New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Prevent Non-Accidental Trauma and shaken baby syndrome

A graphic promoting Baby Week features images of people interacting with baby dolls.

Non-accidental trauma (NAT) is any injury to a child caused by abuse or neglect. It is a leading cause of childhood injury and death in the U.S. and is 100% preventable. Common forms of NAT include physical acts like hitting or kicking. It also includes shaken baby syndrome, where a caregiver shakes a baby, often out of frustration, causing severe brain and eye injuries. Statistics show that roughly 700,000 children are abused annually in the U.S. Younger children are the most vulnerable. While the issue is widespread, more than half of Americans don't realize how dangerous shaking a baby is. The consequences of NAT can be permanent, including vision loss and other disabilities.

What are AHT and NAT?

At least ½ of the American public doesn’t know that shaking a baby can cause blindness, cerebral palsy (CP), hearing loss, seizures, learning and behavior problems, seizures, paralysis, severe and permanent injury to the brain and/or spinal cord, and even death. Many of NMSBVI’s visually impaired students are the victims of Non-Accidental Trauma (NAT) caused by adult anger. NAT is 100% preventable.

20 Tips to Soothe a Crying Infant

(courtesy of the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome DontShake.org has useful information and tips)

Crying is the #1 trigger for SBS/NAT.Crying does not mean that there is anything wrong with you or your baby.If you start to become frustrated, put your baby in a safe place, walk away, and calm down.

The following list is not all-inclusive.There are many things you can do to calm a baby’s crying.Many of these techniques

•  Burp your baby. Gas can be very uncomfortable.
•  Swaddle your baby in a lightweight blanket.
•  Give your baby a lukewarm bath, under supervision.
•  Massage your baby gently on back, arms, or legs.
•  Give your baby a pacifier. (Use sparingly!)
•  Make eye contact with your baby and smile.
•  Kiss your baby.
•  Lightly kiss the bottom of your baby’s feet.
•  Sing Softly. Lullabies were created because of their effectiveness at calming crying babies.
•  Reassure your baby with soft words like “it’s ok.” (This can help comfort both you and your baby during a difficult crying episode.
•  Hum in a low tone against your baby’s head.
•  Run a vacuum cleaner to create distracting “white noise.”
•  Run the dishwasher; more comforting “white noise.”
•  Take your baby for a ride in the car, with baby secure in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat.
•  Rocking with your baby in a rocking chair can be very relaxing for you both.
•  Push your baby in a stroller.
•  Place your baby in a baby swing for a slow, rhythmic motion.
•  Place your baby underneath a lighted mobile.
•  Dance Slowly... and relax!