Pregnancy and Beyond

Certain types of activities can seriously hurt a baby. One such activity is shaking or jarring. Some parents have accidentally injured their baby during rough play activities, such as throwing the baby in the air and catching him suddenly.

This sudden jarring can tear fragile blood vessels in the head and cause internal bleeding.

Young infants are especially vulnerable to injury from shaking and jarring due to their lack of head, neck and back control. It is important to support your baby's head and neck, and to avoid activities and behaviors that might endanger him. Remember, even older babies with good head and neck control can be injured by shaking or jarring. Never shake a baby!