Babies communicate through crying, and in Spring, the American Association of Pediatrics acknowledges that healthy infants may cry for 1-2 hours, even with proper care at a local daycare center. However, prolonged, loud crying poses a risk, as it can trigger frustration or anger in inexperienced and untrained caregivers at daycare centers in Spring. This increases the risk of shaken baby syndrome (SBS). The most vulnerable age range for SBS is typically between 2 and 4 months.
As Spring, Texas, continues to grow with an influx of families with young children, our daycare injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm want to shed light on this serious child safety issue. Shaken baby syndrome (SBS) is a severe form of daycare abuse wherein caregivers violently shake infants. The National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome points out that even a few seconds of forceful shaking can result in significant head injuries, particularly because infants possess weak neck muscles that are ill-equipped to bear the weight of their heads. Consequently, the baby's brain moves within the skull during the shaking, leading to bruising, swelling, and bleeding. To give more context, the harsh rattling action creates an exaggerated whiplash motion, similar to what adults experience in serious car accidents.
In this article, we are educating new parents in Spring about the symptoms of shaken baby syndrome and what to do if you suspect your baby is the victim of SBS because of negligent actions at a local daycare center.
Signs an Infant in Spring Was Shaken by a Daycare Worker
Sadly, when a caregiver shakes a baby at a daycare center in Spring, there are typically no physical indicators that the baby was harmed. Since infants possess limited nonverbal communication abilities, parents must remain vigilant by observing a child's behavior and mood for signs of this horrific form of daycare abuse. According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, some symptoms appear immediately after the shaking event and reach their peak within 4-6 hours.
Here is a list of SBS symptoms to help new parents identify red flags:
- Abnormally slow and shallow respiration
- Altered level of consciousness
- Bleeding in the eyes
- Breathing problems
- Cardiac arrest
- Change in posture where the head tilts back and the back is more arched than usual
- Coma or unresponsive
- Convulsions or seizures
- Decreased appetite
- Dilated pupils that do not respond to light
- Drowsiness and irritability
- Larger than normal head size
- Nausea and vomiting
- Swelling in the soft spot of an infant’s head
Watch this video created by our compassionate daycare injury lawyers to learn more about SBS and indicators that your infant experienced violent shaking while in the care of a Spring daycare center.
Tragically, 25% of children who are victims of shaken baby syndrome die because of their severe injuries from a shaking incident.
What to Do If You Suspect Shaken Baby Syndrome at a Daycare Center in Spring
If you suspect that your child has been a victim of shaken baby syndrome either call 911 or rush your child to the emergency room at Texas Children’s Hospital on I-45 in The Woodlands. Once you are at the ER, tell doctors that you suspect your baby was shaken at a daycare center in Spring.
Upon confirmation of a SBS case, Texas law mandates doctors to report the incident to local law enforcement, as SBS is a form of abuse and, consequently, a criminal offense. Both the daycare center and caregiver responsible for the abuse may be subject to criminal charges.
Next, contact our team of experienced and compassionate daycare injury attorneys at The Button Law Firm. (Call us at 281-857-6116, email [email protected], or fill out a contact form for a free consultation.) Your family may have the option to file a claim to hold the Spring daycare center accountable for failing to keep your baby safe. The statute of limitations gives you two years to file a claim in Texas to get justice and seek compensation, also known as damages.
Damages that a family in Spring may be compensated for include:
- Emotional distress
- Medical expenses, including a child’s ongoing or future medical treatments and therapy
- Pain and suffering
In the tragic event that a baby experiences a fatal injury because of being shaken at a daycare center in Spring, surviving parents may file a wrongful death of a child lawsuit to get justice for the immense loss. In these types of cases, parents may be eligible for compensation to cover:
- Funeral expenses
- Medical expenses incurred prior to passing away
- Loss of consortium for family members
- Loss of income
- Emotional damages such as pain and suffering
- Other unexpected costly fees
Our experienced Spring daycare injury attorneys at The Button Law Firm will listen and determine the best way to help you and your family move forward after this life-changing incident.
Helping Your Family After a Shaken Baby Incident at a Daycare Center in Spring
Our team of experienced and compassionate daycare injury attorneys at The Button Law Firm is dedicated to advocating for you and your family if your child is a victim of shaken baby syndrome because of negligent actions of a daycare center in Spring, Texas. We are ready to listen and fight for your family. Our attorneys at The Button Law Firm are recognized on the prestigious Texas Super Lawyers list, and we can help guide you after a traumatizing incident involving your child, including a finger injury. We work on contingency, meaning we don’t charge you or collect any upfront fees to get started on your case. Call us at 281-857-6116, email [email protected], or fill out a contact form for a free consultation.
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