Ta ke Ca re of
You r se l f
S o m e t i m e s b a b i e s w i l l c r y, n o m a t t e r w h a t yo u d o. I t d o e s n’ t m e a n t h a t y o u ’re a b a d p a re n t, o r n o t g o o d a t s o o t h i n g
y o u r i n f a n t. I t j u s t m e a n s t h a t s o m e t i m e s , s o m e b a b i e s j u s t n e e d t o c r y a n d t h a t ’s n o r m a l . I f t h e c r y i n g i s g e t t i n g t o y o u
a n d y o u ’re b e g i n n i n g t o f e e l u p s e t b y i t…
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Ge n t ly p l a ce yo u r i n f a n t i n t h e c r i b o n h i s o r h e r ba c k . G o to a not he r ro o m, a wa y f ro m t he cr y i n g. Yo u k n ow t h a t i t ’s
o ka y to S T E P AWAY, R I G H T AWAY a nd ca l m d ow n. Re me m b e r, no i nfa nt h a s eve r d ie d f ro m cr y i ng b u t b a bie s d o d ie f ro m
s ha k i ng a nd s l a m mi ng i nju r ie s ca us e d by a ng r y p a re nt s a nd ca re g i ve r s w h o d i d n’ t k now i t wa s o ka y to s te p a wa y.
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N e v e r p i c k u p yo u r b a by i f f e e l i n g f r u s t r a t e d o r a n g r y F O R A N Y R E A S O N , (e .g . y o u ’ ve h a d a n a rg u m e n t, y o u r j o b i s
s t re s s f u l, y o u ’re u p s e t o ve r m o n e y p ro b l e m s ). S T E P AWAY, R I G H T AWAY, s o y o u w o n’ t l o s e co n t ro l .
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S i t o r l i e d o w n , c l o s e yo u r e ye s , a n d r e l a x . S l o w l y co u n t t o t e n . D o s o m e d e e p b re a t h i n g . L i s t e n t o m u s i c. Ta ke a
s h o w e r o r s o o t h i n g b a t h . I m a g i n e d o i n g s o m e t h i n g y o u re a l l y l i ke t o d o. C a l l a f r i e n d o r re l a t i v e a n d t a l k a b o u t w h a t ’s
g o i n g o n . S e e i f s o m e o n e ca n co m e b y f o r a w h i l e . C h e c k t h e b a b y e ve r y 15 m i n u t e s o r s o, b u t o n l y i f y o u a re ca l m .
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C a l l 1 - 8 0 0 - 6 3 2- 8 1 8 8 , t h e f r e e , 2 4 - h o u r M a s s a c h u s e t t s P a r e n t a l S t r e s s L i n e . Tra i n e d a n d ca r i n g s t a f f a re w a i t i n g
t o g i ve y o u s u p p o r t a n d g o o d a d v i ce . T h e y k n o w t h a t t a k i n g ca re o f a b a b y ca n b e d i f f i c u l t, a n d t h a t a l l p a re n t s a n d
ca re g i ve r s n e e d s u p p o r t f ro m t i m e t o t i m e .
R e m e m b e r – I f yo u e v e r f e e l l i k e s h a k i n g , s l a m m i n g , h i t t i n g , t h r o w i n g , o r ye l l i n g a t yo u r b a by, s t o p w h a t yo u ’r e
d o i n g ! Ta k e a f e w d e e p b r e a t h s , g e n t l y p l a c e yo u r b a by i n t h e c r i b, t h e n S T E P AWAY, R I G H T AWAY a n d c a l m d o w n !
Ta k e a b r e a k a n d r e l a x . K n o w t h a t e v e n a l o t o f c r y i n g i s n o r m a l a n d t h a t y o u a n d yo u r b a by w i l l g e t t h r o u g h t h i s
tough time.
