Shaken Baby Syndrome is a form of child abuse that occurs after repeatedly shaking an infant resulting in serious brain injuries that can lead to death or lifelong medical complications. It usually occurs after the baby has been crying for prolonged periods of time and the caretaker gets frustrated, angry and looses control. Signs of Shaken Baby Syndrome include constant crying, stiffness, sleeping more than usual, unable to wake up, seizures, dilated pupils, decreased appetite, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and blood spots in eyes.
Crying is typical for babies to communicate their basic needs such as feeding, diaper changing, sleeping, or discomforts such as temperature or clothing restrictions. Ensure that your baby’s caregiver is knowledgeable in childcare basics and that if they suspect something is wrong, give the baby’s healthcare provider a call.
What we may not realize is that some play activities can also lead to injuries to a child that are similar to whiplash when the child is not strong enough to keep their head upright. While there is controversy among experts on whether these activities will lead to Shaken Baby Syndrome, the activities that you should be aware of are:
- Vigorous, repeated tossing of a small child into the air
- Jogging while carrying an infant on the back or shoulders
- Bouncing a child on an adult’s knee or swinging the child on an adult’s leg
- Swinging the child around by the ankles
- Spinning a child around
At IHD, we want to ensure that your children have the best potential to live strong and healthy lives. If you have questions about the health of your children, please do not hesitate to contact us via e-mail or call our office (858-558-0057).
P.S.: Come and celebrate with us in September as IHD becomes part of Discover Wellness Month; a nationwide campaign to bring solutions to America’s healthcare crisis. Each week in September we will be focusing on a different aspect to increase a person’s health and well being. We have gathered some of the best in our community to bring you quick, easy and effective ways to incorporate wellness into your daily lifestyle. Check out the list of the September events on our website. You can also reserve a seat at any of these events by registering or calling our office at 858-558-0057 for questions and details.