Shaken Baby Syndrome most often occurs before what age?

• A. Less than 6 months
• B. Between 6 months and 1 year
• C. Between 1 and 2 years
• D. Prior to the age of 1

Answer: (D)

Shaken Baby Syndrome, or abusive head trauma, happens most often in infants who are younger than one year. Infants have a higher risk because their heads are large relative to their bodies, neck muscles are weak, and they can’t communicate distress effectively. When shaking occurs, the brain can move inside the skull, leading to injuries like subdural bleeding and retinal hemorrhages. Because the vast majority of cases occur before the child reaches 12 months, the option that reflects “before age one” is the best fit. The other timeframes are either too restrictive or miss a large portion of the affected age group.