728x90
my iParenting
From Our Sponsors
e-newsletters
Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters

new terms of use
new privacy policy
award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Home › Articles › General › Handle With Care

Handle With Care

Dealing With Shaken Baby Syndrome

By Kelly Burgess

Pages:  1  2  3  4  

Any person, when confronted with an inconsolably crying infant, especially if the situation is exacerbated by lack of sleep and stress, can be driven to shake a baby. There is, however, no excuse for doing so. It's important to know when to put the baby down and walk away. The baby is better off crying than to have its parent do something terribly irreversible.

It's also important to know your baby's caregiver. Ask for references from babysitters. Make sure they understand the dangers of shaking a baby. In his studies of shaken baby syndrome, Dr. John Caffey found 25 to 50 percent of teenagers and adults did not know that shaking a baby could be dangerous. It was these studies from the late 1980s that brought the issue of shaken babies to the forefront.

Another good tip, for women only: Do not leave your baby alone with a boyfriend unless you have seen that boyfriend with your child enough to know that he has good control – even when the baby's very fussy. When in doubt about anyone, don't leave the baby.

There are many great resources for overwhelmed parents, such as the Shaken Baby Alliance and the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome. Don't get mad, get help, and prevent a lifetime of grief and regret.

Shaken Survivors

It is estimated that one in four shaken babies dies. The survivors are often left with severe disabilities that will affect them for the rest of their lives. In cases where the biological parent or parents were the abuser, another family member often adopts the shaken baby by the usual process of adoption. As these survivors grow from shaken babies into children with physical, developmental and cognitive issues related to their injuries, they will need special help navigating the sometimes-difficult waters of the educational system.

Bunni Tobias, Ph.D., is a licensed educational psychologist who has worked professionally with children for more than 30 years. She says that parents or caregivers have to be able to provide concrete evidence that the child is what is called "other health impaired," or OHI. This means the child has limited strength, vitality or alertness due to chronic or acute health problems.

This evidence should include the most thorough physical exam possible, including MRIs and EKGs. She also strongly recommends a full assessment by a sensory integration therapist and a neuropsychologist. "Facts speak louder than anything else," says Tobias. "If you can show the child has a specific need and certain abilities, you can insist on whatever accommodations the child may need."

This is particularly important with a young child, because they may not yet be at a developmental stage where the effects of being a shaken baby are evident. That way, even if there are no problems at the present, the parent will be able to map the child's future needs with the school district.

Federal law provides children with special needs a free and public education from ages 3 through 21. A child with shaken baby syndrome should be evaluated no later than age 3. Beyond that, a parent needs to keep abreast of the child's rights and the school district's responsibilities as the child goes through the system.


Pages:  1  2  3  4  

Want to see more?

Comments

There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to add a comment.

Post As:
Enter your comment below:
Title
Comment Text
CAPTCHA
Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection.