Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS)

Medical Author: David Perlstein, MD, FAAP
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

• What is shaken baby syndrome?
• How common is shaken baby syndrome?
• What causes shaken baby syndrome?
• What are the symptoms and signs of shaken baby syndrome?
• What are the treatments for shaken baby syndrome?
• What is the prognosis for shaken baby syndrome?
• Can shaken baby syndrome be caused accidentally?
• Can shaken baby syndrome be prevented?
• Where can I find more information on shaken baby syndrome?
• Shaken Baby At A Glance

What is shaken baby syndrome?

Shaken baby syndrome is the term that is used to describe a form of child abuse caused by vigorously shaking an infant, often in anger, to get a child to stop crying or whining. It usually occurs in children less than 1 year of age, and the violent shaking often results in severe and permanent brain injury, spinal-cord injuries, bleeding in the eyes (retinal hemorrhages), and even death.

How common is shaken baby syndrome?

There are no accurate statistics, but experts estimate the incidence to be between 1,000 to 1,500 infants per year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of the almost 2,000 children who die from abuse or neglect each year, shaken baby syndrome accounts for 10%-12% of them. Most commonly, the victim of shaken baby syndrome is between 3 and 8 months old; however, it has been reported in newborns and in children up to 4 years of age. In addition, 25% of all children diagnosed with shaken baby syndrome die from their injuries.