Last updated by charlotte.lang@essex.gov.uk on Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Using the term ‘shaken’ to describe infants experiencing head injuries is misleading. It focuses on one action and limits professional thinking around the other potential causes of a head injury in an infant. Babies do have accidents that can result in injury. However, it is important for professionals to be able to identify when these injuries are a result of deliberate actions.

Key points from the 'Why Language Matters' article:

• The term ‘shaken baby syndrome’ is outdated and doesn’t cover the other causes of non-accidental head injury in infants and young children. There is a stigma of violence and blame around the term, both from the words themselves and the use of the term in the media.
• Using ‘non-accidental head injury’ helps professionals identify other actions that may result in non-accidental head injury and think about the wider safeguarding context around the injury.
• The context around an infant harmed or killed due to a non-accidental head injury can be complex. Working with parents on handling their baby safely and managing stressors can reduce the risks of behaviours that may result in deliberate head injury to their babies.