Babies cry  . . . be prepared!

As seen in COLORADO PARENT, April 2007
By: Andrew Sirotnak, MD
Director, Kempe Child Protection Team
The Children's Hospital & Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect

We all know that babies cry -  but sometimes the reality of being in a room with a screaming baby frays the nerves of any caregiver, and sometimes, tragically, caregivers cross the line and take their frustration out on the child.

Statistics nationally and statewide indicate that child abuse cases are not declining very much. At The Children's Hospital, we see several infants and children each month who are suffering as a result of child abuse. That's why Children's is working on an awareness campaign with The Kempe Foundation and Kohl's. By providing people with tips on how to calm a crying baby, we hope to provide ideas for caregivers who are feeling overwhelmed. And, just as importantly, to let people know they aren't alone. Everyone gets overwhelmed, tired and frustrated . . . caring for a baby is hard work.

Child abuse is the third leading cause of admission to Children's trauma program and the most recent registry data shows that Children's admits more than 70 percent of all inpatient child abuse traumas in Colorado. These children are injured severely and in many cases, the severity of their injuries ranks right up with motor vehicle traumas. Shaken baby syndrome (SBS) is one of the most common forms of child abuse seen at Children's.

SBS is a serious type of head injury that occurs when an infant or toddler is severely or violently shaken or thrown down. This action often leads to brain damage, hearing loss, blindness, speech or learning disabilities, cerebral palsy and mental retardation or even death.

Babies get fussy and it's not always easy to figure out why they are crying. It is normal for babies to cry and for caregivers to become frustrated. The most important thing to remember is to be patient and never, ever shake a baby. Babies do eventually grow out of their crying. Keeping your baby safe is the most important thing you can do. We all need to be advocates for kids of all ages and keep them safe. Help is available. Visit www.calmacryingbaby.com for more information about child abuse and how to prevent it.

How to Calm A Crying Baby

• Check physical needs first: Is the baby hungry? Thirsty? Need to be burped? Too hot or too cold? Diaper dirty?
  
• Check for signs of illness or fever. If you think the baby may be sick, seek medical attention immediately.
  
• Rock the baby, hold the baby close or walk with the baby.
  
• Stand up, hold the baby close and repeatedly bend at your knees.
  
• Sing or talk to the baby in a soothing voice.
  
• Gently rub or stroke the baby's back, chest or tummy.
  
• Offer a pacifier or try to distract the baby with a rattle or toy.
  
• Swaddle the baby with a soft blanket.
  
• Turn on some music or noise like a vacuum cleaner or clothes dryer.
  
• Take the baby for a ride in a stroller or in a car seat in the car.

Try each of the above for a few minutes before trying something else, or try a few together. If nothing seems to work, it is OK to leave the baby in a safe place (like a crib) and take time to calm down. Leave the room. Shut the door. Take a few deep breaths. Call a friend, family member or your health-care provider.

Kempe Child Protection Team

The Children's Hospital houses the Kempe Child Protection Team which offers comprehensive, multidisciplinary consultation, assessment, treatment, and referral services for children and adolescents who may have been physically or sexually abused or neglected.  In collaboration with Kempe, sensitive care is provided by dedicated clinicians to help the hospital and community identify, treat and console child abuse victims and their families. For more information, visit www.calmacryingbaby.com.

Most Recent Data

The most recent available US Department of Health and Human Services data noted the
following:

• 3 million reported child abuse cases in 2004.
  
• This reflects an estimated 872,000 victims in 2004 for a national incidence rate of 12 per 1,000 children.
  
• Each year nationally, there are approximately 1,400 deaths and in 2004, there were 1,490 reported deaths for an incidence rate of 2.03 per 100,000 children.
  

In Colorado:

• More than 120,000 cases were reported in 2004. 
  
• Of these cases there were 9,578 victims and an incidence rate of 8.1 per 1,000 children.
  
• There were 35 deaths from abuse in 2004 for an incidence rate of 2.97 per 100,000 children.