The risk of neglect to the infant or child increases with isolation, lack of parenting skills, teen parents, or a caregiver who is mentally retarded. Frequent changes in care givers is another cause of reactive attachment disorder.
Early recognition is very important for the child.
Once a parent is identified as being at high risk for neglect, parenting skills should be taught. The patient should be followed by either a social worker or doctor to make sure the child's needs are being met. First, the priority of treatment is to make sure the child is in a safe environment. Once that has been established, the next step is to alter the relationship between the caregiver and the child. This is done by teaching the caregiver parenting skills.