BABIES. Just the word suggests warm feelings, tender moments and innocent little people who depend on parents, grandparents, siblings, and other caregivers to love and care for them. However, there is another side to caring for a baby or small child that isn’t talked about much—the feelings of being frustrated, overwhelmed, and alone.

These are normal feelings to have while taking care of a baby. After all, it is a big responsibility for anyone. Many times the stresses of day-to-day life—fatigue, family problems, financial strain, and overworking—can make someone reach a breaking point, especially if a baby is fussy and crying for a long period of time. It happens to mothers, fathers, family members, day care providers, friends and even teenagers who are babysitting for just a few hours a day. Unfortunately, babies and small children are the victims when feelings of frustration result in violent shaking to stop the child from crying.

When a baby is vigorously shaken, the head moves back and forth. This sudden whiplash motion can cause bleeding inside the head and swelling that increases pressure on the brain, resulting in injury to the baby. This is known as Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS). A baby’s head and neck are susceptible to head trauma because his or her muscles are not fully developed and the brain tissue is exceptionally fragile. Head trauma is the leading cause of disability among abused infants and children.

SBS occurs most frequently in infants younger than six months old, yet can occur up to the age of three. Often there are no obvious outward signs of inside injury, particularly in the head or behind the eyes. In reality, shaking a baby, if only for a few seconds, can injure the baby for life. These injuries can include brain swelling and damage; cerebral palsy; mental retardation; developmental delays; blindness; hearing loss; paralysis; and death. When a child is shaken in anger and frustration, the force is multiplied five or 10 times more than if the child had simply tripped and fallen.

Often frustrated parents or other persons responsible for a child’s care feel that shaking a baby is a harmless way to make a child stop crying. Other times, children become victims when a parent or caretaker, not realizing how seriously this behavior can harm, throws a small child vigorously into the air, plays too rough, or hits an infant too hard on the back.

The number one reason a baby is shaken is because of inconsolable crying. Almost 25 percent of all babies with SBS die. It is estimated that 25 - 50 percent of parents and caretakers aren’t aware of the effects of shaking a baby.

Your club can conduct an easy and effective Shaken Baby Syndrome campaign during April, National Child Abuse Prevention Month, or September, Baby Safety Month. The main goal of this national effort is to educate the public about the effects of shaking a baby.

• Distribute literature during local high school sporting events. Ask the school’s PTA or other parenting groups to participate.

• Display billboards throughout your city or county.

• Contact local fire departments to host a Shaken Baby Syndrome fund drive by collecting funds from the community.

• Provide local newspapers with story ideas about your Shaken Baby Syndrome campaign. Ask them to run complimentary ads promoting the prevention of SBS, and to print an information box on "Coping With Crying," for parents who may need some extra advice (see brochure).

• Ask local television stations to broadcast a week-long series on Shaken Baby Syndrome and child abuse prevention.

• Display literature on Shaken Baby Syndrome in libraries, daycares, schools, doctor’s offices, police stations, social service offices, etc.

• Encourage hospitals to include an SBS brochure in their new parent kits and during Lamaze classes and parenting groups.

• Possible community partners may also include health departments, insurance companies, grocery stores, restaurants, nonprofits, church groups, toy stores, and maternity shops.

The National Exchange Club Foundation has developed a variety of Shaken Baby Syndrome tools that clubs and centers can use to promote local Shaken Baby Syndrome campaigns. These include:

SBS Brochures: Available for a nominal fee to Exchange Clubs, Exchange Club Centers, and other child advocacy organizations who want to conduct a Shaken Baby Syndrome campaign in their community. The brochure is a comprehensive and educational piece that details important information on Shaken Baby Syndrome. The theme, "Babies are fragile. Please don’t shake a child" along with the egg babies artwork is also included on the brochures.

SBS Billboards: Available from United Grafix. Please contact Mike Osbourne at United Grafix, 904-634-0500.

Posters: These 11" x 17" posters are similar to the billboard, and can be purchased in quantities of 10.

PSAs: Three video public service announcements that focus on the dangers of Shaken Baby Syndrome are available. These outstanding 30-second spots were developed by the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida. All of Exchange was granted permission to use the spots. The Foundation logo has been added. Please contact Dan Kossoff at White Hawk Pictures, 800-654-6570 to order.

New PSAs featuring Malcolm Jamal Warner, Tia and Tahj Mowry and Amy Davidson are available. Submit them to television and cable broadcast stations or show them at a club event. Call us at 800-XCHANGE (800-924-2643) or visit our website at www.nationalexchangeclub.org to order PSAs.