During the current recession, cases of shaken baby syndrome are on the rise. Frustrated parents shake a young child whose neck muscles cannot adequately support the infant’s head, thereby exposing the brain to serious injury.

The Boston Globe reports that "one in four victims die, and the rest are usually left with severe neurological problems."

"Research has linked increased family stress, economic crunches in particular, to increased child abuse. Among recent shaken baby cases at Children's, several involved parents who had recently been laid off or faced other stresses such as the utilities being turned off, said Dr. Alice Newton, medical director of the hospital's Child Protection Team."

All of us would do well to become informed about the issue and to lend a helping hand when needed.

In another March 19, 2009 article, the Globe shares these tips from the Massachusetts Shaken Baby Prevention Initiative

All babies cry, some for two or more hours a day. It is normal and does not mean you are a bad parent.

Help your baby cry less by:

• Pick your baby up right away when he or she is crying
• Try feeding, changing, or rocking him or her
• Going for a walk
• Swaddling him or her.
• Distracting him or her with movement, sounds or a scenery change.

Take care of yourself:

• Get as much sleep as possible.
• Listen to music with headphones, take a shower.
• Get regular exercise and eat well.
• Make a list of people you can ask for help.

If you are frustrated or angry:

• Put the baby down on his or her back in a safe place, like the crib, and leave the room until you are calmer. Take a break from the sound of crying.
• Call the Parental Stress Line at 1-800-632-8188 or find a support group.

Talk to all your baby’s caregivers about the danger of shaking. Never leave your infant with a person who has anger management issues.

The infants who were brought to Jesus could not all have been ideal. Have you ever thought of the runny noses, need for a change of underwear, the squalling, bawling and upchucking? “And he took them in his arms and blessed them” Surely these little lives must be a primary objective as we seek to bring peace and safety to the Christian home.