S ha ke n Ba by Synd ro me
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N E V E R s h a ke
your
baby
t o m a ke h i m
stop
cr ying
or fussing, no
mat ter
how
f r u s t ra t e d y o u
feel. Babies
and
small
c h i l d re n ca n b e h u r t o r e ve n k i l l e d f ro m b e i n g s h a ke n,
o r s l a m m e d a g a i n s t a c r i b m a t t re s s , co u c h o r h a rd
s u r f a ce . T h i s ca n ca u s e b l e e d i n g a n d s w e l l i n g i n s i d e
t h e b ra i n t h a t ca n re s u l t i n s e r i o u s a n d p e r m a n e n t
d a m a g e . U p t o a t h i rd o f s h a ke n c h i l d re n d i e f ro m t h e i r
i n j u r i e s . M a ny s u r v i v o r s s u f f e r m e n t a l re t a rd a t i o n,
s e i zu re s , b l i n d n e s s , d e a f n e s s , p a ra l y s i s , a n d s p e e c h
a n d l e a r n i n g p ro b l e m s . F a m i l i e s a re s i g n i f i ca n t l y
af fected by SBS as they struggle with the loss of a
c h i l d, l o n g - t e r m ca re o f a s e r i o u s l y d i s a b l e d c h i l d,
a n d t h e l e g a l, m e d i ca l, f a m i l y, a n d f i n a n c i a l p ro b l e m s
re s u l t i n g f ro m S B S .
N E V E R l e a ve y o u r c h i l d a l o n e w i t h a p e r s o n w h o h a s a
h i s t o r y o f v i o l e n ce , p ro b l e m s co n t ro l l i n g t h e i r a n g e r o r
w h o h a s b e e n d r i n k i n g o r t a k i n g d r u g s . T h i s w i l l m a ke
i t l e s s l i ke l y t h e y ca n ca re f o r y o u r b a b y s a f e l y.
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S h a re t h e i n f o r m a t i o n i n t h i s b ro c h u re w i t h e v e r y o n e
w h o ca re s f o r y o u r c h i l d . Yo u n g m e n a re i nv o l v e d i n
u p t o 75% o f re p o r t e d s h a k i n g ca s e s , s o b e s u re t o l e t
y o u r p a r t n e r, b o y f r i e n d o r a ny m a l e ca re g i v e r k n o w
N E V E R t o s h a ke , s l a m, h i t, t h ro w o r y e l l a t y o u r b a b y
i f f r u s t ra t e d w i t h t h e i r c r y i n g o r f u s s i n e s s . Te l l t h e m,
“ I t ’s o k a y t o S T E P AWAY, R I G H T AWAY, a n d c a l m
d o w n .” G e n t l y p l a ce t h e b a b y o n h i s o r h e r b a c k i n
t h e c r i b, c l o s e t h e d o o r, a n d g o t o a n o t h e r ro o m a w a y
f ro m t h e c r y i n g . Ta ke t i m e o u t a n d re l a x . Te l l t h e m t h e y
ca n ca l l y o u a n d y o u w o n’ t b e u p s e t. Yo u w o u l d ra t h e r
re t u r n h o m e t h a n r i s k y o u r c h i l d b e i n g i n j u re d b e ca u s e
o f t h e i r f r u s t ra t i o n .
T h e g o o d n e w s i s t h a t y o u ca n p re ve n t S B S a n d h e l p ke e p
y o u r i n f a n t s a f e ! S h a re t h e l i f e - s a v i n g i n f o r m a t i o n i n t h i s
b ro c h u re w i t h a l l y o u r c h i l d ’s ca re g i ve r s .
C o nta c t u s f o r a d d i t i o n a l f re e b ro ch u re s a t
1 - 8 0 0 - C H I L D R E N o r v i s i t w w w. m a s s k i d s .o r g .
T h i s b r o c h u r e w a s w r i t t e n a n d p r o d u ce d b y t h e
Shaken Baby Prevention Center at
Massachuset ts Citizens for Children, Inc.
a chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America
© 20 0 8 M a s s a c h u s e t t s C i t i ze n s f o r C h i l d r e n . A l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d .
I N FAN T C R Y I N G AN D SOOT H I N G:
What You Need To Know To Keep Your Baby Safe
Whe n You r Ba by Cr ies
Ba b i e s a re a g re a t j oy to t he i r pa re n t s a n d t hos e w ho ca re fo r t he m ! S omet i me s t houg h
t he i r cr y i ng can be challe nging. Le ar ning t he fac t s abou t infant cr ying and way s to s o ot he your
b aby can he l p w he n cr ying be come s di f f icul t to cope w i t h.
