Almost everyone has seen adults playfully tossing infants into the air and catching them. Growing knowledge of the development of infants’ and young children’s brains indicate, however, that this form of play may be harmful.

Infants are especially susceptible to injuries from shaking during the first 12 months of life. (Children as old as four years of age may also be at risk of brain damage from violent shaking.)

Due to an infant’s large head and weak neck muscles, any strong whiplash motion may cause blood vessels to tear, creating subdural hematoma (intracranial bleeding) and brain damage. Possible results may include death, brain damage, paralysis, seizures, blindness, deafness, mental retardation, motor dysfunction, or learning and developmental disabilities. There are often no external physical signs of trauma (e.g., bruises, skull fractures, swelling). The only indicator may be flu-like symptoms.

These same injuries often result from a form of child abuse called Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS), which is caused when a caregiver violently shakes an infant—often when the baby won’t stop crying.

Other things that Childhelp USA® cautions parents against include:

• Playing “airplane” by holding the child by the wrist and ankle and swinging them around.

• Violently shaking a child who has stopped breathing, due to an accident or illness (such as a very high temperature). Instead of shaking the child, call 911 (or your local emergency service, if a different number) and immediately begin CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.