Approximately 20-30% of victims of shaken baby syndrome in the United States will die as a result of their injuries. Shaken baby syndrome is the name given to describe the head trauma that is inflicted on a baby when the parent or infant’s caretaker shakes the infant violently causing brain damage. This deadly form of child abuse accounts for serious traumatic brain injury (TBI) in up to 1,500 infants per year.

Caretakers and parents who have become frustrated with a crying baby may shake them violently in an effort to keep them quiet. The shaking does quiet the baby by damaging his brain. Children living in poverty are the victims of shaken baby syndrome more often than those not living in poverty. Male caretakers are estimated to be the perpetrators of shaken baby syndrome between 60-90% of the time, and approximately 60% of the victims of shaken baby syndrome are males.

Shaken Baby Syndrome affects children under one year of age (typically) due to their underdeveloped brain structure, but cases of brain injury from shaking have been reported in children up to four years old. Babies who survive being shaken often develop symptoms that last a lifetime including blindness, seizure, hearing loss, cognitive dysfunction, mental retardation and paralysis.

How is the Brain Affected by Shaking?

When adults shake an infant, the infant’s still-undeveloped brain is moved about violently. Since their little necks do not have muscles developed enough to stabilize their own heads, the brain shakes within the skull causing torn brain tissue and ruptured blood vessels. The shaking, in turn, causes swelling in the brain; the swollen tissue constricts blood flow to the child’s brain, preventing its development and contributing to blood clots.

Shaken babies often stop crying as the shaking progresses and the brain damage becomes more severe. The degree of the traumatic brain injury caused by the shaking depends on the severity and repetition of the shaking. Some signs of shaken baby syndrome are lethargy, inability to lift the head and focus the eyes, lack of vocalization, decreased appetite and lack of smiling. Because parents and caretakers know they are the cause of these symptoms, they often will not take the children to the hospital for fear of criminal charges being placed against them.

There are ways to lessen the incidences of shaken baby syndrome. Parenting classes and stress relief techniques can help minimize the frustration felt by a distraught parent. It is appropriate to play with a baby safely and jiggle your infant on your knee in a soft, playful way; however, shaking a baby in anger will most likely cause brain damage that will last a lifetime.

Is your baby a green baby? If the answer is yes, you are a part of a growing segment of the population opting for more environmentally friendly products for your child. The list of eco-friendly baby products grows by the day and includes nappies, organic baby food, organic formula, biodegradable wipes, ethically produced toys; the list goes on and on. Increasing numbers of parents are showing interest in green baby products and manufacturers are listening and responding. The biggest names in the baby industry are rolling out more products designed for the organic baby and ever increasing numbers of parents are also starting up small companies online to sell their specially made products to meet the high demand for environmentally friendly, organic, ethical products.

There are many reasons parents choose the green way to go when bringing up their babies. Adults who have adopted greener lifestyles for instance end up not being able to stomach the effect that disposable nappies have on the planet. On average children will use 6,000 nappies which will result in 2 tonnes of non-biodegradable waste. The materials that these nappies consist of will not break down and will remain in the landfill for many generations to come.

Parents have also discovered the potential health benefits of these eco-products for their baby. Disposable diapers often contain chemicals that can be harmful to a baby’s tender bottom and increase the chances for diaper rash and allergic reactions. Cloth diapers on the other hand are made from natural materials that are hypoallergenic. Many cities also have diaper laundering services which pick up the soiled diapers and deliver clean ones. Parents can also choose to launder their own cloth diapers and save them for their next child. Parents also choose to launder their own child’s diapers if they don’t want to share the diapers with other babies.

For parents that just can’t get their heads around washing nappies or do not have cloth nappy laundering services in their area, there are disposable biodegradable nappies available too.

When it comes to what parents feed their babies, there has been a huge upsurge in the desire for organic baby food. Many people believe that babies are much more susceptible to the dangerous effects of chemicals that are in pesticides and prefer to feed their children food that is free from these agents. As a plus, it is also much safer on the environment.

Although organic food sales still make up a small percentage of the amount of baby food sold, this is a growing market. The cost for purchasing organic baby food is more than the traditional non-organic jars, but in many cases parents are willing to pay extra for their green baby to eat only organic baby food.

Some celebrities have been given credit for kick-starting this trend and brining it into the mainstream. Famous mums such as Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow and Stella McCartney are all known for their eco-baby ways.

Whatever the reasons for “going green”, parents are lucky to have a growing number of retailers online that offer a range of eco-friendly baby products. Major players in the baby market have also caught on and are continuing to come out with new lines featuring organic food and ethically produced products for babies. There is still much room for growth in this area, so be on the lookout in your local supermarket baby isle.

It’s very frustrating to be a parent or a caregiver whose baby is upset and crying if you don’t know what is wrong. Your infant doesn’t have a way to communicate yet, so crying is the main sign of hunger or discomfort. Learning about all the various issues that the average baby or toddler may suffer from can help. The more you know, the more you can do to help your child to feel better. One subject that many parents and caregivers do not know much about is how to recognize the symptoms of acid reflux in babies.

Yes, even tiny infants can suffer from acid reflux. In fact, it’s quite common, as the digestive symptom in infants is not yet fully developed. They also have no capacity yet to tell when they are full, nor to communicate this to their parents. What this means is that babies cannot always keep the foods and liquids they’ve been fed inside their stomachs. In addition, most infants spend a majority of their time lying down which, as any adult sufferer of acid reflux will tell you, only exacerbates the symptoms of acid reflux. In babies this is no different, so if your child seems to be suffering from acid reflux-related discomfort, try putting him or her in a seat or carrier that allows an upright position for a larger portion of the day.

It is very important to recognize the symptoms of acid reflux in babies, as failing to deal with it can lead to failure to thrive, due to the baby not getting enough nutrition. Allowing the esophagus to be continually exposed to the stomach acids can also lead to tissue damage or even scarring and potentially to breathing problems later in life.

But it can be hard to tell the difference between normal infant vomiting & grumpiness and the more serious symptoms of acid reflux in babies. It’s perfectly normal for babies to cough up their food, due to the same immaturity of the digestive system that causes the symptoms of acid reflux in babies in the first place. And since they cannot yet communicate, they are unable to convey just why they may be feeling uncomfortable or even in pain. If your infant’s vomiting seems to be happening after every meal, or if he or she is also having breathing troubles, you should consider that these might be symptoms of acid reflux, and see your pediatrician.

Treatment of the symptoms of acid reflux in babies may range from simply feeding your baby different foods and adjusting his or her sleeping conditions to prescription medications. Whatever treatment your doctor prescribes, be sure to follow instructions carefully, as symptoms of acid reflux in babies can quickly lead to more serious conditions.