Identifying physical abuse

Physical abuse can happen in any family, and in lots of ways, including hitting, pinching, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, scalding, drowning or suffocating a child.

Children may be more at risk if:

• their parents have problems with drugs, alcohol and mental health or
• they live in a home where domestic abuse happens

Babies and disabled children also have a higher risk of suffering physical abuse. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer makes up symptoms of illness in a child, or deliberately makes the child ill.

What should you look out for in young children?

• Bruising, open wounds or injuries
• Bruised or pinched areas, such as the ears
• Broken blood vessels in the eyes which might have been caused by shaking or trauma to the head (particularly babies)

• Bruising in or around the mouth, particularly in small babies, as this may ibe a sign of force feeding
• Bite marks - these can leave clear impressions of the teeth
• Circular burns from cigarettes
• Burns including marks from objects used to cause the burn or
• Red, blistered areas that might be caused by scalding, such as immersing a child into very hot water, like a bath

When babies, sick or disabled children are unable to move much on their own, this is referred to as 'non-mobile'. If you notice any bruising to a non-mobile baby, toddler or  child, it may be a concern because of the age or circumstances of the child.