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...
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... 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.
Kilrain, Maureen V. “Developmental Trauma Disorder: the Effects of Child Abuse and Neglect.” Clinical Advisor, 29 June 2017, www.clinicaladvisor.com/features/child-maltreatment-and-dtd/article/654653.
The United States defines child maltreatment as “any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker, which results in death, serious injury or emotional harm, sexual abuse, or exploitation, or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm” (McCoy & Keen, 2009, p. 63). This legal definition is better understood by the idea that a caregiver repeatedly fails to provide the most basic care necessary for a child. Although abandonment is often the first thing that comes to mind when one hears the word “neglect...
Ward, H. et al, 2012. Safeguarding babies and very young children from abuse and neglect. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. P 205.
Child neglect and abuse is an unfortunate reality for many children today. It can have significant developmental impacts on children until they are an adult. Unfortunately it is not noticed until the damage is already done. Parents are the ones that are supposed to take care of their child. The consequences of a child getting mistreated young may endure long after the neglect occurs. People having children and not ready to be parents. Scaring the child for life because they decided that is was fun to beat on their child and abuse them mentally, and some even sexually. The effects can appear in all aspects of life, rather it is psychological or behavioral. There are three main effects of neglect and abuse that can range from minor physical injuries, not getting along with others, or can become aggressive and affect them later on in life.
Neglect (the failure to provide for the child?s basic needs) can be physical, educational, or emotional. Physical neglect can include not providing adequate food, clothing, appropriate medical care, supervision, or proper weather protection (heating or coats) to the child. Educational neglect can include failure to provide appropriate schooling or special educational needs, allowing excessive truancies, to the child. Psychological neglect is the lack of any emotional support and love, never attending to the child, spousal abuse, or drug and alcohol abuse including allowing the child to participate in drug and alcohol use.
From birth, children are dependent on parents for survival and safety. Infants need this attachment in order to survive. Basic needs like shelter and food are things in that all human beings need; but for infants and children, in particular, they cannot survive independently without parents and guidance. Furthermore, as children grow, the parent-child attachment is not just physical, but it is also psychological. Adults who care for children through unconditional love and acceptance, provide positive living environments and self confidence which helps the child grow independently into an adult. Failure in this child-parent relationship in the form of long term neglect or trauma can have consequences in a child’s development physically and psychologically.
...(as discussed previously), attentiveness for the need of such an intervention is a step in the right direction. Furthermore, Wotherspoon, Laberge, and Pirie (2008) indicate that the “… rapid increase in the number of requests for a consultation from our child welfare partners…” (p. 391) demonstrates the positive benefits of their CMHC program. This program has built a relationship with Child Welfare and included opportunities for those workers to enhance their knowledge (Wotherspoon, Laberge, & Pirie, 2008) on child development, mental health and trauma implications. As highlighted in Bass’s et al. (2004) report, the policies and practices for child welfare agencies are varied between different states, hence their contribution towards alleviating and preventing mental health problems in young foster children is unbalanced and hard to measure in terms of success.
“Attachment is a deep and enduring emotional bond that connects one person to another across time and space” McLeod (2009), as a core component of social and emotional development, the necessity and role of caregivers is a heavily researched area. Theories differ on the impairment that a crippled or complete lack of attachment causes to an infant in terms of social, emotional or intellectual development. These theories range from Harlow’s unethical work with infant rhesus monkeys to Chisholm’s study of Romanian orphans, the work remains relevant however in order to be aware of how to support or setback the deleterious affects that studies appear to be congruent on occur in infants of abuse or that have been abandoned.
Child abuse and neglect are “social” issues that were addressed by the author. While children are in foster care, they may become victims of maltreatment: child neglect, child emotional, physical and sexual abuse. The terms neglect refers to when parents fail to provide a child’s basic needs and provide satisfactory level of care (Downs, Moore and McFadden, 2009). An example of a child being neglected is when parents or c...
Reactive Attachment Disorder is a common infancy/early childhood disorder. Reactive attachment disorder is located under the trauma- and stressors-related disorder section of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), Fifth Edition. It is normally diagnosed when an infant or child experience expresses a minimal attachment to a figure for nurturance, comfort, support, and protection. Although children diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder have the ability to select their attachment figure, they fail to show behavioral manifestation because they had limited access during the early developmental stage. Some disturbed behaviors include diminished or absence of positive emotions toward caregiver. In addition, children with reactive attachment disorder have a tendency to have episodes of negative emotions including a period of fear, sadness, and irritability that cannot be explained. According to the DSM-5 (2013), reactive attachment disorder impairs children’s ability to relate on a personal level with adults or peers along with many other functional impairment in several domains during early childhood. The clinical disorder is likely to manifest in a child between the ages of nine months and five years (p. 267).
Neglect affects a child’s “cognitive, and language development in addition it can lead to academic delays, problems with their peers, it can lead to mental health problems and aggression or other behavioral problems,” (futureiofchildren.org). A child in an unhealthy family system may experience a lack in nutrient, a lack of supervision which can lead to emotional, behavioral, and social delays. This is also known as “failure to thrive,” (futureofchildren.org). When a family system fails, children have trouble attaching to the caregiver this can cause emotional distress, insecurities and trust issues. (futureofchildren.org) Poor family systems, and children’s inability to development in all areas of growth is linked by poor
“Each year, Child Protective Services receives reports of child abuse and neglect involving six million children, and many go unreported” (New Directions). The article New Directions in Child Abuse and Neglect Research, explores the need for research of the long-term affects of child abuse and neglect, not only on the victims, but also on their families, future relationships, and other people out in the community. Current research has brought to life the long-term developmental and biological challenges that abuse victims deal with long after an event occurs. A problem that current researchers face when striving to learn more about the long-term affects of child abuse is a lack of funds. Money drives a lot of things in this world, and research is one of those things. The current funds for this type of research has been spread very thin over numerous organizations that deal with child abuse. In this article, New Directions in Child Abuse and Neglect Research, new ideas for spreading these funds have been talked about and plans have been devised.
What distinguishes neglect from additional forms of maltreatment is its inherent omission of behaviour rather than a commission of behaviour, as in the case of physical or sexual abuses (Sagatun & Edwards, 1995; Zuravin, 1991). Over recent years, it has been increasingly recognized that child neglect has a more severe and adverse impact on children’s development than abuse (Hildyard and Wolfe 2002; Trickett and McBride-Chang 1995).
"Neglect - Children, Functioning, Effects, Therapy, Adults, Brain, Skills, Health, Definition, Effects of Neglect, Prevention and Treatment." Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders. Web. 22 Jan. 2011. .
Failure to provide a child with basic necessary needs is known as neglect. Neglect has become the most common form of child abuse, and its effects have been recognized as the most detrimental to a child’s development. According to Zorika Petic Henderson’s article “Maltreated Children Fail in School”, Childr...