Recognize Signs of Abuse in a Toddler or Baby
Child abuse is a very serious and important matter, especially when dealing with babies and small toddlers because they often cannot talk about their situation and are therefore more helpless and at a greater risk than school-age children. If you suspect a child is the victim of abuse, be aware of any of the following warning signs.
Contents
Steps
Behavioral signs
- Watch for fear of certain appearances. An abused child may exhibit a sudden fear of a particular location, gender, or physical appearance (e.g. women with long brown hair, men with beards, etc.) They may cry when being dropped off at daycare or seem uncomfortable and avoidant around caregivers and other adults. Conversely, they may exhibit greater fear of being left alone or separated from a parent when in the presence of the abusive party.
- Keep an eye out for discomfort with undressing. Sexual abuse victims may be afraid of getting undressed for bathing, or abnormally uncomfortable with doctor visits. They may also show signs of regression, i.e. a potty-trained child going back to wetting his pants; thumb sucking; decrease in verbal skills.
- Look for sleep disturbances. Toddlers may have interruptions in their sleep pattern and more frequent nightmares.
- Be aware of increased interest in sexuality or an age-inappropriate knowledge of sexual behaviors.
- Take note if the child doesn't behave the same way as their peers. Abused toddlers may be unable to engage in normal, interactive play with their peers.
Emotional signs
- Look for sudden, drastic personality changes. A normally outgoing and assertive child may become unusually compliant and passive, while a generally mild child may act in a demanding and aggressive manner. The child may become less talkative or stop communicating almost completely, or display signs of a speech disorder such as stuttering.
- Watch out for aggression or anger. Abused toddlers may be experiencing trauma symptoms and lash out at other children, adults, or animals with uncharacteristic anger and aggression.
Physical signs
- Watch out for external signs of physical abuse such as bruises, burns, black eyes, cuts, abrasions, and other injuries. It's normal for children to bruise their knees, shins, elbows, and forehead as they interact with the physical environment -- but bruises are more suspect if they appear in unusual places such as the face, head, chest, back, arms, or genitalia.
- Look for injuries caused by sexual abuse. Sexual abuse victims may have pain, itching, bleeding, or bruises in or around the genitals, difficulty walking or sitting, or signs of a urinary tract infection.
- Take note if an infant begins rejecting food. Infants may display changes in appetite, a total loss of interest in food, unexplained gagging and vomiting, and other symptoms related to emotional stress.
Taking Action
- Consider talking to the caregiver, (or parents if you are a concerned family friend) about the baby or toddler in question. Find out if they have been frustrated with the child and/or why the child is acting differently. Be aware that this could be a tense situation.
- Alert police or the correct authorities in your state. You do not need to have proof. They will investigate it for themselves. It's their job to determine whether or not something happened, not yours. This is crucial since the child cannot speak for himself in most cases, and is depending on someone to help him.
Tips
- Since every child develops at a different rate, it can be difficult to determine whether a developmental delay stems from abuse or complaining of headaches or stomachaches that have no medical cause.
- Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is a common form of abuse in which the infant is subject to forceful, violent shaking that can lead to long-term disability and even mortality. Depending on the duration and intensity of the episode, signs of SBS can include retinal damage, lethargy, tremors, vomiting, irritability, seizures, decreased appetite, an inability to lift the head, and difficulty breathing.
Warnings
- When you are confronting someone about child abuse, remember that this is a tense situation, as no one wants to be accused of abuse. If at any point you are threatened, immediately alert police to the matter. This is important since the child might also be in danger after the confrontation.
Related Articles
- Tell if a Child Is Being Abused
- Prevent Heat Related Illness in Children
- Save a Child Abuse Victim's Life
- Deal with Emotional Abuse
- Survive Domestic Violence
- Care for a Neglected Dog
- Report Elder Abuse
- Report Child Sexual Abuse
- Address the Family when Elder Abuse Is Supected
- Protect Your Child from Molestation
- See Signs of Mental Illness in Children
- Know the Signs and Symptoms of Trauma
- See the Warning Signs of Child Molestation
