Beware.!!! Please do not shake babies like this
Amidst busy schedule in the kitchen, the little one had begun to cry. tried to mollify him by playing and giving him toys but to no
avail. The intensity of cries increased and finally the angered mother shook the baby forcibly.
This is a scene usually seen in most households but doctors have warned that such shaking of babies may lead to serious disabilities
based on the intensity of the shakes. A common practice with fathers is that they take the baby by the legs and play throw and catch with
them to see their wonder and happiness.this practice is also very dangerous.
In the western countries' Shaken Baby Syndrome' is a condition found in children. This occurs as a result of shaking babies violently
holding them by their hands, legs, shoulder or chest. This condition is commonly reported in America. studies have shown that the death of
children below 4 years is usually due to the shaken baby syndrome. Busy life styles, impatience to care the children, and the nuclear
families with no one to look after the children have mainly led to the cruel treatment of the kids newborns to kids up to 5 years have
been reported with this condition
Such incidents are rare in our country but our mothers also should surely be aware of this since Keralites are now tending to absorb
the western lifestyles nowadays. Amidst the work pressure and the household responsibilities, Keralite mothers also tend to lose their
mental control in front of the obstinacy of the kids.
children under one and a half years is usually prone to Shaken Baby Syndrome. mother or father may shake the baby under sudden anger.
Due to that they might disclose the matter to the doctor. But doctors are able to diagnose the disease from certain symptoms.
1.Retinal Haemorrhage
2. Subdural Haematoma
3.Absence of injuries on the exterior of the body
4.Difficulty in breathing or absence of breath
5. Baby in a tired state
6.Loss of complete or partial consciousness If the baby shows the above symptoms immediately after shaking, he should be taken as soon as
possible to the hospital otherwise its condition mat worsen dangerously.
Violent shaking may lead to disorders of the brain. If shook in such a way that the head swings front and back, the effect may turn out
to be fatal. At that age the size of the head is bigger, whereas the brain ,blood vessels etc., will be very soft. When shaken violently,
the soft body parts get affected. This may lead to loss of mental growth, ability to speak and understand, paralysis ,problems affecting
vision, hearing, cerebral palsy, difficulty in swallowing, autism etc. Sometimes the shaking may lead to death also. While handling a baby
Mostly fathers are less patient than mothers when they deal with small babies as a result they get agitated fast.
It is not a good practice to wend their anger by bodily abusing them. If we cannot immediately hold them in our hands, lay them down
in a safe place. baby should not be left alone when father feel like spending some time outside. If the cry of the baby persists for a
longer time, it might be due to some illness or hunger. It is better to try and find out the reason first otherwise seek the advice of a
doctor. Some fathers throw up their baby as a game, but this can also shake them. Moreover this may lead to accidental fall of the babies,
leading to fatalities. Some mothers catch the babies by their hands alone, this is also not a good practice which may prove to be
dangerous most of the time. Information as given by Dr. P.K. Rajiv, head of neonatology, AIMS, Kochi