The vulnerable child

Consider factors that might make a child more vulnerable.

The following have been shown to increase the risk, not only of poorer psychological outcomes but also poorer physical health:

• Being a replacement child for a still birth or peri-natal loss.
• A child born after a period of infertility.
• Any child with any form of congenital disability.
• A child who has special meaning.

  This may be positive (strongly identified with a loved grandparent) or negative strongly identified with a violent, abusive ex-partner. 

Where parental concern about illness or pre-occupation with behaviour problems seems out of keeping with objective findings, consider the possibility that the parental perception of the child is altered by their special status.