Keeping babies safe.

• Position: TRENDS AND TRANSITIONS - Legislators promote shaken baby syndrome education - Brief Article

Everyone knows babies cry. And sometimes they cry a lot. And sometimes it gets them injured.

Every year, 1,200 to 1,400 babies and small children require medical attention for severe head injuries suffered after being violently shaken, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. As many as 33 percent die and many more suffer lifelong neurological complications. Initial hospitalization and long-term medical services cost an average $18,000 to $30,000 per child. Speech, physical and occupational therapy can amount to $300,000 per child. Medicaid pays a substantial share. Then there is the cost of incarcerating the shakers and lost productivity.

Legislators want to stop it before it occurs. Nine states--California, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia--have passed laws requiring hospitals to provide education to parents about shaken baby syndrome. While some states require hospitals to give parents written information, others mandate more extensive video education and require parents to sign commitment statements that they know about the hazards of...