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C r y i n g i s a b a by ’s w a y o f c o m m u n i c a t i n g h i s o r h e r
n e e d s . B a b i e s d o n’ t c r y t o m a ke t h e i r p a re n t s a n g r y o r
f r u s t ra t e d . T h e y ’re n o t t e l l i n g y o u y o u ’re a b a d p a re n t
o r t r y i n g t o r u i n y o u r d a y o r n i g h t. B a b i e s j u s t c r y,
s o m e t i m e s a l o t, a n d i f y o u k n o w t h a t, i t ca n m a ke i t
m u c h e a s i e r t o g e t t h ro u g h t h e d i f f i c u l t t i m e s .
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Infant cr ying usually begins to increase at 2 weeks
of age, peaks around 2 months and gradually
s t a r t s t o d e c r e a s e a f t e r t h a t. C r y i n g , e ve n a l o t o f
c r y i n g i s n o r m a l i n o u r c u l t u re . B o u t s o f a h a l f- h o u r
o r m o re , t o t a l i n g 2 t o 3 h o u r s a d a y, ca n o cc u r w i t h
s o m e b a b i e s . T h i s ca n b e d i s t re s s i n g , e s p e c i a l l y w h e n
i n f a n t s a re d i f f i c u l t t o s o o t h e .
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Crying can happen for no clear reason and can be
u n p r e d i c t a b l e . S o m e b a b i e s s e e m t o c r y m o re d u r i n g
ce r t a i n t i m e s o f t h e d a y, s u c h a s l a t e a f t e r n o o n o r e a r l y
e ve n i n g . T h i s t i m e ca n b e e s p e c i a l l y t r y i n g t o p a re n t s
a n d ca re g i ve r s . K n o w i n g a b o u t i n f a n t s o o t h i n g a n d
s u p p o r t f ro m f a m i l y a n d f r i e n d s ca n b e e s p e c i a l l y
impor tant for you and your baby at this time.
Soot h i ng You r I n fa n t
H e re a re q u e s t io ns to a s k w h e n yo u r ba by
i s cr yi ng a nd n e e d s co mfo r t i ng:
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D o e s y o u r b a by ’s d i a p e r n e e d c h a n g i n g? Yo u s h o u l d
k n o w t h a t a f u s s y b a b y m i g h t c r y e v e n m o re d u r i n g
t h e c h a n g i n g , b u t d o n’ t b e a l a r m e d . U s u a l l y h e o r
s h e w i l l ca l m d o w n o n ce d r y a n d m o re co m f o r t a b l e .
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D o e s y o u r b a by s e e m t o o w a r m o r c o l d t o t h e
t o u c h? I f t o o w a r m, re m o v e s o m e b l a n ke t s o r l o o s e n
c l o t h i n g . I f co l d, a d d a b l a n ke t a n d s o m e s o c k s .
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D o e s y o u r b a by n e e d t o b e f e d ? W h i l e i t ’s g o o d n o t
t o o v e r f e e d, s o m e t i m e s b a b i e s m a y n e e d j u s t a l i t t l e
e x t ra m i l k t o m a ke t h e m s e t t l e d o w n . Tr y b u r p i n g
y o u r b a b y, t o o.
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H e re a re m o re s o o t h i n g t i p s t h a t m a ny p a re n t s re p o r t
h e l p t h e m co m f o r t t h e i r c r y i n g b a b i e s . T h e y a re ca l l e d:
D o e s y o u r b a by s e e m i l l t o y o u? I f s o, ca l l y o u r
p e d i a t r i c i a n o r h e a l t h c l i n i c p ro m p t l y a n d g e t
a d v i ce .
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S o m e t i m e s b a b i e s c r y b e ca u s e t h e y j u s t n e e d s o m e
c u d d l y co m f o r t. H e re a re w a y s t o h e l p y o u a n d y o u r b a b y
f e e l c l o s e a n d t h a t h a v e b e e n f o u n d t o re d u ce c r y i n g b y
half!
