Don't Shake Your Baby

[cyber-sibes]

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

Well said. "Motherhood" does not come naturally to everyone. You would be amazed how many young women are completely overwhelmed having a baby around 24-7. The sleep depravation that comes with a newborn, changing hormones, post-partum depression, pre-existing conditions, stress, and lack of experience can put a person into a very different stage of mind, when something that is utterly irrational can seem like the thing to do in the moment. As for dads, well, they don't all have the patience of Job. Very few have any experience with babies, and, at least in my generation, many of them were handled pretty roughly by their own dads. It would be wonderful is parenting classes were be a requirement for anyone raising children.

*edit - times have changed, and a lot of young moms don't have their moms or family living nearby who can help with young babies. The family support system isn't there anymore for many young families.

[NicoleLJ]

Great Post cyber-sibes. Add to all that the problem of a baby with colic and you have the makings of a disaster for some families. I was blessed to not have a child that had colic. But I have been around some that did. I don't know how they handle the non stop, all night and all day crying.
Nicole

[cyber-sibes]

I was blessed to not have a child that had colic. But I have been around some that did. I don't know how they handle the non stop, all night and all day crying.

My firstborn had colic. I felt like I was losing my mind. Thank God for a patient husband to take over once in a while. I'm a reasonably sane person, but there were moments I really understood how people can hurt babies.

[Cookiebaker]

Oh gosh, I knew I didn't really want to open this thread. We had to watch a video on shaken baby syndrome before we left the hospital, and it was the most god-awful video I ever had to watch. I just held my precious baby Lydia and cried through the entire thing. And now I am holding her again with tears rolling down my face for that innocent baby and his poor mother. Rest in peace, sweet baby...you are in heaven now saved from further abuse in your life.

[finn's mom]

I'm glad this got some discussion going. If it educated one person to the dangers of doing this, I'm glad I posted it.

[ramanth]

As a teen I was asked to babysit the neighbors 6 month old while the mom ran some errands. Was very honored that she trusted me, but scared as I had never watched anyone so young.

Overall it all went well, but then Amanda started to cry. She had been fed, changed and had had a nap. I didn't know what to do. I started to cry and called my mom in tears.

She suggested I run a shower and hold the baby near it. Didn't help. I called her back in near hysterics.

Mom came over and the minute I handed Amanda over, she stopped crying.



The memory makes me nervous about ever becoming a mom. That and how easily I lose my cool with the dogs. I love kids, but I'm the one that needs a time out.

As for the family...that is very very sad and tragic.

[lizbud]

I'm glad this got some discussion going. If it educated one person to the dangers of doing this, I'm glad I posted it.

I'm glad you bumped this up again & agree completely with what you said
before. If even one person learns this lesson, it is worth repeating.

[Lady's Human]

I'm actually surprised at this point that people don't know, especially given the publicity given the issue during the woodward case. It's sad, really. Hopefully this can educate someone BEFORE it happens.