Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention

Training for Child Care Providers

Activity: Lets get acquainted
Prevent Violence Against Children Act
(Shaken Baby Syndrome Act)
Activity: Learning to relax
Activity: Learning to relax (cont.)
All babies cry
Crying is normal.
Babies cry for many reasons.
ALL babies will have times when they
CANNOT stop crying.
Babies cry to communicate
Quotes about 12-year-old 2-month-old
Hunger Whens dinner? Im
starved.
Discomfort Im not wearing these
dress pants. Theyre too
tight.
Over-stimulation Leave me alone.
Under-stimulation Im bored. Theres nothing
to do.
Fatigue Ive had a long day
CRY!
CRY!
CRY!
CRY!
CRY!
Normal infant crying
Adapted from the NCSBS and Ronald G. Barr, MDCM
The amount of crying:
Changes over time
Varies among normally-developing babies
The period of PURPLE crying
From the NCSBS and Ronald G. Barr, MDCM
Peak pattern
Unpredictable
Resistant to soothing
Pain-like face
Long bouts
Evening cry

What is colic?
Colic suggests intestinal distress
Is something medically wrong with the
baby?
Is the baby in pain?
Does infant colic
simply refer to a
baby that cries a lot?
What if the baby cries a lot?
Colic is extreme, but normal, crying.
Crying will greatly decrease by the time the
baby is 3 to 4 months old.
Colicky infants show no lasting harm.
Get help if the crying is a problem for you or
the baby.
Normal doesnt mean easy!
Same baby same day
The crying game
Soothing a baby
Feed baby slowly and burp
baby often.
Make baby as comfortable
as possible, for example,
check temperature and diaper.
Provide gentle motion
or relaxing sound.
Is baby hungry? Thirsty?
Bored? Anxious? Sleepy?
Understand that all babies have times when they
cannot stop crying.
Pre-anger

Heating up

Before boiling over
Dont let yourself boil over.
Anger
Anger workout
Accept

Name

Get it out

Energize

Resume
A tired, frustrated caregiver and
a crying baby can be a deadly combination
leading a parent or other caregiver to shake
a baby in a moment of frustration.
Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS)
What is it?
SBS is a medical term used to describe
the injuries that can result if a baby is
violently shaken.
The younger the baby, the greater the risk
of harm.
Violent shaking is one of the most
devastating forms of child abuse.
Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS)
What is it? (cont.)
Early symptoms of shaking
Irritability
Lethargy,
sleepiness
Feeding problems
Vomiting
Dilated pupils


Poor muscle tone
Pale or bluish skin
Seizures
Not breathing
Loss of
consciousness
Other physical signs
Rib fractures
Fractures of long bones in the arms or legs
External wound or bruise to head

Emergency response
Call 911
If the child stops breathing, begin CPR.
If the child is vomiting, turn the child to
prevent choking or aspiration.
Do NOT pick up or shake the child!
What is the result?
Even with prompt medical attention many
victims die.
Those who survive may have:

Blindness
Paralysis
Deafness
Broken bones
Learning disabilities
Coordination problems
Developmental challenges
Seizures
The most common reason given for shaking a
baby is that the baby wouldnt stop crying.
Risk factors for being a victim
Age
Gender
Greater demands for
care, for example
illness, pre-maturity, or
other special needs of
some kind
Anyone, but some people are more at risk:
Parents and other caregivers
Late teens and early 20s
Males
People with other risk factors drug and
alcohol use, mental illness, lack of
self-control, inexperience with babies,
high stress
Who would shake a baby?
When a baby cant stop crying
Try different ways to soothe the baby.
Know that a comforted baby doesnt
always mean a quiet baby.
Know that crying isnt always a sign that
something is wrong.
If at anytime you start feeling tense or
frustrated, it is important for you to take a
break.
It is more important to stay calm
than to stop the crying
Put the baby in a safe place.
Shut the door. Leave for 10- to
15-minutes.
If you are calm, try again to soothe
the baby.
If you are not calm, seek help.
Call someone.
Babies cry. Have a plan.
Activity:
Difficult
developmental
phases
Activity: Self-calming brainstorm
Its okay to ask for help
Someone who can
come over right away
and help
The babys doctor, or
nurse helpline
Local community
resources

Have the phone
numbers of
people who can
help when the
crying is too
much.
Activity: Building a support system
Portrait of Promise DVD
Babies cry.
Have a plan
To soothe the baby
To calm yourself
For who you can
call for help

Remember
All babies cry.
It is more important for you to stay calm
than to stop the crying.
Plan ahead for who you will call when you
need help.
Never shake a baby for any reason.
Babies cry. Have a plan.
http:wctf.state.wi.us
A special thanks to the Alberta, Canada, Shaken Baby Syndrome
Prevention Network for generously sharing materials and expertise.
Participant evaluation
Complete and hand in
the Shaken Baby
Syndrome Prevention
Training for Child Care
Providers Participant
Evaluation
Visit http://wctf.state.wi.us
for more information
and SBS materials
Crying cards
Fact sheets
Crying plan
Thank you!
This training on Shaken Baby Syndrome prevention was developed by the
Wisconsin Childrens Trust Fund, 110 East Main Street, Suite 614, Madison, WI 53703.