The Happiest Baby on the Block and The Happiest Toddler on the Block 2-Book Bundle pdfdrive com

Jiggle and a Shake
The act of shaking leading to Shaken Baby Syndrome is so
violent that individuals observing it would recognize it as
dangerous and likely to kill the child.
American Academy of Pediatrics, Report on
Shaken Baby Syndrome, July 2001

---

Shaken Baby Syndrome is a horrific type of child abuse that requires a
force even greater than falling off a bed or out of your arms. It occurs
when a baby’s head is whipped back and forth, an extreme movement
that has also been referred to as Baby Whiplash Syndrome. Why
whiplash? Because it involves the forceful snapping of his head, side to
side, like cracking a whip. That aggressive shaking can tear open tiny
veins under the skull, causing bleeding and brain damage.
Jiggling, on the other hand, differs from the violent whipping motion
that causes Shaken Baby Syndrome in two important and fundamental
ways:
1. With jiggling, your motions are fast but tiny. Your baby’s head does
not dramatically flail about. Instead, it moves—at most—one to two
inches from side to side.
2. With jiggling, your baby’s head always stays in line with his body.
There is no whipping action with the body going in one direction
and the head moving abruptly in the opposite one.
It is my firm belief that jiggling can actually help prevent Shaken Baby
Syndrome. Because it calms babies so quickly and successfully, it can
keep parents from reaching the point of desperation that might drive
them to a violent response.
Nevertheless, even with all the very best tips and advice, parenting
can sometimes make anyone feel frustrated, edgy, and inadequate. That’s
why it’s crucial that you never shake—or even jiggle—your baby when
you’re angry!
Please—if you’re at the end of your patience, put your baby down
(even if he is crying) and give yourself a break. Don’t hesitate to call for
help from your spouse, your family, a friend, or a crisis hotline.