In Oklahoma, Bixby Police: Shaken baby cases increase | Shaken Baby Syndrome

The Bixby Police Department is reportedly seeing an increase in shaken baby cases.

Police tell FOX23, the numbers have reportedly nearly doubled this year.

Bixby Police Officer Rene Torres has reportedly responded to multiple calls involving shaken babies this year.

"We're seeing more than we might like," the officer told FOX23.

Torres would like to see none, but that's not the case. He's responded to at least two last year. It doubled this year. The last case, the infant was severely injured.

"A little bit of you gets left behind,” Torres told FOX23. “You remember the case you work. Some are more damaging than others."

Studies show Shaken Baby Syndrome is one of the leading causes of children's death in Oklahoma.

Matthew Eber, with Parent Child Center in Tulsa, says there are multiple reasons why the that abuse happens.

"It could be drugs or alcohol,” He told FOX23. “But a catalyst can always be someone who's tired. It's the middle of the night and your baby's been crying day after day after day. You just haven't slept and you just snap."

It's happened across the nation. 300 deaths involving a shaken baby were recorded this year. The center offers classes to help prevent those deaths.

Eber says it happens when you least expect it.

"It's the middle of the night someone's working three jobs,” said Eber. “The person says, "Oh, I'd never do that." Maybe they snap."

Eber and Torres want people to know there are options for help.

The Parent Child Center of Tulsa visits 1,500 families with newborns a month at local hospitals.

If you'd like to speak to them with about healthy ways to soothe your infant call
918-599-7999 or you can visit their web site for tips at 3seconds.org.

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If you have any questions or concerns about what can be done to help babies who have been shaken, or families of babies who have died, please call Christopher Keane and The Keane Law Firm toll-free for free consultation at (888) 592-5437 (KIDS), click on contact us here, or use the web form provided at http://www.keanelaw.com

In Oklahoma, New commercials help parents deal with crying baby | Shaken Baby Syndrome

Three seconds of shaking is all it takes to end or drastically alter a baby's life.

That's the message behind a new commercial campaign by the Parent Child Center in an effort to expand its Never Shake a Baby program.

"Really, you never want to shake a baby. Three seconds is the catalyst for when a lot of damage is done," said Matthew Eber, spokesman for the Parent Child Center.

One commercial portrays a young girl expressing regret for shaking her little sister to death and the other has a father expressing similar regret over shaking his daughter. Both are set in a surreal, nightmarish backdrop.

"We wanted to show something visual and regret is a common feeling," Eber said. "A lot of times when someone shakes a baby it's during a moment of stress, someone snaps. It's 4 a.m. and the baby hasn't stopped crying. We want to get it in their heads, so when they're stressed and tired they remember that something that simple can kill a baby."

The commercial campaign is in addition to the Never Shake a Baby program the Parent Child Center offers to new families in area hospitals about what to do when babies won't stop crying.

In 2011, the Never Shake a Baby hospital visitation program was presented to 2,228 birth mothers, 1,088 fathers and 706 other people, all representing 2,249 babies.

"We partnered with the Sarkey's Foundation to do a statewide public awareness campaign to put it in the back of everyone's head to never shake a baby," Eber said.

According to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, abusive head trauma, which includes shaken baby syndrome, is the leading cause of non-accidental child death and near death in Oklahoma.

"Every parent I know has experienced moments when they feel completely at a loss as to how to calm their crying baby. When you're exhausted and frustrated, that situation can escalate and you can overreact. It only takes three to five seconds to do irreparable harm by shaking a baby," said Desiree Doherty, PCCT executive director. "With the help of community partners, like the Sarkey's Foundation, we can educate more parents of newborns about the dangers of shaking a baby and how to prevent it. The key is to understand crying as normal infant behavior and calming yourself while trying a variety of safe-for-baby soothing techniques."

For more information and to view the commercials, go online to tulsaworld.com/3seconds

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If you have any questions or concerns about what can be done to help babies who have been shaken, or families of babies who have died, please call Christopher Keane and The Keane Law Firm toll-free for free consultation at (888) 592-5437 (KIDS), click on contact us here, or use the web form provided at http://www.keanelaw.com