant sound, it would be easy for most adults to ignore and the baby's needs would never be met.

When parents and caregivers are not always able to stop the crying which can sometimes be constant and void of rational reason, such as with babies who have colic, she said that is when the frustration sets in for adults.

"When a baby cries a lot and is not easily consoled, the parent or caregiver may start to doubt their own abilities to care for the baby. Lack of sleep and other life stresses can increase the feelings of helplessness and frustration. Sometimes, parents and caregivers believe that a crying baby is misbehaving on purpose. Ironically, the abusive, shaking behavior may be self-reinforcing, because the infant who is shaken may not stop crying due to the injuries inflicted."

During Child Protection Month, which is being observed during April, Kelley urges parents and caregivers to be more of what they are doing and says that it is never acceptable to shake, throw or hit a baby.

The age group at greatest risk of Shaken Baby Syndrome according to Kelley is children younger than age two with the majority of cases occurring before the baby's first birthday. She says the average victim is between three and eight months old, but that children up to age four have been victims of this abuse.

Who shakes the baby and why?

"Studies show that males tend to inflict injuries by shaking babies in 65 to 90 percent of cases. Adult males in their early 20s who are the baby's father or the mother's boyfriend are typically the shaker. Females who abuse babies by shaking tend to be baby-sitters or childcare providers."

The council member says it is important to remember that any person when confronted with an inconsolable baby, lack of sleep and outside stressors (environmental, social and biological, or financial situations) can be at risk for dangerous and impulsive behavior. She said those involved with domestic violence and/or substance abuse may be at higher risk of inflicting this abuse.

Shaking is dangerous

Kelley says shaking a baby in a moment of frustration can cause injuries, harm or even death.

"Life-threatening injuries can occur during shaking because a baby's neck muscles lack the strength to control their head movements, therefore babies are extremely vulnerable to the injuries produced by the whiplash motion. When an infant is shaken, the head jerks back and forth rapidly causing the brain to slam repeatedly against the inside of the skull. These forces are exaggerated if the baby's head hits a hard surface. Blood vessels in and around the brain are damaged and begin to bleed into the brain and into the spaces between the brain and the skull. The bleeding and swelling of the brain causes pressure to build up inside the child's head."

How much shaking is dangerous?

Kelley says Shaken Baby Syndrome occurs usually when a child receives numerous rapid shakes and that head impact is not necessary, but does frequently occur.

The child's injuries can be as severe as injuries that would occur if the infant was dropped from a high building.

"Although it is likely that severe injuries would occur from tossing an infant in the air playfully or bouncing a small child on the knee, parents and caregivers should always consider the fragility of an infant's brain and the need to support the head and neck. Even minor injuries to a baby's brain can have lifelong consequences. Once brain cells are damaged, they are never regenerated or replaced."

Symptoms of shaken baby syndrome

The degree of brain damage depends on the amount and duration of the shaking and the force involved in the impact of the head according to Kelley. She said symptoms range from mild to severe and that milder or subtle symptoms such as vomiting, irritability, drowsiness and decreased appetite can be easily missed or misdiagnosed. And that babies that have been shaken often show no external evidence of injury or physical signs of violence resulting in they syndrome being under-diagnosed.

"Parents, caregivers, and even physicians who are not aware of what has happened to a baby may not detect injuries that are primarily internal, attributing to the baby's fussiness to a virus."

More severe symptoms of Shaken Baby Syndrome she said may include altered levels of consciousness, convulsions or seizures, posturing in which the head is bent back and the back is arched, breathing problems and irregularities, cardiac arrest, coma and even death.

Some infants and toddlers who have been violently shaken also have broken ribs, collarbone or limbs from being held tightly by the person doing the shaking. Other impact injuries, such as skull fractures and bruises to the face, head and body, are visible when children are thrown down after being shaken.

Kelley says as many as one-third of the victims of Shaken Baby Syndrome die and that survivors often suffer life-long disabilities due to brain injury such as blindness, paralysis, learning disabilities, personality changes, behavioral problems, feeding (swallowing disorders), mental disabilities/cerebral palsy, growth and development problems and epilepsy (seizure disorders).

Kelley says Shaken Baby Syndrome is preventable and that even though taking care of a baby or toddler can present challenges, it is never acceptable to shake, throw, or hit a baby.

SYMPTOMS OF SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME

Blindness

Paralysis

Learning disabilities

Personality changes

Behavioral problems

Feeding/swallowing disorders

Mental disabilities/cerebral palsy

Growth and development problems

Epilepsy/Seizure disorders

PREVENTION TIPS

The first step in attempting to console a crying baby is to try to meet the baby's needs — feeding, changing or holding the baby.

There are other strategies that can be used to calm a baby as well as the caregiver such as rocking, walking, taking the baby for a drive, patting, music, or calling another family member or friend for emotional support.

When feeling frustrated, take a deep breath and count to 10.

Take a time out and let your baby cry alone. Most importantly, put the baby in a safe place such as a crib and use the time to calm down before making another attempt to console the baby.

If the crying goes on for a very long period after all attempts to console the infant, call your pediatrician or take your infant to see a doctor to be sure there isn't an illness or pain causing the child to cry.

Embrace community education and support programs.

Never leave your baby with a caregiver, friend, or family member that you do not trust completely.

Always check references carefully before entrusting your baby to a caregiver or daycare center.

It is important that all caregivers know that shaking is dangerous. Parents should ensure that baby-sitters and daycare providers are informed and experienced. Parents need to tell everyone who cares for their infant or toddler that it is never okay to shake a baby out of frustration or anger.