Bruising in babies

My new and as yet unpublished research on policies has found that 7 local authorities have policies saying that all children under 6 months with a bruise are automatically investigated for child abuse. A Sunday Times article  about Holly having her child removed when one week old covers many aspects of this issue. 

The Victoria Derbyshire Show investigated issues around bruising in babies and policies that force investigations of all bruised babies in some local authorities: Parents facing ‘unfair child abuse claims’ over bruising

Parents are being investigated for possible child abuse because of the misinterpretation of guidelines on bruising in babies, it’s claimed.

Official guidelines from health watchdog NICE for hospital workers suggest such bruising is very uncommon.

University of Central Lancashire research suggested the guidelines mean social services are investigating parents too often.

See the video of parents impacted by these policies.

A clip from the show: “A quarter of all babies would have a bruise – it seems strange that [NICE] can carry on saying that bruising is very uncommon”

24 April 2018

More: Research on Policies on bruising in babies misinterpret research and exaggerate risk

Daily Mirror article on Ehlers Danlos and bruising

Full research report