Can shaken baby syndrome be caused accidentally?
Shaken baby syndrome is almost always a result of child abuse, often perpetrated by a parent or caregiver who shakes an infant angrily in response to persistent crying. In very rare cases, the injuries associated with shaken baby syndrome may be caused by accidental actions, such as jogging with a newborn baby in a backpack. It does not result from gentle play or bouncing a child on a knee. Even in those rare accidental cases, the injuries are rarely as severe as those cases associated with non-accidental trauma from shaken baby syndrome. Can shaken baby syndrome be prevented? The following are guidelines to prevent child abuse and shaken baby syndrome • Never shake an infant or child. • Avoid holding your infant during arguments. • Avoid disciplining your child when you are angry. • Report abuse to the local police or to your state’s child protective services if you suspect that a child in your home or someone you know is a victim of child abuse. • If you find yourself becoming increa
