Shaken Baby Syndrome

Problem

Babies have large, heavy heads and weak underdeveloped neck muscles.

Whiplash action of shaking causes the brain to ricochet about the skull and causes the blood vessels connecting the brain to the skull to tear.

Consequences

-includes brain damage, seizures, paralysis, blindness and death

Statistics

-most frequent cause of death for children less than 1 years old

-average age of children shaken is less than 6 months

-men out number female perpetrators

-biological fathers are the largest group of perpetrators

-average age of perpetrators range from pre-teens to adults in 60's.

-most common reason is frustration or anger in response to crying