Don't Shake Your Baby

[Karen]

It is always tragic, there was a famous case of Shaken Baby syndrome involving a nanny here that made national news. It is sad that some people don't know how dangerous that impulsive act can be.

[NicoleLJ]

Before I had my first child i took parenting classes and one of the points they pushed was it is better for the baby to cry in a crib for a few minutes to even half an hour for you to catch your breath then for you to lose your cool and shake the baby. It was a huge point and I have always made sure to listen. So with both my kids when they would have a crying marathon and I would feel like I was getting to my breaking point I would put them in their room, safely in their crib and walk away to catch my breath. Sometimes I would sit and read to calm my racing thoughts or have a quick shower, even some cooking or cleaning helped to calm frazzled nerves. And by teh end of 10-20 minutes I could go get teh baby(whom I could hear though a monitor so always knew they were safe) refreshed. And even if they were still crying I knew i was better able ot then deal with it. Knowing that I could do this was a relief for me since I always knew I had a safe recourse when things got bad.
Nicole

[lizbud]

It's absolutely unbelievable that anyone would have to be told this.

[critter crazy]

It's absolutely unbelievable that anyone would have to be told this.

Exactly!!!!

[GreyhoundGirl]

It's absolutely unbelievable that anyone would have to be told this.

You have to learn at some point! Sheesh! I didn't know! guess that makes me an ideot, right?

[lizbud]

You have to learn at some point! Sheesh! I didn't know! guess that makes me an ideot, right?

Nobody said that. I grew up in a big family & there was always a baby
in the family at some time or other. It just seems like good sense to me
to handle a baby with great care. I don't ever remember my mom saying
that, but it just seems natural to me.

[cyber-sibes]

This is heartbreaking. I will keep your friend & her whole family in my prayers. Ugh, they probably feel like they are living in a nightmare. Very very important message, babies are so fragile. I'm truly sorry your friends are going through this.

[Uabassoon]

It's absolutely unbelievable that anyone would have to be told this.

This was something I didn't know until recently. There was a billboard with a PSA about shaking babies. I had to ask Alexa why you couldn't shake a baby. I've never been around children and know nothing about them. Some people have never been around babies and don't know these things. Everyone needs to learn somewhere.

It just seems like good sense to me
to handle a baby with great care.

While that does seem like good sense. Some people don't understand how severe it is. I figured from seeing the billboard that it wasn't good to shake a baby, but I had no clue it was something that could cause death.

[lizbud]

While that does seem like good sense. Some people don't understand how severe it is. I figured from seeing the billboard that it wasn't good to shake a baby, but I had no clue it was something that could cause death.

I do understand how someone might not understand the severe physical
harm you could do to a baby by shaking it, but why would people think it
ok to discipline an infant in any way, shape or form? I guess that idea is
unbelievable to me.

[Sirrahsim]

I can understand how people who have not had a lot of contact with babies might not understand that shaking can be fatal....
What gets me is HOW COULD ANYONE DO IT to their own child?? There is a certain amount of knowledge that I swear is implanted in your brain when you have a baby. When a baby is put into your arms you KNOW that your goal in life is to protect that baby in every way possible. When I had Tyler it took me several days before I was comfortable enough to GENTLY bounce him in my arms with his head fully supported... An infant is completely relient on you in EVERY way, how could ANYONE betray that trust???


Obviously I feel very strongly about this topic...

[Karen]

I can understand how people who have not had a lot of contact with babies might not understand that shaking can be fatal....
What gets me is HOW COULD ANYONE DO IT to their own child?? There is a certain amount of knowledge that I swear is implanted in your brain when you have a baby.

Sadly, that doesn't happen with everyone. So people - other people - need to just educate, educate, educate!

[sparks19]

I can understand how people who have not had a lot of contact with babies might not understand that shaking can be fatal....
What gets me is HOW COULD ANYONE DO IT to their own child?? There is a certain amount of knowledge that I swear is implanted in your brain when you have a baby. When a baby is put into your arms you KNOW that your goal in life is to protect that baby in every way possible. When I had Tyler it took me several days before I was comfortable enough to GENTLY bounce him in my arms with his head fully supported... An infant is completely relient on you in EVERY way, how could ANYONE betray that trust???


Obviously I feel very strongly about this topic...

I know just what you mean....

there have been times where I have been frustrated because Hannah wouldn't go to sleep... and just knowing that I was frustrated with her for something that isn't really her fault brought me to tears... how could ANYONE think that shaking a baby is ok. Would you shake a puppy to get it to stop whining? Probably not. It breaks my heart that this isn't somethign people would just know is not appropriate. It breaks my heart to even know I get frustrated at times with Hannah... I HATE that.... it's not her fault and I know it. Babies cry for a reason... not just to cry.

[Pawsitive Thinking]

It is always tragic, there was a famous case of Shaken Baby syndrome involving a nanny here that made national news. It is sad that some people don't know how dangerous that impulsive act can be.

You mean Louise Woodward?

I often wondered how people could be driven to do such things until I became a Mum..................the best advice is to place baby safely in his/her cot and leave the room

[Sirrahsim]

Did my reply get eaten?? My computer is acting up!!

Ramanth, there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with getting frustrated!! The fact that you recognized that you needed help and called your mom means that even as a teen you must have been very responsible and level headed!!
Every mom gets frustrated, especially with an infant, but the important thing is to know when they need to set the baby down in a safe place and take a time out!!!

I called my Mom (Sirrahbed) in hysterics a couple of days after Tyler was born and asked her to fly alllllll the way to Japan to help me She did and she helped me to see that it is OK to freak out a little bit as long as you can recognize when you need to take a step back!

[ramanth]

Thanks.

What cool moms we have. I just hope when I have kids, I can raise 'em as well as mom raised me.