I first heard the term 'Shaken Baby Syndrome' through a neighbor when I was new to parenting and had just restarted my blog. At that time, I just searched a little and thought, 'Ah, it's dangerous if the head shakes,' and moved on. Then, while discussing buying a stroller with my wife, we talked about wanting to buy one where the baby seat doesn't shake, and the term 'Shaken Baby Syndrome' came up again. I initially thought it was just a phenomenon that occurs when you shake the head vigorously, but upon further research, I found out it could even happen during long car rides..! 😵💫 So today, I decided to post about the causes and risk factors of this syndrome.
Shaken Baby Syndrome
It's a type of brain injury that occurs when you shake an infant or toddler vigorously. It's not something that happens by accident but is usually associated with child abuse. If Shaken Baby Syndrome occurs, it can destroy brain cells and deprive the brain of sufficient oxygen, which can lead to death depending on the situation. This brain damage frequently occurs in babies under one year old, and infants between 2 and 8 months are reported to be the most at risk. It often occurs when trying to stop a baby from crying for a long time..😭
Causes of Shaken Baby Syndrome
Generally, babies have weak neck muscles and can't support the weight of their heads. When you shake a fragile baby, their skull moves back and forth, which can cause bruising, swelling, and bleeding. It usually happens due to the caregiver's anger, not from a simple fall. In the U.S., about 1,300 cases occur annually according to the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome.
Risk Factors of Shaken Baby Syndrome
The biggest cause is the caregiver's stress. It can also occur due to unrealistic expectations for the child, domestic violence, alcohol and drug abuse, unstable family situations, depression, and past abuse. Generally, men are more likely to cause Shaken Baby Syndrome than women..🥲
Symptoms and Complications of Shaken Baby Syndrome
Shaken Baby Syndrome can lead to long-term brain damage and even death (about 25% are reported to die). The symptoms and potential complications include:
👉 Subdural hematoma: Blood accumulates between the brain surface and the dura mater.
Subarachnoid hemorrhage: Bleeding between the brain and the arachnoid membrane.
👉 Direct brain trauma: Occurs when the brain hits the inner surface of the skull.
👉 Brain damage: Occurs due to lack of oxygen when breathing stops during shaking.
👉 Cell damage: Occurs due to the release of chemicals that exacerbate oxygen deprivation in the brain.
👉 Retinal hemorrhage: Bleeding at the back of the retina.
👉 Neck and spinal injuries: Occur due to vigorous shaking.
👉 Fractures: Include skull fractures and fractures of the ribs, collarbone, arms, and legs.
Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome
So how can we prevent this dangerous syndrome? The most important thing is for caregivers to control their anger. Here are some tips:
👉 Don't shake the baby when they cry or get angry.
👉 Don't hold the baby while arguing.
👉 If you get angry at the baby, better to lay them down and leave the room.
👉 If it's too hard, ask someone you trust to look after the baby for a while.
👉 Participate in counseling or parenting classes to manage anger.
The main point is never to take out your anger on the baby!! If you want to know more, you can visit the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome's website.
Study for May 22, 2023.