We empower parents to break cycles of abuse, to transform the life-chances of whole families and move forward in positive change, starting with the baby. The baby is at the heart of everything we do.
Babies, domestic abuse and trauma
One in five children in the UK experience domestic abuse. This can have a profound impact on the rest of their lives.
Babies are particularly affected. Exposure to domestic abuse in the first 1001 days of life (from conception until age two), can physically alter a baby’s brain chemistry and affect cognitive, emotional and physical development.
Left unresolved, trauma in infancy can lead to issues in later life that affect the whole of society. These include: an increased likelihood of mental health issues, struggling at school, substance misuse, criminal behaviour and experiencing domestic abuse or being abusive later life.
The risks associated with domestic abuse can be reduced by protective factors in children’s lives, especially by secure relationships with parents or caregivers during infancy.
Parents can find it harder to give their baby warm and sensitive care if they did not have it themselves during their own childhoods.
