Resources
Coping With A Crying Baby(New)
What to look for:
SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME
Shaken Baby Syndrome, a form of child abuse, is the collection of signs and symptoms resulting from the violent shaking of an infant or small child. In the U.S. every year, treatment is sought for an estimated 1,200 to 1,400 children who have been shaken. Of those, 25 percent to 30 percent will die from their injuries. Here are common symptoms:
• Lethargy
• Extreme irritability
• Decreased appetite
• No smiling or vocalization
• Poor sucking or swallowing
• Rigidity or posturing
• Difficulty breathing
• Seizures
• Head appears larger than usual
• Inability to lift head
• Inability of eyes to focus
(SOURCE: National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome)
More symptoms of Shaken Baby Syndrome
The whole picture and what you can do
What happens when an infant/toddler is shaken (thanks to dontshake.com for this video)
AT A GLANCE (NEW)
Shaken baby syndrome
When a baby is shaken:
The brain rotates within the skull cavity, injuring or destroying brain tissue.
When shaking occurs, blood vessels feeding the brain can be torn, leading to bleeding around the brain.
Blood pools within the skull, sometimes creating more pressure within the skull and possibly causing additional brain damage.
Retinal (back of the eye) bleeding is common.
(Source: National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome)
NEW INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL SHAKEN BABY CENTER: Read article (New)
PLEASE READ
We never want this to happen to another child.
My name is Sarah
I am but three,
My eyes are swollen
I cannot see,
I must be stupid,
I must be bad,
What else could have made
My daddy so mad?
I wish I were better,
I wish I weren't ugly,
Then maybe my Mommy
Would still want to hug me.
I can't speak at all,
I can't do a wrong
Or else I'm locked up
All the day long.
When I awake I'm all alone
The house is dark
My folks aren't home.
When my Mommy does come
I'll try and be nice,
So maybe I'll get just
One whipping tonight.
Don't make a sound!
I just heard a car
My daddy is back
From Charlie's Bar.
I hear him curse
My name he calls
I press myself
Against the wall.
I try and hide
From his evil eyes
I'm so afraid now
I'm starting to cry.
He finds me weeping
He shouts ugly words,
He says its my fault
That he suffers at work.
He slaps me and hits me
And yells at me more,
I finally get free
And I run for the door
He's already locked it
And I start to bawl,
He takes me and throws me
Against the hard wall.
I fall to the floor
With my bones nearly broken,
And my daddy continues
With more bad words spoken.
"I'm sorry!", I scream
But its now much too late
His face has been twisted
Into unimaginable hate.
The hurt and the pain
Again and again
Oh please God, have mercy!
Oh please let it end!
And he finally stops
And heads for the door,
While I lay there motionless
Sprawled on the floor.
My name is Sarah
And I am but three,
Tonight my daddy
Murdered me.
There are thousands of kids out there just like Sarah. And you can help. Become a member of Miranda Joy Foundation and help us to stop this from happening.
IF NOTHING ELSE REMEMBER TO TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW:
IT IS NEVER, NEVER OKAY
TO SHAKE OR HURT A CHILD