Danger to life and limb: Why shaking babies is so dangerous

The The baby cries, their head is pounding, and their nerves are frayed. Parents or other caregivers are often overwhelmed in such situations. A father is now on trial in Trier for allegedly shaking his son so violently that he died. Shakingchildren has dangerous consequences—but why? And why and how often do babies cry?

"When your baby cries, there is always a reason for it, even if you don't recognize it right away," writes the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) Mainz, which, together with the state government and the state medical association, has published a flyer on the subject.

Healthy babies cry when:

Children cry a lot, especially in the first few weeks of life. "Healthy infants cry for an average of two to three hours a day—but sometimes much longer," they write. "In exceptional cases, they cry all day long with only short interruptions. This can be normal and not due to illness." If the child seems ill or cries more than usual, or in a way that makes you anxious, a visit to the pediatrician may help.

There are varying reports on how often babies in Germany experience so-called shaken baby syndrome; estimates range from 100 to 200 cases per year.

But one thing is certain: It's life-threatening for infants and should therefore never happen. The National Centre for Early Childhood Services (NZFH) writes: "Only an estimated 10 to 20 percent of infants survive a diagnosed shaken baby syndrome without lasting damage."

“Shaken baby syndrome is a form of physical child abuse,” writes the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety.

According to the NZFH, the following symptoms may indicate shaken baby syndrome:

TK explains: "The baby's head swings back and forth unprotected when shaken. The brain is very vulnerable in small children." Even hasty movements without holding the head can be dangerous. "Shaking can rupture blood vessels in the brain. This can lead to permanent brain damage, physical and mental disabilities, seizures, and even death."