Violence against minors is a very serious issue and is extremely important when it comes to babies because they cannot talk about their situation, are consequently more defenseless and at greater risk than school-age children. If you suspect a child is being raped, learn to recognize these telltale signs.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Behavioral Signals
Step 1. Abused children may have a sudden fear of a specific place, a gender (male-female) or a physical characteristic (women with long hair, men with beards …)
They may cry when left in kindergarten or seem uncomfortable and elusive around people who should be caring for them and other adults. Conversely, they may be even more afraid of being abandoned or separated from a parent in the presence of those who have abused them.
Step 2. Sexually abused victims may be afraid to take off their clothes to bathe or be enormously uncomfortable during medical visits
They may also show signs of regression, such as a child who knows how to use the bathroom but starts getting dirty again; thumb sucks; has an involution of language properties.
Step 3. Newborns may experience sleep problems and more frequent nightmares
Step 4. Beware of increased interest in sexuality or an age-unsuitable knowledge of sexual behaviors
Step 5. Infants who are victims of violence may find it difficult to play normally with their peers
Method 2 of 4: Emotional Signals
Step 1. Keep an eye out for any sudden and drastic behavioral quirks
A typically outgoing and determined child may become strangely docile and passive, while a quiet child may engage in demanding and aggressive behaviors. The child may become less communicative or stop speaking at all, or show difficulty with language, such as stammering.
Step 2. Infants who are victims of violence may have post-traumatic symptoms and blame other children, adults, or animals with unusual anger and aggression
Method 3 of 4: Physical Signals
Step 1. Look for external signs of physical abuse such as bruises, sunburn, black eyes, cuts, abrasions and other injuries
It is common for babies to blanch their knees, shins, elbows and foreheads as they interface with their surroundings - but bruises are more suspicious in unusual places such as the face, head, chest, back. the arms or private parts.
Step 2. Sexually abused victims may have pain, itching, blood or bruising in or around the genitals, difficulty walking or sitting, or signs of urinary tract infection
Step 3. Newborns may show changes in appetite, a total loss of interest in food, unexplained retching and vomiting and other symptoms related to emotional stress
Method 4 of 4: Take action
Step 1. Try talking to carers (or parents if you are a worried family friend) about the baby in question
Find out about any frustrations towards the child and / or the reasons for the unusual behavior. It could be a very tense situation.
Step 2. Contact the police or relevant authorities in your area
No tangible evidence is needed. They will take care of the investigation. It's their job to determine if something is wrong, not yours. It is essential because in most cases the child cannot assert his own reasons, and can only count on the help of others.
Advice
- Because development is different in every child, it can be difficult to tell whether a developmental delay has resulted from rape or a headache or stomach without clinical explanation.
- Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is a common form of violence in which the newborn is subjected to forceful and violent shocks that can result in long-term disability and even death. Depending on the duration and intensity of the episode, the signs of SBS may include damage to the retina, lethargy, tremors, nausea, irritability, convulsions, decreased appetite, inability to lift the head and breathing difficulties.
