shaken baby syndrome

American  

noun

1. a usually fatal condition of abused infants brought on by violent shaking by the arms or shoulders that causes severe internal bleeding, especially around the brain and in the eyes.

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shaken baby syndrome British  

noun

1. a combination of physical injuries and conditions such as brain damage and broken bones, sometimes leading to death, caused by the vigorous shaking of an infant or young child

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shaken baby syndrome Scientific  

/ shā′kən /

1. A condition in infants in which brain injury is caused by violent shaking that causes the child's brain to rebound against the skull. This results in bruising, swelling, and bleeding of the brain, often leading to permanent, severe brain damage or death.

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Etymology

Origin of shaken baby syndrome

First recorded in 1985–1990

Example Sentences

Since his conviction, shaken baby syndrome has been discredited in the scientific community.

From Slate • Oct. 8, 2025

Roberson’s two-year-old daughter died in 2002, then thought to have resulted from shaken baby syndrome, a condition that health and legal experts have scrutinized in recent years.

From Salon • Oct. 18, 2024

But many medical experts now believe some cases previously attributed to shaken baby syndrome could be caused by short falls.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 2, 2024

The University of the West of England is investigating whether giving prospective and new parents safety tips cuts shaken baby syndrome.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2023

In April, a California man was freed after 15 years in prison after prosecutors and a judge agreed that the scientific research underlying shaken baby syndrome has changed significantly in recent years.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 21, 2021