Don't Shake BC

03/01/2026

Soothing a crying baby can be frustrating.

Immigrant mothers reported feelings of isolation, guilt, and difficulties navigating motherhood while adjusting to a new place. Researchers at Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome BC and the BC Injury Research & Prevention Unit conducted focus groups to better understand the feelings, experiences, and challenges of parents who were new to Canada.

These focus groups provided opportunities to explore normal negative feelings, factors that can exasperate these feelings, and strategies for coping. Findings from this study will help guide the creation of resources that include diverse lived experiences to better support new parents.

12/14/2025

Babies can cry a lot. Knowing and practicing ways to calm yourself will help you through the challenging times now and in the future.

When a baby is fussy and won’t stop crying, you may need to place baby in a safe space and take a break. This is normal.

03/12/2025

Safe Sleep: Keep it simple!

• Place on their back to sleep
• Sleep on a separate surface in your room
• Be smoke, drug, and alcohol free
• No pillows, stuffies, or blankets
• Avoid overheating
• Breast or chest feed as much as possible

03/08/2023

Being a parent or caregiver to a new infant is amazing! It’s normal to feel overwhelmed, scared, and frustrated.

It’s totally OK to put your baby down in a safe place and take a few minutes to calm down. Remember—it is never ok to shake or hurt your baby!

03/08/2023

PURPLE crying describes the period of time when babies cry the most. Babies vary widely in the amount, length and timing of crying, but all babies will go through this period. Crying, especially inconsolable crying, is the most common trigger for shaking and physical abuse.

There are ways to soothe your baby that may work some of the time but not all the time. Learn more at: https://dontshake.ca/soothing-techniques-for-new-parents-caregivers/

03/07/2023

We're Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome BC, a program aimed at achieving a substantial reduction in the incidence of shaken baby syndrome in British Columbia.

We believe it's important to:
📕 Educate the public about early infant crying
💢 Normalize the frustrating feelings that can emerge as a result of inconsolable crying and the pressures of caring for a newborn
⏰ Understand that it is okay to place the baby in a safe place, walk away, and take a break
👶 Advocate that it is never okay to shake or hurt a baby

For more information and resources, please visit our website:

Shaken Baby Syndrome is the leading cause of death in abusive head trauma cases. An estimated 1,200 to 1400 children are injured or killed by shaking every year in the United States.