The Children's Trust Fund has developed prevention materials and trainings on Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) because of the Wisconsin Prevent Violence Against Children Act. The Act was signed into law in March 2006. It expands the state's educational efforts on the dangers of shaking a child. Child care providers, hospitals, and schools are all required to receive training on SBS and provide information on ways to prevent SBS.

To see the full text of the Prevent Violence Against Children Act, click here.

Child care providers

Daycare providers and their employees must be educated on SBS before receiving a license to operate or work at a daycare center that serves children younger than 5 years of age.

School-based program

Schools are required to provide instruction on SBS to students in 11th grade as well as in one of grades five through eight.

Materials available from the Children's Trust Fund

Other SBS prevention resources

Besides the Children's Trust Fund, there are several other organizations with SBS prevention materials. To learn more about SBS and how to prevent it, check out the following resources:

National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome – carries several videos and DVDs about SBS including the "Portrait of Promise" and "Elijah's Story." Other recommended materials include "The Period of Purple Crying" brochure.
Child Abuse Prevention Fund of Children's Hospital and Health System – provides fact sheets on SBS and offers a door hanger for baby's room.
Shaken Baby Association, Inc. – is an excellent resource for speakers – parents of children with SBS – and printed materials.
Blue Ribbons for Kids – has a downloadable fact sheet about SBS and a press release for National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week in April.

What is SBS?

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is a medical term used to describe the injuries that can result if a baby is violently shaken. It is also called "abusive head trauma" or "inflicted traumatic brain injury."

The younger the child, the more at risk they are because their brains and bodies haven't developed yet. Half of SBS victims are less than 6 months old. There are recorded cases of SBS victims as young as 7 days and as old as 5 years.

Sleeping problems, toileting mistakes, and disobedience all have been given as the reason for shaking an infant, but the most common reason is frustration dealing with infant crying.