Nicosia, Cyprus. A three-month-old infant admitted to Makarios children’s hospital last week with shaken baby syndrome was extubated on Saturday, according to Okypy press spokesman Charalambos Charilaou. Charilaou said the infant’s condition remains serious but stable.
Medical case and investigation
The baby was transferred to Makarios hospital after doctors identified injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome.
A 28-year-old man, the child’s father, was arrested in Nicosia and remains under investigation on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm, child exposure, abuse of a child under 16 and other related offences.
Commissioner urges prevention and support for new parents
Following the case, children’s rights commissioner Elena Pericleous said the incident highlighted significant gaps in support for new parents and urged the state to prioritise prevention alongside criminal accountability.
Pericleous described shaken baby syndrome as an extremely serious and dangerous practice that threatens the life and health of infants and cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.
While investigations and prosecutions are essential, she said punishment alone does not address the underlying causes. Pericleous cited anxiety, exhaustion and sleep deprivation among new parents as risk factors that can lead to loss of control, and stressed the need for early intervention.
She called for strengthened education for parents and caregivers on safe ways to calm infants and on the potentially fatal consequences of shaking.
What measures do you think should be prioritised to help new parents prevent situations that could lead to harm?