Shaken baby syndrome (SBS), also known as abusive head trauma (AHT), is the most dangerous and most common form of abuse in children under one. In an effort to spread awareness about normal infant crying, the number one trigger for the shaking and abuse of infants, the Parent Child Center of Tulsa, is joining a national public education campaign to make thousands of purple colored baby caps to give to parents and remind them about this frustrating, although normal, period in an infant’s development.
The grassroots campaign called, CLICK for Babies: Period of PURPLE Crying Caps, invites knitters and crocheters across North America to make purple colored baby caps which will be delivered to families in November and December with the Period of PURPLE Crying, an evidence based program that educates parents about normal infant crying, ways to cope with the crying and the dangers of reacting in frustration by shaking or abusing an infant.
“The program saves lives and saves families. Shaken Baby Syndrome not only hurts the child shaken but impacts the entire family,” says Jackie Gallegos, Kids on the Block Coordinator at The Parent Child Center of Tulsa. “The handmade purple caps are meant to serve as a reminder for parents about the Period of PURPLE Crying and the dangers of shaking,” says Ryan Steinbeigle, Campaign Director from the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome. “Last year, over 60,000 PURPLE colored caps were donated and distributed to thousands of families across North America in an effort to prevent infant abuse.”
The Parent Child Center of Tulsa has been invited to participate in the national CLICK for Babies campaign, now in its second year, by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome. “In Oklahoma from 2001-2010 83 infants died from Abusive Head Trauma with many more shaken and possibly suffering from lifelong disabilities. Research shows that educating new mothers and families about normal infant crying and dangers of shaking a baby reduces incidences of Shaken Baby Syndrome. In Tulsa, 4 hospitals partner with The Parent Child Center of Tulsa in educating new moms and their families to reduce Shaken Baby Syndrome.,” says Keri Lyons, R.N., Never Shake a Baby Educator at The Parent Child Center of Tulsa.
The Parent Child Center of Tulsa has set a goal of collecting 1,500 purple caps for the 2012 campaign. The Parent Child Center has partnered with Stitches of Tulsa to provide a discount on baby friendly purple yarn. Caps will be collected from May through the end of September and distributed to babies in birthing hospitals during November and December. Knitters and crocheters are invited to send their finished caps to The Parent Child Center of Tulsa main office at 1421 S Boston, Tulsa, OK 74119.
