The app was discovered by the founder of the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping children with pediatric brain injuries, who was appalled. The outrage was swift and international. Patrick Donohue, the foundation's founder and a father of a child who suffered from Shaken Baby Syndrome, described his visceral reaction, stating words could not describe his disgust. Child protection groups and the media condemned Apple for approving and profiting from a game that appeared to encourage and make light of violent child abuse.
In April 2009, as Apple approached its one billionth app download, a 99-cent application titled "Baby Shaker" was approved for the iTunes App Store . Developed by Sikalosoft
Because Apple maintains a closed ecosystem, installing an .ipa file from a third-party source requires specific deployment methods: baby+shaker+ipa+download+app+exclusive
Modifying the iOS firmware grants root access, removing all code-signature checks and allowing unrestricted installation. The Risks of "Exclusive" App Downloads
Sold for $0.99 on the newly launched App Store, Baby Shaker was structurally basic but morally reprehensible. The app was discovered by the founder of
In April 2009, the Apple App Store was less than a year old. The platform was rapidly growing, and developers were experimenting with the hardware capabilities of the iPhone, particularly its built-in accelerometer (the sensor that detects movement and tilt).
The "Baby Shaker" case remains a cautionary tale about the absence of robust content moderation in the early days of mobile apps. While the technical steps for installing IPA files are well-documented, the hunt for this particular app is a journey into a disturbing corner of internet history—one that is better studied than experienced. Child protection groups and the media condemned Apple
It is now primarily documented through gameplay videos and news reports from 2009.
Developers Sikalosoft reportedly pulled the app themselves, but the damage was done. Baby Shaker became a case study in failed app store moderation.