Class Summary - Today I want you to learn the importance of never taking frustrations out by shaking a baby. Read through the class summary and watch the short video clip before completing the exit slip google form linked at the bottom of this lesson. This is a required lesson from the state of Wisconsin in health education. In the first months of their lives, babies cry a lot. Babies have basic needs that need to be met including: Feeding Burping Diaper Changes Clothing Changes Controlling Temperature Emotional Comfort Sometimes, even if these needs are met, a baby may continue to cry. If someone is to get frustrated and shake a baby even once, it can cause injury because the baby's head is large in proportion to its body and also the baby does not have neck muscles to stabilize its head. The ramifications of a baby that has been shaken can be learning disabilities, behavior disorders, vision problems or blindness, hearing and speech issues, seizures, cerebral palsy, serious brain injury, and permanent disability. This continuation of crying can be very frustrating to a caregiver especially under times of great stress like needing to get homework / work done, trying to talk to someone else or trying to relax, use of alcohol or other drugs, lack of sleep, or trouble dealing with anger etc. To handle frustration with a continuously crying baby shakenbaby.net says to attempt the following: 1. Make sure the baby isn't hungry, wet, or ill 2. Lay the baby on his/her back in the crib 3. Walk 10 feet or more away 4. Slowly count to 10 and take 10 deep breaths 5. Put music on at a comfortable level 6. Remove other distractions from the room 7. After 10 minutes check on the baby 8. Call for help from someone you trust
NEVER NEVER NEVER shake a baby. Come up with a plan that you can use if you become so frustrated and you need a break. If you would like to learn more about shaken baby syndrome the curriculum used can be found at www.shakenbaby.net
Objectives - Students will understand the repercussions of shaking a baby (Standard 1 Core Concepts). Students will use stress relief techniques when frustrated with a crying baby (Standard 7 Self Management)