24/7 NJ Child Abuse Reporting Hotline:1-877-NJ-ABUSE
24/7 NJ Child Abuse Reporting Hotline:1-877-NJ-ABUSE
Signs of Child Abuse
Notice changes, listen carefully, and take concerns seriously. You do not need to wait for a pattern or be certain before making a report.
A single sign does not necessarily mean that abuse has occurred, and some children may show no obvious signs. You do not need to diagnose, investigate, or prove what happened before reporting a reasonable concern.
Before you continue
Many of the changes listed below can have causes unrelated to abuse. Consider what you know about the child, whether the behavior is unusual for them, and whether there are other reasons for concern.
A note on certainty
You do not need proof to make a report
It is natural to worry about being wrong, but investigating is not your responsibility. In New Jersey, a report should be made when there is reasonable cause to believe that a child may have been abused or neglected. Share what you saw, heard, or learned with the NJ Child Abuse Hotline. Trained professionals determine what happens next.
What to notice
These signs do not prove that abuse or neglect has occurred. They are reasons to pay closer attention, listen, and consider whether a report should be made.
Unexplained injuries
Unexplained burns, bruises, fractures, or injuries in unusual patterns may be cause for concern, especially when the explanation does not seem consistent with the injury.
Changes in behavior
A child may suddenly appear unusually fearful, anxious, withdrawn, depressed, aggressive, or eager to please.
Returning to earlier behaviors
A child may return to behaviors associated with an earlier developmental stage, such as bed-wetting, thumb-sucking, fear of the dark, difficulty with language, or increased dependence on caregivers.
Fear of going home or being with someone
A child may become anxious about leaving school, going home, visiting a particular place, or being alone with a specific person.
Changes in eating
Significant or unexplained changes in appetite, eating habits, or weight may indicate that a child is experiencing stress or needs support.
Changes in sleeping
A child may experience frequent nightmares, difficulty falling asleep, disrupted sleep, or unusual tiredness.
Changes in school performance or attendance
A child may have new difficulty concentrating, a sudden decline in school performance, frequent absences, or significant changes in their school routine.
Lack of personal care or hygiene
A child may consistently appear hungry, unwashed, without appropriate clothing for the weather, or without necessary personal or medical care.
Risk-taking behaviors
Older children and teens may engage in new or escalating risk-taking behaviors, including substance use, running away, self-harm, or other actions that place their safety at risk.
Sexual knowledge or behavior that is not age-appropriate
A child may use explicit sexual language or display sexual knowledge or behavior that is inconsistent with their age or developmental stage.
Age, development, personality, relationships, and circumstances can all affect how a child responds to a difficult or traumatic experience. The absence of visible signs does not necessarily mean that everything is okay.
What matters most is taking the child’s words and your observations seriously without trying to investigate the situation yourself.
If a child tells you
Stay calm and allow the child to speak in their own words. Your role is to listen, offer reassurance, and report the concern. It is not to determine exactly what happened.
Continue learning
Child Abuse Prevention Resources
Explore practical information about body safety, online safety, boundaries, and safer environments.
Resources for Professionals
Find reporting guidance and trusted information for people who work with children.
Training & Presentations
Bring child abuse prevention and reporting education to your school, workplace, organization, or community.
If you have reasonable cause to believe that a child may be abused or neglected, call 1-877-NJ-ABUSE (1-877-652-2873). Reports can be made 24 hours a day. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
