Baby shaking spike on Gold Coast with doctors and cops warning parents to cool down

A spike in baby shaking incidents on the Gold Coast has caused doctors and police to sound the alarm and call on parents to walk away and cool down.

A SPIKE in baby shaking incidents on the Gold Coast has caused doctors and police to sound the alarm and call on parents to walk away and cool down.

Last year the Gold Coast health service saw seven cases of abusive head trauma, nearly double the previous annual rates of 3-4.

Gold Coast Health doctors are pleading with parents and carers struggling to soothe a crying baby to seek help.

Director of Paediatrics Susan Moloney with the baby model. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

Paediatrician Dr Susan Moloney said it was rare for a person to shake a baby with the intention of hurting them, but frustration could become overwhelming for sleep-deprived parents.

“Other worries and frustrations in life can make matters worse, but this should never be taken out on infants and children. Infants and even small children can be seriously injured by shaking,” Dr Moloney said.

“We spend a lot of time trying to prevent illness and other conditions but we are speaking out about this because this type of injury can be easily prevented.”

Shaken baby or abusive head trauma (AHT) is a form of non-accidental brain injury.

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Detective Superintendent Kerry Johnson

An infant’s head is big and heavy compared to the rest of their body and unless supported, the head flops around because the neck muscles are not strong enough yet to hold it still.

Force from shaking may cause tiny blood vessels inside the baby’s brain to tear and bleed, which could result in serious conditions, including brain swelling and irreversible brain damage.

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Dr Moloney said parents were devastated when they discovered their actions in frustration were the cause of injury.

“The frustrating thing is the child loses the opportunity to develop into a happy, healthy child,” she said.

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Director of Paediatrics Susan Moloney says all babies will cry. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

Dr Moloney said infants could cry up to two to three hours a day.

“Its OK for a baby to cry, they all do it,” she said.

“It is the main way babies can tell us what they need. Finding out what your baby needs is not always easy.

“If you think you are feeling overwhelmed, frustrated or extremely exhausted in caring for your child, please take a break.’’

Detective Superintendent Kerry Johnson said the priority for police was to protect children.

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“These kids are completely vulnerable, they are totally at the hands of the family that are supposed to be surrounding them and supporting them,” Supt Johnson said.

“The protection of a child is our number one aim. Anything that comes after that, whether it’s prosecution or referrals that will come along, but first, it’s the protection of children.

“There are a lot of support services out there — police do referrals — to both government and non-government agencies that are able to help and support families.

“The point is, when things do get too much, or things get too hard, reach out and ask for help, because help is there.”

He said if it was not for medical science, a number of baby shaking incidents would be homicides.

“We’ve only had a very small number of deaths of babies. While it’s only small, it is because of medical advancements that they’re able to save the lives of these babies,” he said.