Some children develop cerebral palsy (CP) because they experience brain damage within the first 2 or 3 years of life. Risk factors for brain damage include:

• Serious illness. Severe jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia), meningitis, or severe lead poisoning (very rare) all can interfere with brain development and lead to CP.
• Serious brain injury. An accident or fall can injure the brain. This type of injury also can result from shaking, throwing, or slamming down a baby (shaken baby syndrome, also called intentional head injury or IHI).
• Lack of oxygen to brain tissues. Insufficient oxygen delivery to the brain can cause CP, such as the result of a brain tumor or a near-drowning incident.
• Low blood sugar. Some newborns with severe low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) may develop CP.