Don't Shake A Baby

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.

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.

Kempe works with lead partners The Children's Hospital and Kohl's Department Stores to run the Calm A Crying Baby awareness campaign annually.

To learn more, visit: www.calmcryingbaby.com

How to Calm a Crying Baby Brochure

	(139 KB)