F i r s t, t r y Sw a d d l i n g : W ra p y o u r f u s s y b a b y w i t h
a r m s d o w n i n a l i g h t, s n u g g l y b l a n ke t (42 ” s q u a re i s
b e s t.) D o n’ t o ve r h e a t y o u r b a b y o r p u t h i m t o s l e e p
w i t h l o o s e b l a n ke t s t h a t ca n w ra p a ro u n d t h e f a ce .
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N e x t, t r y S i d e o r S t o m a c h P o s i t i o n : W h e n y o u r
b a b y i s f u s s y, y o u m i g h t f i n d s h e ca l m s f a s t e r i f y o u
hold her in your arms, or on your lap on her side or
s t o m a c h . W h e n p u t t i n g h e r t o s l e e p, h o w e ve r, N E V ER
p l a ce h e r o n h e r s t o m a c h o r s i d e – o n l y o n h e r b a c k .
T h i s w i l l g re a t l y re d u ce t h e r i s k o f S I D S .
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N o w yo u ’r e r e a d y f o r S h u s h i n g : T hi s i s ma g ic fo r
s o me b a bie s. M a ke a s hus hi ng s o u nd l o ud e r t ha n t he
b a by ’s cr y i ng s o yo u’l l b e su re s he ca n he a r yo u, o r
t u r n o n a ha i r d r ye r s a fe l y a wa y f ro m t he b a by. Yo u
ca n b u y a “w hi te noi s e” ma chi ne o r C D of t he s e s o u nd s
to p l a y fo r yo u r f us s y b a by o r to he l p he r s l e e p.
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N e x t i s Sw i n g i n g : B a b i e s l o ve m o t i o n l i ke ro c k i n g
c h a i r s a n d g o i n g f o r w a l k s . We a r y o u r b a b y i n a c l o t h
s l i n g o r b a b y h o l d e r. W h e n y o u r l i t t l e o n e g e t s u p s e t,
h o l d h i m c l o s e , s u p p o r t h i s h e a d, a n d t r y a l i t t l e
d a n c i n g . Fu s s y b a b i e s l o ve t i ny, j i g g l y m o ve m e n t s .
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N o w a d d S u c k i n g : B a b i e s l o ve t o s u c k . O f f e r y o u r
c r y i n g b a b y y o u r b re a s t, f i n g e r o r a p a c i f i e r.
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B r e a s t f e e d y o u r b a by i f y o u a r e a b l e . B a b i e s f e d
o n - d e m a n d c r y l e s s , e s p e c i a l l y d u r i n g t h e d a y, t h a n
babies fed on a 4-hour schedule.
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C a r r y y o u r b a by f r e q u e n t l y a n d i n a n u p r i g h t
p o s i t i o n t h r o u g h o u t t h e d a y. M a ny p a re n t s e n j o y
“ w e a r i n g ” t h e i r b a b y i n a c l o t h s l i n g o r b a b y- h o l d e r.
B a b i e s re s p o n d w e l l t o t h e co n s t a n t c l o s e n e s s a n d
m o v e m e n t.
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H o l d y o u r b a by ’s b a r e s k i n a g a i n s t yo u r o w n .
Yo u m i g h t f i n d t h a t b o t h o f y o u a re co m f o r t e d b y t h e
w a r m, coz y, s k i n - t o - s k i n co n t a c t.
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R e s p o n d t o y o u r b a by p r o m p t l y - w i t h i n a m i n u t e
o r l e s s - w h e n h e c r i e s o r f u s s e s…a n d a l s o w h e n
h e ’s a l e r t a n d h a p p y. B a b i e s b e n e f i t f ro m a l l t h i s
a t t e n t i o n . I t w o n’ t e v e r s p o i l t h e m a n d i t m a y re d u ce
some of the cr ying. Ask family and friends to stay
w i t h y o u o r v i s i t o f t e n, e s p e c i a l l y d u r i n g t h e f i r s t f e w
m o n t h s w h e n c r y i n g i n c re a s e s a n d p e a k s , s o t h e y
ca n h e l p g i v e y o u r b a b y t h i s s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n .
T h e 5 S’s
T h e 5 S s w r i t t e n b y a n d p r i n t e d w i t h p e r m i s s i o n f r o m H a r v e y K a r p, M D.
V i s i t t h e h a p p i e s t b a b y.c o m t o l e a r n m o r e a b o u t t h e s e s o o t h i n g t i p s .