The effects of shaken baby syndrome Shaken Baby Syndrome is a horrific condition that could easily be prevented if child care givers would stop, sit, and calm down instead of picking up what is often a crying baby and shaking it to make it hush. The Shaken Baby Syndrome is when the shoulders, arms or legs shake an infant or small child. Actual impact to the head is not necessary to cause permanent injury or even the death of the child.
Many people are unaware of the dangers of shaking a baby.
Harsh shaking of a young child or infant can cause irreversible brain damage, seizures, hearing loss, cerebral palsy, blindness, spinal cord injuries, learning disabilities, mental retardation, speech difficulties, behavioral problems, paralysis, and even death. Some of the signs of a baby suffering from Shaken Baby Syndrome are irritability, lethargy, vomiting, constipation, and lack of appetite. They may also have dilated pupils which means the pupils of the eyes are larger than normal and do not react to light in a normal fashion. Other signs are a semiconscious state, breathing difficulties, pooling of blood in the eyes or blood spots and seizures. Any baby that shows one or more of these signs should be taken to the hospital immediately.