Stop Shaken Baby Syndrome Inc.

Never, EVER  shake a baby! Just walk away!

Babies cry for many reasons.  Sometimes, they cry for no reason at all.  Crying is perfectly healthy and normal in babies - it’s their only means of communication!  But for parents and caregivers, it can become stressful at times.

You haven’t gotten a decent night’s sleep in weeks… your baby is crying and he won’t stop. What do you do? Here are some suggestions...

□ Feed the baby

□ Burp the baby

□ Change baby’s diaper

□ Check baby’s temperature - he may be sick

□ Check room temperature - he might be hot or cold

□ Check to see if clothing is too tight

□ Change the scenery - he might be bored

□ Give baby a hug, kiss and hold him close

□ Go for a walk with a stroller, or just holding him

□ Go for a ride in the car (be sure to fasten him securely in carseat!)

□ Offer a pacifier, breast or a clean finger to suck on

□ Swaddle baby in a blanket (works great for newborns)

□ Gently rock baby in your arms or swing with him

□ Sing to the baby

□ Gently massage the baby

□ Call the pediatrician if you think something is wrong

 

 

If you’ve tried everything on the list and nothing else works, remember: sometimes babies just need to cry! That doesn’t mean you are doing anything wrong.  The average newborn cries 2-3 hours each day.  If you feel stressed out with your baby’s crying, call someone for help if you can.  Ask a relative or close friend to come over for a little while so you can take a much-needed break.  If no one can come over, put the baby down in a safe place and walk away.  Check back every 10 minutes or so to make sure the baby is all right.  Remember, no baby has ever died from crying too much but too many have died from being shaken!  Never shake a baby or small child - just walk away!