Shaking a baby is a serious form of child abuse that occurs mostly in infants in the first year of life.
The act of severely or violently shaking a baby—which may also include striking the baby's head—is often the result of a parent's or caregiver's frustration or anger in response to a baby's or toddler's constant crying or irritability.
Listen for triggers for abuse and the importance of parents being comfortable with who is caring for their babies.
Selected Podcast
Abusive Head Trauma: Shaken Baby Syndrome
Featuring:
Cindy W. Christian, M.D. holds The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia endowed Chair in the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect and is a Professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Christian completed her pediatric residency and child abuse pediatrics fellowship at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where she has spent her career. Dr. Christian devotes much of her clinical and academic work to the care of abused children. For more than two decades, she directed the child abuse program at CHOP. She is a faculty director of the Field Center for Children's Policy, Practice and Research at The University of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics'section on Child Abuse and Neglect, and presently serves as the Chair of the Academy's Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect.
In 2007, Dr. Christian was named Pennsylvania Pediatrician of the Year by the PA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. In 2010, Dr. Christian was appointed as the first medical director for the Philadelphia Department of Human Services, leading the development of policies and strategies to improve the health of Philadelphia's dependent children. Dr. Christian's research and educational efforts are related to the medical evaluation and care of abused children.
Dr. Cindy W. Christian, MD
Cindy W. Christian, M.D. holds The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia endowed Chair in the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect and is a Professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Christian completed her pediatric residency and child abuse pediatrics fellowship at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where she has spent her career. Dr. Christian devotes much of her clinical and academic work to the care of abused children. For more than two decades, she directed the child abuse program at CHOP. She is a faculty director of the Field Center for Children's Policy, Practice and Research at The University of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics'section on Child Abuse and Neglect, and presently serves as the Chair of the Academy's Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect.In 2007, Dr. Christian was named Pennsylvania Pediatrician of the Year by the PA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. In 2010, Dr. Christian was appointed as the first medical director for the Philadelphia Department of Human Services, leading the development of policies and strategies to improve the health of Philadelphia's dependent children. Dr. Christian's research and educational efforts are related to the medical evaluation and care of abused children.