Shaken Baby Syndrome –
What You Need to Know
What is Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS)?
SBS can happen when an adult or older
child violently shakes an infant or young
child
The baby’s brain moves back and forth
inside the skull, tearing blood vessels and
causing blood to pool inside the skull
Shaking can cause brain injury, cerebral
palsy, blindness, hearing loss, learning &
behavior problems, seizures, paralysis,
and death
How serious is SBS?
One out of every four children who is
shaken dies from their injuries
80% of survivors suffer permanent
damage
An estimated 1,200-1,400 children in the
United States are injured or killed by
shaking each year
What are the economic results of SBS?
In the United States, costs of
hospitalizations and continuing care for
SBS victims can total between $1.2 and
16 billion each year
Some other costs are the wages and
productivity of victims who can’t work, and
the costs of prosecuting the abuser and
putting him or her in jail
In New York State…
An average of 19 children from birth to 4
years of age are hospitalized each year
because of SBS
The average charge for
each hospitalization is $113,092
Who are the perpetrators of SBS?
In most cases the person who shakes a
baby is male, usually either the mother’s
boyfriend or the baby’s father
In a smaller number of cases, a paid
caregiver or babysitter is responsible for
shaking a baby
In some cases, the baby’s mother is the
perpetrator
Why would someone shake a baby?
 Most adults who admit to shaking a baby say
they became frustrated and upset when the
baby would not stop crying
 Personal issues such as money or problems at
work or in relationships can also make a
caregiver frustrated enough to shake a child
 Most perpetrators of SBS didn’t mean to hurt or
kill the child, and did not realize that their actions
could have this effect
What if your baby will not stop crying?
Make sure all of your baby’s basic needs
are met. Is your baby…
Hungry?
Too hot or too cold?
Sick or feverish?
Needing a diaper change?
If your baby is still crying…
 Gently rock your baby
 Touch your baby- skin to skin contact will help to
soothe and relax both of you
 Run a vacuum cleaner, hairdryer, or make some
other white noise
 While sitting, lay your baby face down across
your knees and gently pat or rub their back
 Play soft music, sing, or hum to your baby
 Take your baby for a ride in the stroller
 Swaddle your baby in a soft blanket
If you become frustrated with your baby’s
behavior…
If you have tried to soothe your baby but
they are still crying, it is okay to put the
baby down in a safe place and take a
short break
Spend 5-10 minutes reading, listening to
music, exercising, or talking to a friend
Check on the baby after a few minutesonce you feel relaxed you can try again to
stop your baby’s crying
Immediate symptoms of SBS include:
 Baby seems very tired or cannot stay awake
 Baby is very irritable/ fussy
 Poor appetite
 No smiling or vocalization (talking)
 Difficulty swallowing, sucking, or breathing
 Head or forehead is larger than usual
 Baby can’t lift head
 Pupils different sizes
 Baby is very stiff or like a rag doll
 Vomiting
If you think a baby may have been
shaken…
Call 911 right away! Emergency medical
care could prevent permanent brain
damage, or even save the baby’s life.
Shaken Baby Syndrome is preventable!
Make sure to share the information from
this presentation with anyone who spends
time with your child, even if it is only for a
short while
Everyone who is responsible for a young
child should know to never, ever shake a
baby
For more information on SBS…
 New York State Department of Health- Bureau of Injury Prevention
https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/injury_prevention/shaken_baby_s
yndrome/
518-402-7900
 New York State Office of Children & Family Services
www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/prevention
518-473-7793
 Hotline to Report Child Abuse and Neglect: 1-800-342-3720
 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/childmaltreatment/index.html
1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO)
 Shaken Baby Alliance
www.shakenbaby.org
1-877-636-3727 (1-877-6-END-SBS)