Shaken baby syndrome (SBS) is a traumatic brain injury that an infant can suffer after having been shaken violently. While the immediate damage is done to the brain, the lasting effects can be serious and life-long, such as seizures, learning impairments, and even blindness.
The leading cause of shaken baby syndrome is frustration with a baby who won't stop crying.
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Doctors define shaken baby syndrome (SBS) as a traumatic brain injury an infant suffers after having been shaken violently. SBS is a serious, often fatal condition that's completely preventable.
The brain injury occurs when a baby is shaken to the point that the brain moves within and hits the interior of the skull. This impact may result in bruising, bleeding, and/or swelling of the brain.
Shaken baby syndrome is also referred to as shaken impact syndrome or abusive head trauma (AHT).
There are about 1,300 cases of reported SBS in the U.S. each year, according to the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome. It's the leading cause of death from physical child abuse.
The leading cause of shaken baby syndrome is frustration with a baby who won't stop crying.
Remember, you should never shake a baby, regardless of the circumstance.
Shaken baby syndrome is not caused by mild impacts, like bouncing a baby on your knee, rolling off the couch, or tossing a baby into the air. Even a sudden stop in a motor vehicle or hitting a large bump will not result in SBS.
SBS occurs most often in infants younger than 6 months but can happen in children up to age 1.
Before age 1, babies do not have enough muscle development in their necks to hold their heads still while their body experiences any form of violent or rapid movement. This results in the head and neck being easily moved around when the child is shaken, which can be carried through to the brain.
An estimated 80% of babies that survive shaken baby syndrome will have lifelong disabilities. The damage from SBS often leads to other serious conditions.
These include:
Shaken baby syndrome is entirely preventable.
The best way to prevent shaken baby syndrome is to make sure you manage your frustration with a crying baby and the pressures of being a new parent. Never take your frustrations out on your baby.
If you find yourself aggravated or frustrated, put your baby down in a safe place and take a few minutes away to collect and calm yourself.
A few calming methods include:
The are a few key symptoms that could be signs of shaken baby syndrome.
They include:
If your baby experiences any of the above symptoms, take your child to an emergency department immediately. Treatment for SBS must be given as soon as possible to limit the impact of brain damage.
Because shaken baby syndrome is a traumatic brain injury, it's most accurately diagnosed by using an MRI or CT scan to evaluate the brain and locate any damage.
The doctor or pediatrician might be able to diagnose the severity of your child’s condition based on a physical exam. But imaging of the brain must be used to fully understand the extent of the injury.
Nearly 25% of infants who experience SBS die from their injuries.
In extreme cases of shaken baby syndrome, surgery may be required to stop the bleeding of the brain or to allow the brain more room to swell before healing properly. In mild cases, the infant may only need to remain in the hospital to be monitored as their healing progresses.
If shaken baby syndrome is left untreated, it could result in death as well as several other life-long conditions, such as:
Last reviewed by a UPMC medical professional on 2024-09-05.
