Battered Baby Syndrome

Key points

• • Battered baby syndrome, a form of non-accidental injury, is repeated physical abuse of an infant or young child, usually by a parent or carer.
• • A key clue is injuries of different ages together, such as bruises, burns and healing fractures, showing harm on more than one occasion.
• • The explanation offered is often vague, keeps changing, or does not fit the type or severity of the injury.
• • Suggestive injuries include certain fractures such as of the ribs or the ends of the long bones, cigarette burns, and bleeding inside the skull or behind the eyes.
• • The doctor has a duty to recognise the pattern, keep careful records, and follow the legal route for protecting the child.