This article was co-authored by Laura Marusinec, MD and by wikiHow staff writer, Ali Garbacz, B.A.. Dr. Marusinec is a board certified Pediatrician at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, where she is on the Clinical Practice Council. She received her M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin School of Medicine in 1995 and completed her residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Pediatrics in 1998. She is a member of the American Medical Writers Association and the Society for Pediatric Urgent Care.
There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
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It can be really scary if you think your child or a child you know is being abused. Recognizing common signs and symptoms can play a big part in putting a stop to any abusive situations and ensuring the child’s safety. Child abuse can be physical, emotional, and/or sexual, and the signs for each may differ. Keep reading to learn what behaviors to look out for if you suspect child abuse or neglect. If you notice any of these signs, contact the police or your local child protective services office immediately.
Things You Should Know
- Reverting to outgrown behaviors, being overly submissive or aggressive, and a lack of attachment to a caregiver are signs of emotional abuse.
- Signs of physical abuse include unexplained injuries (bruises, bites, scratches, etc.), fear of caregivers, and sudden changes in behavior.
- Children who have been sexually abused may have an inappropriate knowledge of sex, fear physical touch, and have trouble sitting or walking.
Steps
Expert Q&A
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QuestionIf you don't know who the abuser is, will the abused child still be taken away?Laura Marusinec, MDDr. Marusinec is a board certified Pediatrician at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, where she is on the Clinical Practice Council. She received her M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin School of Medicine in 1995 and completed her residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Pediatrics in 1998. She is a member of the American Medical Writers Association and the Society for Pediatric Urgent Care.
Board Certified PediatricianIf you suspect child abuse, you should report it to the police right away, even if you don't know who the abuser is. The police or a social worker will investigate, and the child will be removed from any situation that could be dangerous for them. If there isn't any evidence or concern that the parent or caregiver has abused the child, the police will most likely not take the child away from them while they continue to investigate. -
QuestionIf you have a picture of possible child abuse or injuries, who can you talk to to see if it really is purposeful child abuse?Laura Marusinec, MDDr. Marusinec is a board certified Pediatrician at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, where she is on the Clinical Practice Council. She received her M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin School of Medicine in 1995 and completed her residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Pediatrics in 1998. She is a member of the American Medical Writers Association and the Society for Pediatric Urgent Care.
Board Certified PediatricianBring your child and the photos to your child's pediatrician right away. They take a look at the pictures and you child, and can help you decide if there's a reason to suspect abuse. If so, they'll contact local social workers or child protective services to look into the possible abuse and investigate the abuser. -
QuestionWhat should you do if the child's parents are divorced and you suspect the father of sexual abuse?Laura Marusinec, MDDr. Marusinec is a board certified Pediatrician at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, where she is on the Clinical Practice Council. She received her M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin School of Medicine in 1995 and completed her residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Pediatrics in 1998. She is a member of the American Medical Writers Association and the Society for Pediatric Urgent Care.
Board Certified PediatricianThis is always a tough situation. First, make sure you're not just angry at the father and making rash accusations. If you do have concrete reasons to suspect that he may be abusing the child, talk to the child if possible. Bring them to a pediatrician and explain what you are worried about and why. The pediatrician can then contact local social workers and child protective services. They'll continue to work with you to find out if the child has been abused.
