Shaken Baby Syndrome

As trusted injury lawyers serving the Bay Area, we’ve seen just about every type of injury case imaginable, and few are as tragic as those involving children. If your child was injured by a negligent caretaker or adult, we may be able to help. Contact us to schedule a free consultation.

The thing about babies is that they cry—sometimes a lot.

They don’t do it to punish or manipulate you; they don’t do it because they’re spoiled. Babies cry, sometimes fervently, because it’s their only communication tool, and they have a biological imperative to make their needs known.

As a loving parent, you understand these ideas almost instinctively. Your love for your baby is boundless and unconditional. No matter how haggard and sleep-deprived you become in the first few months of parenthood, you would never dream of causing them physical harm. However, that’s not necessarily how hired caregivers, babysitters or family members feel.

When a caregiver becomes extremely frustrated, triggered or angered by a crying baby, they may shake the baby in an attempt to calm it down. Whether they realize it or not, violent shaking could cause irreparable damage to the baby’s brain, an injury referred to as shaken baby syndrome (SBS). This type of brain injury is a form of child abuse and can result in permanent brain damage, disability and death.

If you suspect a caregiver may have given your child shaken baby syndrome, you deserve justice. We may be able to hold the negligent party accountable while we pursue compensation for your child’s recovery. This article will explore common symptoms and causes of shaken baby syndrome, as well as the steps to getting a diagnosis.

At Delfino, Green & Green, we understand that serious injuries affect more than physical health. They impact a family’s finances, job options, quality of life and more. We believe your settlement should reflect the full range of these losses and will work tirelessly to secure it. 

Understanding Shaken Baby Syndrome

There are between 600 and 1,400 cases of shaken baby syndrome in the U.S. each year, according to the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome. This injury represents the most common cause of child abuse deaths in young children (under five years of age) and typically has lifelong effects on the victim, putting them at risk for developing a variety of serious health problems.

Causes of Shaken Baby Syndrome

Before discussing the symptoms, it’s important to understand how shaken baby syndrome occurs. Shaken baby syndrome is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that occurs when a small child is shaken violently. As young children have underdeveloped, weak neck muscles, there’s nothing to stop the baby’s brain from bouncing back and forth against the inside of their skull. This whiplash can result in bleeding, bruising and swelling.

Shaken Baby Syndrome Symptoms

Just like with other types of brain injuries, shaken baby syndrome may present with a wide range of symptoms, some of which are much easier to spot than others. After sustaining this type of injury, a baby may present with any of the following symptoms:

• Bleeding, bruising and swelling in the brain
• Bleeding in the eye, retinal hemorrhages
• Unconsciousness
• Seizures
• Breathing difficulties and pale or blue skin
• Extreme irritability and vomiting

In some cases, a baby’s symptoms aren’t immediately apparent and only appear as the child grows older. These latent symptoms and conditions could include vision problems or loss of sight, problems with body movement and control, seizures, weakness, neck and spinal cord damage, intellectual and learning disabilities and more. No matter when they appear, though, research is clear that this type of abuse can result in severe and lasting health consequences.

Getting a Shaken Baby Syndrome Diagnosis

Although a parent may not be able to tell whether or not their child is suffering from shaken baby syndrome, a thorough medical examination will reveal what’s going on. Your doctor will take the child’s medical history and perform a cursory examination. If they suspect shaken baby syndrome, they may order the following tests:

• A skeletal survey. Your doctor may order X-rays of several bones, including those in the arms, hands, legs, feet, spine, ribs and skull, to detect breaks or skull fractures. These X-rays can help them determine whether the baby’s head trauma was accidental or purposeful.
• An eye examination. A doctor may perform an eye exam to check for bleeding in the eyes—a common symptom of head injury in children.
• Blood tests. Certain genetic disorders and metabolic conditions can cause symptoms similar to the ones seen in children with shaken baby syndrome. Analyzing your child’s blood can help them rule out other potential causes of their symptoms.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Healthcare providers may order an MRI to get a better look at your baby’s brain and spine. These tests can reveal bruising, bleeding and even signs of decreased oxygen, but they’re difficult to perform on a baby who’s unstable. Depending on your child’s current condition, the medical team may order an MRI for a couple of days after their condition is more stable.
• Computerized tomography (CT) scan. If the doctor is concerned that your child may need urgent treatment, they may order a CT scan of your baby’s brain and other areas. These tests use X-rays to capture cross-sectional images that can reveal hidden injuries.

Depending on what the medical team finds, your baby may need to be monitored in a pediatric intensive care unit until their condition improves. Physicians can initiate a number of life-saving measures to reduce the severity of the child’s injuries, which is why it’s essential for parents to seek medical treatment if they suspect shaken baby syndrome.

Frequently Asked Questions About Shaken Baby Syndrome

Shaken baby syndrome is a tragic, complex injury that carries lifelong implications for the people it affects. If you have questions about your legal options after your child has been diagnosed with shaken baby syndrome, it’s a good idea to speak with a traumatic brain injury attorney as soon as possible. In the meantime, check out the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.

• What should you do if you suspect shaken baby syndrome?

Even if you just suspect shaken baby syndrome, you should seek immediate medical care for your child. A medical team can order a number of tests that reveal life-threatening injuries, the outcome of which is typically much better with rapid medical intervention.

• Is shaken baby syndrome deadly?

Tragically, shaken baby syndrome is lethal in about 25% of cases. Death is typically caused by swelling and pressure in the baby’s brain and skull, bleeding within the baby’s brain or tears in the baby’s brain tissue.

• How do you know if your baby has shaken baby syndrome?

Seeking medical attention is the only way to know for sure whether your baby is suffering from shaken baby syndrome. Although the symptoms discussed above can be indicators of shaken baby syndrome, they’re sometimes caused by other conditions and illnesses.