Why You Should Never Shake Your Baby

When a baby will not stop crying, the parent or another caregiver may get frustrated and shake the baby. This may be very dangerous, because violent shaking of the baby may lead to shaken baby syndrome. Shaken baby syndrome is a serious traumatic brain injury, which destroys baby’s brain cells and prevents the brain from getting enough oxygen. It is the most common cause of child abuse death and there are up to 1400 cases annually in the USA.

Babies have weak neck muscles so they cannot support the weight of their heads. Also, they have large heads relative to their bodies. When a baby is shaken violently, their brain moves back and forth inside the skull causing bleeding, bruising, and swelling in the brain. If the baby survives this brain damage, they may develop different neurological complications such as blindness, developmental delays or epilepsy.

Shaken baby syndrome can be prevented. Parents who are at risk of harming their baby can ask help and support from family, friends or children’s healthcare. Spreading awareness of the condition is important, as well as knowing the risk factors for harming a baby, such as alcohol, a history of previous child abuse, and stress.

Medicortex Finland Plc is developing a rapid, easy-to-use, diagnostic test for detecting traumatic brain injuries. For more information, please visit www.medicortex.fi.

(This post is a general one without any medical advice.)