Tips
Warnings
- If you believe a child is in immediate danger of abuse, contact the police or your local child protective services office right away.Thanks
- Don't be afraid to raise concerns. The risk of being wrong is a much smaller consequence than an abused child without help.Thanks
- Abuse is not restricted to any one type of child. Any child could be abused, no matter how they look, who their family is, or where they come from.Thanks
- Children are constantly developing, so it is normal to see some variation in behavior and emotions from day to day. If you see a consistent pattern of warning behavior, however, or evidence of a potentially severe or imminent threat, take action.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://cwig-prod-prod-drupal-s3fs-us-east-1.s3.amazonaws.com/public/documents/signs.pdf
- ↑ https://cwig-prod-prod-drupal-s3fs-us-east-1.s3.amazonaws.com/public/documents/whatiscan.pdf
- ↑ https://cwig-prod-prod-drupal-s3fs-us-east-1.s3.amazonaws.com/public/documents/whatiscan.pdf
- ↑ https://kids.delaware.gov/pdfs/ists_SignsofChildAbuseMandatoryReporting.pdf
- ↑ https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/trauma-types/physical-abuse/effects
- ↑ https://kids.delaware.gov/pdfs/ists_SignsofChildAbuseMandatoryReporting.pdf
- ↑ https://kidsfiles.delaware.gov/pdfs/ists_SignsofChildAbuseMandatoryReporting.pdf
- ↑ https://kids.delaware.gov/pdfs/ists_SignsofChildAbuseMandatoryReporting.pdf
- ↑ https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ss/ap/childabusereportingguide.asp
- ↑ https://www.mass.gov/info-details/warning-signs-of-child-abuse-and-neglect
- ↑ https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ss/ap/childabusereportingguide.asp
- ↑ https://www.mass.gov/info-details/warning-signs-of-child-abuse-and-neglect
- ↑ https://kids.delaware.gov/pdfs/ists_SignsofChildAbuseMandatoryReporting.pdf
- ↑ https://cwig-prod-prod-drupal-s3fs-us-east-1.s3.amazonaws.com/public/documents/whatiscan.pdf
- ↑ https://cwig-prod-prod-drupal-s3fs-us-east-1.s3.amazonaws.com/public/documents/signs.pdf
- ↑ https://cwig-prod-prod-drupal-s3fs-us-east-1.s3.amazonaws.com/public/documents/signs.pdf
- ↑ https://cwig-prod-prod-drupal-s3fs-us-east-1.s3.amazonaws.com/public/documents/signs.pdf
- ↑ https://cwig-prod-prod-drupal-s3fs-us-east-1.s3.amazonaws.com/public/documents/signs.pdf
- ↑ https://cwig-prod-prod-drupal-s3fs-us-east-1.s3.amazonaws.com/public/documents/signs.pdf
- ↑ https://cwig-prod-prod-drupal-s3fs-us-east-1.s3.amazonaws.com/public/documents/signs.pdf
- ↑ https://cwig-prod-prod-drupal-s3fs-us-east-1.s3.amazonaws.com/public/documents/signs.pdf
- ↑ https://monocounty.ca.gov/social-services/page/identification-and-warning-signs-child-abuse-and-neglect
- ↑ https://www.rainn.org/articles/if-you-suspect-child-being-harmed
- ↑ https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/responding/reporting/how/
- ↑ https://www.rainn.org/articles/if-you-suspect-child-being-harmed
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/child-abuse.html?ref=search&WT.ac=msh-p-dtop-en-search-clk#
About This Article
While it can be hard to tell if a toddler or baby is being abused, certain behavioral and emotional signs should alert you to contact the authorities. For example, it’s common for abused children to suddenly act differently, like a child who is typically outgoing becoming withdrawn. Notice if the child also falls back on behaviors that they have outgrown, like a potty-trained child wetting the bed again or a toddler who no longer sucks their thumb reverting to that behavior. Look for eating changes as well, like a loss of appetite despite feeling fine or eating so much food that they gain weight rapidly. The child may also seem afraid to leave school or daycare or not want to go with a caregiver. This can also be a sign that the child is being abused either by that person or by someone else in the house. If you suspect a child is being abused, talk to a pediatrician right away since they can contact the authorities to start an investigation. To learn how to observe physical signs of abuse in a toddler or baby, keep reading!
Reader Success Stories
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"The behavioral and emotional signs helped me. I do not suspect anyone of hurting him, it just seemed odd to me, the physical signs. I've never had a child who had a discharge of mucus from his anus, and when he said a bee stung him, it didn't sound normal."..." more