Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS)

Prevention for high school students

curriculum draft
Let’s see
what we
know so far

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 All babies cry
• Crying is normal.
• Babies cry for many reasons.
• ALL babies will have times when they
CANNOT stop crying.

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 What is colic?
• “Colic” suggests intestinal distress
• Is something medically wrong with
the baby?
• Is the baby in pain?
• Does “infant colic”
simply refer to a
baby that cries a lot?

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 Normal infant crying
The amount of crying:
• Changes over time
• Varies among normally-developing babies

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Adapted from the NCSBS and Ronald G. Barr, MDCM
The period of PURPLE crying
Peak pattern
Unpredictable
Resistant to
soothing
Pain-like face
Long bouts
Evening cry

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From the NCSBS and Ronald G. Barr, MDCM
Same baby ─ same day

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The crying game

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 Soothing an irritable baby

• Feed baby slowly and burp

baby often.
• Make baby as comfortable
as possible, for example,
check temperature and diaper.
• Provide gentle motion
or relaxing sound.
• Is baby hungry? Thirsty?
Bored? Anxious? Sleepy?
• Understand that all babies have times when
they cannot stop crying.
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 Difficult
developmental
phases
•Night crying
•Separation anxiety
•Exploratory behavior
•Negativism
•Loss of appetite
•Toilet training draft
 A tired, frustrated caregiver
and a crying baby can be a deadly
combination leading a parent or other
caregiver to shake a baby in a
moment of frustration.

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Elijah’s Story

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 Shaken Baby Syndrome
(SBS)
What is it?
• SBS is a medical term used to describe
the injuries that can result if a baby is
violently shaken.
• Violent shaking is one of the most
devastating forms of child abuse.

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Head movement during
shaking

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Brain movement inside the
skull

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 Signs that a baby has been
shaken
• Broken bones
• Unusual crying
• Sleepiness
• Pale or bluish skin
• Vomiting or refusing to eat
• Not breathing
• Unconscious
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 What are the long term results?
• Even with prompt medical attention
many 1 of 4 infants dies.
• Those who survive may have lifelong
medical conditions:
Blindness Coordination
problems
Paralysis
Developmental
Deafness disabilities

Learning Seizures
disabilities draft
 Risk factors for being a victim
• Age
• Gender
• Greater demands for
care, for example
illness, pre-maturity, or
other special needs of
some kind

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 Who would shake a baby?
Anyone, but some people are more at risk:
• Late teens and early 20s
• Males
• Inexperience with babies
• People with other risk factors – drug and
alcohol use, mental illness, high stress,
lack of self-control

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Rate the Risk
Calculator

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The families - - - -

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 Remember the Rule of
• Lay the baby on his back in his crib or
another safe place.
• Stay feet or more away.
• Slowly count to or take deep
breaths to calm yourself down.
• After minutes, check on the baby
• Repeat if necessary.
• If you still feel stressed, call someone for
help.
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 It’s okay to ask for help
Have the Someone who can
phone numbers come over right
away and help like a
of people who family member or
can help when friend
the crying is
too much. • The baby’s doctor,
or nurse helpline

• Local community
resources
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 My pledge

This hand will never harm a baby

Pass the message on

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This material was developed by the SBS
Prevention K12 curriculum team

• Pamela Anderson – Middleton School District

• Anne Haverland – Oshkosh School District
• Nancy Graese – CESA 11
• Nancy Merwin – Cuba City School District
• Sue Mokler – Ripon School District
• Wendi Schreiter – Wisconsin Shaken Baby
Association
 With support from:
• Children’s Trust Fund – Susan Abbey

• Wisconsin Department of Public

Instruction – Janice Atkinson

• Wisconsin Shaken Baby Association –

Wendi Schreiter
These materials may not be used beyond
their express intent without permission
from the Wisconsin Children’s Trust Fund.
Our goal is to protect the integrity of the
material and educational techniques
contained within this curriculum.