The Littlest Victims: Protecting Babies from Abuse and Neglect

A startling statistic: Eighty percent of New Jersey children who died from abuse and neglect over a
5-year period were 3 years of age or younger. Nearly half of these babies and toddlers were known to the state’s child
protection system.
These facts tragically spotlight a tragic truth: Infants and toddlers are more likely to fall victim to abuse and neglect — and more
likely to die from that maltreatment. That’s because very young children cannot take care of themselves, defend themselves or tell on their abusers. They are unable to
recognize danger and to understand what is happening to them.