Understanding Colic and Shaken Baby Syndrome
Colic can cause inconsolable crying in babies. Long periods of crying can push even the most patient parents or caregivers to their limits. In moments of desperation, a caregiver may shake a baby, which can result in serious injury or death.
It’s important to know that stepping away for a few minutes when the crying becomes overwhelming is safer than risking losing control.
It’s important to know that stepping away for a few minutes when the crying becomes overwhelming is safer than risking losing control.
Why Colic Can Lead to Shaken Baby Syndrome
No parent wants to hurt their baby, but colic presents unique challenges:
Sometimes, in a moment of exhaustion or frustration, a parent or caregiver loses control. Even if the intention is only to stop the crying, shaking a baby can lead to serious brain injuries or death.
- Babies may cry for hours each day, even when comforted.
- Parents often become sleep-deprived, stressed, and emotionally drained.
- The baby’s crying may increase in volume and frequency over time.
Sometimes, in a moment of exhaustion or frustration, a parent or caregiver loses control. Even if the intention is only to stop the crying, shaking a baby can lead to serious brain injuries or death.
Why Colic Is More Serious Than People Realize
Many parents assume colic is a harmless phase that passes in a few months. But the reality is:
- Babies can suffer serious injuries if shaken.
- Parents often experience stress, guilt, and anxiety.
- Families can be permanently affected by a single moment of desperation.
Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome: A Core Part of The Colic Doc’s Mission
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For over 40 years, The Colic Doc has made it a priority to protect babies and families while helping with colic. Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome is a key part of his work.
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Doc Explains:
Shaken Baby Syndrome and Colic
What is this and how could this happen?
I do not believe that any parent would want to shake their baby with the intent of hurting them. I truly believe that the reason the baby is shaken is simply because he/she was crying for an extended period of time and the parent could not find a way to help. When a baby cries, a huge emotional burden is bestowed upon the parent. At first, they can't stand to see and hear their baby cry. As time goes on and the crying gets louder and louder for longer durations of time, the parent becomes more and more sleep deprived. The parent has no time for him/herself, they begin missing work, they are unable to go out in public and life becomes tiresome and strenuous. As the colic gets worse, the volume and pitch of the baby's cry increases. Sometimes these babies scream so loud you just can't stand the sound.
You keep trying to soothe your baby. You read books and you keep taking the baby to the doctor and discussing the problem with friends. There must be something else wrong with my baby. You do everything you can to help your baby and stop the crying. Usually the mother's hormones are also re-adjusting after just having had the baby. The mother finally can't do it anymore and has the father take the baby. The father has often times not spent much time with the baby and therefore hasn't learned how to hold or position the baby to get any relief and quiet, so after about ten minutes of this crying and screaming, he gives the baby back to the mother. Finally the mother becomes so exhausted, she becomes angry with the father. Things are said and done that are hurtful, and in many cases undoable to where the father becomes angry as well. Now you have a situation where the mother is crying, tired and angry. You can't leave the baby with anyone else because the baby just cries all the time. Finally one of the parents may lose control, yell at the baby and shake the baby hoping that this will stop the crying but it doesn't. In the moment of all this stress, the baby has been shaken and the chances of head injury or even death skyrocket. You can see how easily and often this could happen.
I have had many parents tell me that they would never shake their baby but they can easily understand how this could happen. Once again, I do not believe any parent ever intends to harm their baby, however, when parents are fatigued, fearful, anxious and feel helpless, its hard to say how any situation would play out. Is colic a deadly disease? Yes it is! Babies die or are permanently injured every year from the effects of what colic can do to all members of the family. Colic has the ability to permanently destroy families and many lives because the tiny baby could not stop crying. Don't minimize colic, it is a very serious condition. As a side note, some causes of Shaken Baby Syndrome have been mistaken and diagnosed as SIDS. Colic can be a life and death situation.
I do not believe that any parent would want to shake their baby with the intent of hurting them. I truly believe that the reason the baby is shaken is simply because he/she was crying for an extended period of time and the parent could not find a way to help. When a baby cries, a huge emotional burden is bestowed upon the parent. At first, they can't stand to see and hear their baby cry. As time goes on and the crying gets louder and louder for longer durations of time, the parent becomes more and more sleep deprived. The parent has no time for him/herself, they begin missing work, they are unable to go out in public and life becomes tiresome and strenuous. As the colic gets worse, the volume and pitch of the baby's cry increases. Sometimes these babies scream so loud you just can't stand the sound.
You keep trying to soothe your baby. You read books and you keep taking the baby to the doctor and discussing the problem with friends. There must be something else wrong with my baby. You do everything you can to help your baby and stop the crying. Usually the mother's hormones are also re-adjusting after just having had the baby. The mother finally can't do it anymore and has the father take the baby. The father has often times not spent much time with the baby and therefore hasn't learned how to hold or position the baby to get any relief and quiet, so after about ten minutes of this crying and screaming, he gives the baby back to the mother. Finally the mother becomes so exhausted, she becomes angry with the father. Things are said and done that are hurtful, and in many cases undoable to where the father becomes angry as well. Now you have a situation where the mother is crying, tired and angry. You can't leave the baby with anyone else because the baby just cries all the time. Finally one of the parents may lose control, yell at the baby and shake the baby hoping that this will stop the crying but it doesn't. In the moment of all this stress, the baby has been shaken and the chances of head injury or even death skyrocket. You can see how easily and often this could happen.
I have had many parents tell me that they would never shake their baby but they can easily understand how this could happen. Once again, I do not believe any parent ever intends to harm their baby, however, when parents are fatigued, fearful, anxious and feel helpless, its hard to say how any situation would play out. Is colic a deadly disease? Yes it is! Babies die or are permanently injured every year from the effects of what colic can do to all members of the family. Colic has the ability to permanently destroy families and many lives because the tiny baby could not stop crying. Don't minimize colic, it is a very serious condition. As a side note, some causes of Shaken Baby Syndrome have been mistaken and diagnosed as SIDS. Colic can be a life and death situation.
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This information is educational and not a substitute for professional medical care. Always talk with your pediatrician about your baby’s health.
