Half of new parents have unwanted, intrusive thoughts of harming their infants. Research suggests most aren't dangerous.
Imagine you are standing near the railing of a seventh-floor balcony with your infant in your arms when a sudden thought crosses your mind: You could drop your baby over the edge. How does that make you feel? What are you likely to do?
Many new parents experience unwanted, intrusive thoughts of accidentally or intentionally harming their infants. This phenomenon affects nearly all new birthing parents (99%), with around half reporting thoughts of intentionally harming their child. These thoughts are common when parents are stressed, preoccupied with their newborn, and focused on keeping their infant safe.
Research has found that unwanted, intrusive thoughts of harming an infant are not a risk factor for actual physical aggression toward the baby. Even in cases where parents do harm their infants, this is usually associated with postpartum psychosis—a rare condition affecting about 1-2% of birthing parents. Postpartum psychosis involves more severe symptoms, including delusions and hearing voices, which are not present in unwanted, intrusive thoughts.
Healthcare professionals often misinterpret these thoughts as a sign of abuse or danger, potentially leading to unnecessary interventions like contacting child protective services. This can cause distress for parents and might even increase their risk of developing obsessive-compulsive disorder. Parents are also often unaware of unwanted, intrusive thoughts and may be too afraid to disclose them due to potential judgment or having their child taken away.
More education and understanding are needed to differentiate between these thoughts and actual threats to infant safety.
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