Bruising in Babies and Children who are Not Independently Mobile

Accidental bruising in a non-independently mobile baby is very rare

Any bruising (or a mark that might be bruising) in a baby or child of any age who is not independently mobile should raise concern and be subject to further enquiry by all professionals Unexplained bruising or any bruising in a child not independently mobile must always raise suspicion of maltreatment and should result in an immediate Referral the Safeguarding Hub and requires an urgent paediatric assessment. Please refer to Appendix 1: Flowchart for the Management of Actual or Suspected Bruising in Babies and Children who are not Independently Mobile.

It can be difficult to ascertain if bruising or skin lesions have been caused as a result of non-accidental injury (NAI) and a discussion must take place with the duty Consultant Paediatrician resulting in a clear decision about how to proceed.

Bruising is extravasation of blood in the soft tissues, producing a temporary, non-blanching discolouration of skin, however faint or small with or without other skin abrasions or marks. Colouring may vary from red/yellow/green/brown/purple and is not reliable in dating a bruise. Petechial bruising are red/purple non-blanching spots, less than two millimetres in diameter and often in clusters.

Pre-mobile baby - A baby who is not yet crawling, bottom shuffling, pulling to stand, cruising or walking independently. This includes all babies under the age of six months. Babies and younger children are at increased risk of suffering significant harm if the bruising is non-accidental.

Children with a disability – bruising in a child who is not independently mobile by reason of a disability should result in further enquiry to rule out NAI. Disabled Children may have a higher incidence of abuse whether or not they are mobile.

Please see Appendix: 1 Flow Chart for the Management of Actual or Suspected Bruising in Babies and Children who are not Independently Mobile

Prioritise the child.

• If the child or infant appears ill or injured (including head injuries) seek medical emergency treatment without delay. Arrange transportation via ambulance to the nearest appropriate hospital Emergency Department;
• A contact to the Cumberland Safeguarding Hub or Westmorland and Furness Safeguarding Hub should be made; the hub will transfer to the district social work team and advise the local Police;
• Following referral to Children’s Social care the social worker must make a referral to the Paediatric Consultant on call at their local hospital and arrange a paediatric assessment at a time appropriate to the urgency of the concerns;

• Contemporaneous, comprehensive, accurate, dated timed records should be kept. A careful record of the carers/parents description of events and explanation for the bruising should be made in the notes. For health staff this includes the CWILTED risk assessment. In all cases mapping, description and recording of the size, colour characteristics, site pattern and number of bruises should be made on a body map -this needs to be sent with referral to Cumberland Safeguarding Hub or Westmorland and Furness Safeguarding Hub to be shared with the paediatrician doing the assessment;
• If there is a delay and the bruising has disappeared a referral to the Paediatrician is still required to assess for other injuries/ maltreatment or the possibility of an underlying medical condition;
• The Paediatric assessment may include blood tests and a skeletal survey;
• Liaison between the Paediatrician and Children Service’s is essential;
• It is the responsibility of both Children’s Service and the Paediatrician to decide whether bruising is compatible with a NAI or not;
• Other children within the family need to be considered in terms of their safety.

• At all times the priority should be to ensure that any injury/condition has been medically assessed;
• If in doubt refer to the Safeguarding Hub and ensure the child (children) are safely transported to the children’s ward of the local hospital after liaison;
• Ensure that the voice of the child is heard through both non-verbal and verbal cues;
• Birth injury can occur following a normal delivery or instrumental delivery, bruising could develop following birth and there could be minor bleeding into the eye;
• New born baby; professionals should remain alert to the possibility of physical abuse even in a hospital setting;
• Birth marks may appear at birth or may appear later on. Blue-grey spots can look like bruising.

It is particularly important that accurate details of any of the above should be included on a body map and should be communicated to the infant’s general practitioner, health visitor and domiciliary midwife, and should be included in the Child’s records.

• Self-inflicted injury:- this is rare and the explanation of the injury should not be accepted without an assessment by Social Worker and paediatrician;
• Injury from other children should also be referred for assessment which would include a consideration of the parent’s or carers ability to safeguard their children.

Click here to view Appendix: 1 Flowchart for the Management of Actual or Suspected Bruising in Babies and Children who are not Independently Mobile.

Cumbria Multi-Agency Thresholds Guidance and the supporting document Cumbria Understanding The Level of Need and Practice Response which can be used alongside the Threshold Guidance

Key References

Child Protection Evidence Brusing - formerly Core Info