The Department of Defense has rolled out a program aimed at stopping or reducing the number of shaken baby deaths in the military community. Each year about 10 to 20 infant deaths occur across military families. According to David W. Lloyd, director for the Defense Department's Family Advocacy Program, fathers and other males are responsible for 70% of all shaken baby cases.
I vividly recall moments when my kids were little where I could, for a brief moment, understand how someone could shake their baby. Of course, I don't condone such behavior but I understood at 3:30 am while holding a screaming infant, how you reach that point. My husband and I had a code word: 'SHAKY' which meant a fresh set of arms and ears were immediately needed.
The program aims to educate parents about the risks of shaken baby syndrome and to provide parenting classes and coping skills for dealing with a crying baby. Military parents can also access a 24 hour counseling line at 1-800-342-9647
Leslye A. Arsht, deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and family policy said, "Military parents are like all parents -- they need information and
support about how to cope with the stress of living with an infant,
especially a baby that won't stop crying."
Military parents are like all parents....except they go to war and shoot people while fighting for our country.
