By Cara Spilsbury
Staff Writer
May 15, 2008 05:59 am A new baby can bring unimaginable joy, but also a bundle of stress. Even healthy, normal babies cry a lot, seemingly draining every ounce of patience and energy from parents. And if those tired, frustrated caretakers are all alone or at their breaking point, it can end in tragedy. That's why Department of Social Services (DSS), based in Haverhill, and the Massachusetts Children's Trust Fund is spreading the word that a crying baby is normal, and stress caused from endless tears is real, but violently shaking a baby in frustration can result in permanent damage to their fragile brains — or even death. This week DSS and others from the community attended the seminar Babies Cry, Have a Plan, at the Health Education Center on Merrimack Street to give staff new tools to help spread the word about shaken baby syndrome. The event was a response to Chapter 356 of the Act of 2006 that directs the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to collaborate with the DSS, the Children's Trust Fund and other agencies to develop and implement a statewide shaken baby syndrome prevention initiative. The legislation was signed into law in November 2006 by then-Gov. Mitt Romney. The event, run by Dr. Gary Calhoun, director of training at the Children's Trust Fund, and Allison Scobie-Lloyd, director of the Child Protection Program at Children's Hospital Boston, encouraged staff to teach clients that crying, no matter how never-ending it seems, is a normal part of a child's development. The hope is that understanding that crying is normal will help prevent tragedy. "It doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong," said Calhoun. "It doesn't mean you have a bad baby. Babies cry." Calhoun and Scobie-Lloyd said it's okay to put a child safely in their crib and take five minutes to collect themselves. When caretakers are frustrated and fatigued, with no support in sight, there is a higher risk of abuse. Head injury is the leading cause of death in child abuse cases. Shaken baby syndrome is the cause of 60 percent of child abuse deaths in children younger than a year old. Babies are particularly susceptible to shaking injuries because their skulls and brains aren't fully developed. Their heads are heavy in comparison to the rest of their body and their neck muscles aren't fully formed. When a baby is shaken violently, the brain pounds against skull bones. Up to 25 percent of infants die, and the babies who survive are often deaf, blind, developmentally delayed, paralyzed, or have seizures and mental disabilities, said Calhoun. There's no socioeconomic, age, racial or cultural group that is more likely to shake their babies. The only thing they have in common is that they were on their very last nerve, filled with an inadequate feelings because they couldn't get their child to stop, and they had no support system to relieve them when the crying became too much. Some parents think the crying means they're doing something wrong or the baby hates them. And colic causes crying to be worse than ever. "When your child has colic, it's a very tough time," Calhoun said. Calhoun and Scobie-Lloyd presented the PURPLE method to identify normal crying, an acronym developed by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome and Dr. Ron Barr. (See information box below) No matter what you may do, babies will often cry inconsolably, especially during the period of PURPLE crying. Even though it may seem excessive, it is a normal stage of crying that includes crying that increases each day until it peaks at about 8 weeks old, crying that can come and go unexpectedly, crying that resists soothing, a look of pain in a baby's face, crying that lasts for 30 to 40 minutes or longer, and crying more in the late afternoon and evening. Attendees of the seminar were also given tips about how to soothe a baby, like swaying, driving in the car, or bouncing — tips they can pass out to the clients they serve through DSS. They were also given tips on how to open a discussion about crying and shaken baby syndrome, as well as advice for parents selecting a caregiver. "It gives them (DSS workers) some skills to go out and talk to parents in a non-accusatory way," said Nancy Fagan, area director of the Haverhill DSS office. Because of Chapter 356 of the Act of 2006, the same information will be taught to new parents at birthing centers and hospitals — a way to reach out to parents, making sure they have all the information about what crying is normal. Scobie-Lloyd and Calhoun see the education as revolutionary. "No one spoke to me about crying, and my child is 11," said Scobie-Lloyd. "You got a little discussion about post-partum depression, then they sent you off with a diaper bag with the hospital logo... and that was it."
INFO BOX The Period of P.U.R.P.L.E. Crying, a normal stage in a child's development r P - Peak of Crying — Your baby may cry more each day until they are about 8 weeks old. r U - Unexpected -— Crying can come and go and you don't know why. r R - Resists Soothing — Your baby won't stop crying no matter what you try. r P - Pain-like Face — A crying baby may look like they are in pain, even if they are not. r L - Long Lasting — Crying can last for 30 to 40 minutes and longer. r E - Evening — Baby cries more in the late afternoon and evening. Source: >Ronald G. Barr, M.D.C.M., and the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome.<i>><p>
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