Shaken baby injuries usually occur in children younger than 2 years old, but may be seen in children up to the age of 5.

Shaken baby syndrome and crying

One of the most tragic forms of child abuse occurs when young babies are violently shaken. This happens to more than 1200 babies each year in the Unites States. From case studies, it appears that the usual trigger for this act is crying. In a moment of anger, the frustrated care-taker picks up the baby, violently shakes the baby and sometimes allows the baby’s head to be impacted. This causes bleeding around the baby’s brain and in the eyes; some babies will also have fractures of the skull, extremities, and ribs. The babies that survive may have life-long disabilities from the brain injury, such as a seizure disorder, blindness, or cerebral palsy. In some cases, the brain injury is so severe that the baby does not survive.

What should I know about my baby’s crying?

New parents are sometimes surprised at how much their baby will cry. Over the last two decades, researchers studied infant crying and have determined that there is a predictable pattern of crying during the first several months of life. Babies will begin to cry more noticeably at about two weeks of age and this will increase over the next several weeks with the peak of crying occurring when the baby reaches six to eight weeks of age. The amount of crying will then gradually decrease over the next several months. Other researchers have identified this same crying pattern in animals, such as chimpanzees. It appears that all infants, human and animal, are programmed to cry.

How much crying is normal?

The amount of time each day that a baby cries can vary considerably. One baby may reach his peak and will cry less than one hour each day, whereas another baby may peak and cry five or more hours each day. Both of these babies are normal! Babies that cry for long periods of time are often labeled as ‘colicky’. This prolonged crying is often mistakenly considered to be abnormal and many people may believe that there is something wrong with the baby that needs to be ‘fixed’. Parents will find an overabundance of advice on what to do for a colicky baby published in numerous parenting books, in magazine and newspaper articles, on internet websites as well as opinions from well-meaning friends and family. The range of advice given varies tremendously and some of it will even be contradictory. This can be confusing and frustrating for parents.

What should I do if my baby cries a lot?

Parents should remember that crying is a normal and expected infant behavior. If you are concerned that your baby may be ill, it is a good idea to talk with the baby’s doctor and have your baby checked. If your baby cries a lot but is otherwise eating well, gaining weight, and developing normally, then you don’t need to worry.

It is important to try to comfort your baby when he cries. From this nurturing response, a baby learns that his parents are attentive to his needs, which promotes healthy attachment, bonding and helps develop his sense of security. Some comfort measures that may be helpful include:

• Feed, then burp your baby.
• Change the diaper.
• Give the baby a warm bath.
• Give a gentle infant massage.
• Talk or sing softly to your baby.
• Take a walk and carry your baby.
• Go for a walk with the baby in a stroller.
• Go for a car-ride.

Sometimes, no matter what you try, your baby may be inconsolable and continue to cry. Again, this still fits the expected pattern of crying and does not mean something is wrong with your baby or with your parenting.

Being a parent is wonderful and exhilarating but it can also be an exhausting job. Even good parents can get frustrated at times when their baby won’t stop crying. If you reach that point, it is certainly appropriate to put your baby in a safe place, such as his crib or bassinet, and take a break until you have had a chance to collect your thoughts. Letting the baby cry while you take a short break will not cause any harm to the baby. Check on your baby and when you are calm, you can start trying different comfort measures.

If this crying is part of a daily pattern, it may be a good idea to ask a trusted friend or relative to come and watch your baby so that you can leave the house for a longer break. It should be reassuring to know that although this period of crying may be a difficult time for parents, it is part of normal development and will usually resolve by the time the baby is five months old.

Further information

Educational programs, such as the Period of PURPLE Crying© developed by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome, are being used to teach parents and others who care for children what to expect about infant crying and how to cope with it. More information is available on their website: http://www.dontshake.org

By Dr Cynthia Brown - Co-contributor to Caring for your newborn: How to enjoy the first 60 days as a new mom

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