Shaken Baby Syndrome

Never shake your baby. Shaking a baby can cause blindness, brain damage, hearing loss, spinal cord injury, seizures, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities and even death.  The number one reason why a baby is shaken is because it won't stop crying. Even tossing a baby into the air or bouncing it on the knee can cause damage. Babies' necks are too weak to support their heavy heads. When they are shaken, the head flops back and forth, causing serious damage.

A young baby's neck should always be supported.

If your baby will not stop crying, count to ten and calm down. If you have done everything you can to make the baby comfortable, i.e. fed the baby, changed the diaper, burped the baby, allow the baby to cry awhile. Go to another part of the house and check on the baby every 10-15 minutes. Call a family member or friend for emotional support. Take the baby to the hospital or call the baby's doctor in case something is medically wrong.

Call The Crisis Centre on 328-0922 for support