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The National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) and Child Care Aware do not endorse nor are we responsible for the information or materials posted on any of the resource’s websites.3 Things "Good" Parents Do That May Harm Their Child
April 12, 2004
Almost everyone has seen adults playfully tossing infants into the air and catching them. Growing knowledge of the development of infants' and young children's brains indicate, however, that this form of play may be harmful. Here are some tips from Childhelp USA.
According to Chris Monaco, Ph.D., Director of the Childhelp USA© National Child Abuse Hotline,
1-800-4-A-CHILD®, infants are especially susceptible to injuries from shaking during the first 12 months of life. (Children as old as four years of age may also be at risk of brain damage from violent shaking.)
Due to an infant's large head and weak neck muscles, any strong whiplash motion may cause blood vessels to tear, creating bleeding in the brain. Possible results may include death, brain damage, paralysis, seizures, blindness, deafness, mental retardation, motor dysfunction, or learning and developmental disabilities. There are often no external physical signs of trauma (e.g., bruises, skull fractures, swelling). The only indicator may be flu-like symptoms.
These same injuries often result from a form of child abuse called Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS), which is caused when someone violently shakes an infant—often when the baby won't stop crying.
Other things that Childhelp USA cautions parents against include:
- Playing "airplane" by holding the child by the wrist and ankle and swinging them around.
- Violently shaking a child who has stopped breathing, due to an accident or illness (such as a very high temperature). Instead of shaking the child, call 911 (or your local emergency service, if a different number) and immediately begin CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
For information about child abuse or tips to calm a crying child, call the Childhelp USA® National Child Abuse Hotline, 1-800-4-A-CHILD® (1-800-422-4453). All calls are anonymous and toll-free. In addition, state-of-the-art technology provides translators in 140 languages. Professional counselors offer crisis intervention, information, literature and referrals 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Accessibility to the hearing impaired (TDD line) is available at 1-800-2-A-CHILD (1-800-222-4453).
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