We hear a lot about it, but it is very important to raise awareness among as many parents and parents-to-be as possible about this form of abuse, which can be fatal for your child.
This syndrome affects more than one baby per day in France!
What is shaken baby syndrome?
Shaken Baby Syndrome occurs when a baby or young child is violently and deliberately shaken by their caregiver. The movements are violent, the baby's head is shaken back and forth. Baby is held by the armpits or chest without their head being supported. The result? Their brain strikes the walls of the skull. And because a baby's brain is soft, the shaking can cause it to swell and bleed much more easily.
It is also called non-accidental head trauma.
What are the consequences for baby?
Clearly, you should NEVER shake a baby. There can be serious lasting effects, not just death.
At such a young age, there can be significant lasting damage and the consequences for the child's brain development are significant and irreversible.
Sometimes the consequences are immediate, but not always! They can appear later.
The repercussions can be:
- behavioral
- intellectual: learning difficulties, speech difficulties..
- ocular: this can go as far as blindness
- motor: the spinal cord can be affected, leading to paralysis, epileptic seizures…
Key figures on shaken baby syndrome (SBS)
| 400 children per year KNOWN are affected by SBS | 1 child in 10 die from it | 50% of shaken children are shaken a second time at minimum | 75% have lasting after-effects serious |
Although 400 children are reported as affected by SBS, the actual number is much higher due to underdiagnosis.
Symptoms of shaken baby
You will not always physically see the symptoms of shaken baby. Watch for these symptoms that may alert you:
- unusual drowsiness
- a loss of motor skills / abilities previously acquired such as holding their head up or sitting up
- lasting irritability
- poorer contact
- breathing difficulties
- lethargy
- abnormal movements
- vomiting without fever and diarrhea without apparent reason
- eye problems, no reaction to stimuli
If you notice symptoms or have any doubt, contact emergency services by calling 15 or 112. The faster the care is provided, the fewer neurological consequences there will be.
Baby shaken by rocking: is it possible?
No: rocking a baby, even somewhat vigorously to calm them, does not cause shaken baby syndrome. SBS results from violent, repeated shaking with the head unsupported and thrown back and forth — a gesture completely unrelated to gentle rocking, where the head and neck remain supported.
Being a parent is a constant source of anxiety where we all go through many doubts and questions: did I rock them too hard? Is baby shaken too much in the stroller? Can baby be shaken by rocking?
The movement in shaken baby syndrome is back and forth, violent and repeated. Rocking them with their head supported, even fairly vigorously to calm them, will not cause SBS.
But it is always good to ask the question to avoid any loss of control! It shows that you are good parents :)
| Rocking | Shaking (SBS) |
|---|---|
| Gentle and regular movement | Violent and abrupt shaking |
| Head and neck supported | Head unsupported, tossed about |
| Soothes baby | Causes brain damage |
| No danger | Life-threatening emergency |
Crying baby: the main cause of parental frustration
We know that when faced with a crying baby, you can quickly feel overwhelmed: lack of sleep, anxiety, incomprehension.. It is always hard to see your child cry without being able to calm them.
Crying is normal for a baby — it is their only means of expression!
You will manage to calm them:
- check that they are not hungry or have a full diaper
- check that they are not too hot or too cold
- check if they are not getting their first teeth
- speak to them gently while rocking them
- give them a bath
To find solutions when faced with a baby who cries all the time: My baby cries all the time: what should I do?
Babywearing with a wrap or baby carrier to prevent shaken baby syndrome
YES, babywearing can be the solution to calm your baby without shaking, baby nestled close to you.
Babywearing has many benefits, including reassuring baby while keeping your hands free. Babywearing recalls the sensations known in the womb, which soothes your child greatly, gently.
Babywearing, by supporting baby's head and neck, eliminates the at-risk gesture: it is a concrete solution to soothe baby without ever shaking them.
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| I CHOOSE MY WRAP | I PREFER THE BABY CARRIER |
It is important to listen to yourself. If you feel exhausted, angry, on the verge of a breakdown (and it happens to everyone, don't feel guilty!): put baby down in their crib or hand them to someone close to you. You need to know how to listen to yourself and take the time to breathe when necessary.
Sources
- Stop Bébé Secoué — stopbebesecoue.fr
- Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS) — The HAS reaffirms the importance of its recommendation on the diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome
- CHU Sainte-Justine — Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS): everything you need to know