Infant and Toddler Neglect

1801 Words4 Pages

Infant and Toddler Neglect

Out of all different forms of abuse, infants and toddlers are more likely to suffer from neglect (Connell and Scannapieco, 2006). Severe consequences to children are the after effect of them suffering from neglect (Connell and Scannapieco, 2006). 71 % of children that are reported endure neglect based on CPS findings (Nicklas and Mackenzie, 2012) and one fourth of the children abused are less than 4 years old (Malik, Lederman, Crowson, and Osofsky, 2002). Neglect, a passive form of abuse, can cause detrimental effects physically, emotionally, mentally, behaviorally, and relationally to both infants and toddlers.

Physical

Failure to thrive is a negative physical outcome cause by neglect. Failure to thrive is when neglected children compared to children who gain the proper weight at acceptable standards have extended interruption of their norm (Block and Krebs, 2005). To support the claim that neglect caused FIT, hospitals noticed increased intake of nourishment and exceeded the normal amount of weight increase (Block and Krebs, 2005). A critical element of FIT is if there are any bonding concerns between caregiver and infant (Block and Krebs, 2005). Caregivers and parents who are inattentive to an infant or toddler nourishment will cause distress about child abuse (Block and Krebs, 2005). Another negative physical outcome of neglect is not vaccinating infants and toddlers. If infant and toddlers are not up-to-date with immunizations it is considered neglect in some states (Vasquez and Pitts, 2006). At an early age infants and toddlers are susceptible to acquire numerous immunizations avoidable illnesses if immunizations are hindered, which might lead to death or diseases because of contagious ailme...

... middle of paper ...

... Halsey, N. (2009). Vaccine refusal, mandatory immunization, and the risks of vaccine-preventable diseases. The New England Journal of Medicine, 360(19), 1981-1988.

Strathearn, L. , Gray, P. , & Wood, D. (2001). Childhood neglect and cognitive development in extremely low birth weight infants: A prospective study. Pediatrics, 108(1), 142-151.

Vasquez, E. , & Pitts, K. (2006). Red flags during home visitation: Infants and toddlers. Journal of Community Health Nursing, 23(2), 123-131.

Yanos, P. , Czaja, S. , & Widom, C. (2010). A prospective examination of service use by abused and neglected children followed up into adulthood. Psychiatric Services (Washington, D.C.), 61(8), 796-802.

Zeanah, C. , Scheeringa, M. , Boris, N. , Heller, S. , Smyke, A. , et al. (2004). Reactive attachment disorder in maltreated toddlers. Child Abuse & Neglect, 28(8), 877-888.

Open Document