Calm a Crying Baby
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No one likes to think about a child being hurt by an adult caregiver, but it does happen. In fact, Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is one of the leading causes of trauma death to Colorado children under the age of two. Educating parents and caregivers about the dangers of shaking a baby and providing alternatives for managing the frustrations they may feel when caring for a crying baby is key to prevention.
Child abuse has been the leading cause of all trauma deaths at Children's Hospital Colorado every year since 2003. The hospital typically admits serveral children each month with signs of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS). In America last year, over 1,200 children were treated for SBS. Of these tiny victims, 20% died as a result of their injuries. The rest may have lifelong complications.
Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is the diagnosis given to the many serious, and sometimes fatal, injuries and permanent disabilities that can occur when an infant or young child is violently shaken. Not only is it a serious type of head injury, it is a serious form of child abuse. The baby's brain is very fragile. Babies' neck muscles are not strong, therefore when a baby is shaken, his head flops back and forth, causing the brain to slam against the inside of the skull. This causes the blood vessels to tear and blood to collect inside the baby's skull, causing irreparable damage to the brain.
Shaken Baby Syndrome occurs most frequently in infants younger than six months old, but children at old as three can receive severe injuries from shaking.
Kempe works with lead partners Children's Hospital Colorado and Kohl's Department Stores to run the Calm A Crying Baby awareness campaign annually.
To learn more, visit: www.calmacryingbaby.org.
Have you given your word that you will never shake a baby? Visit www.giveyourword.org for more information.
