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I have never been an addict, but that doesn't make my opinion invalid.
I am foster carer to a gorgeous little boy, who isn't delayed in anyway but he is an ice baby and I firsthand see the effects on him. He come to me at 7 months, and part of the placement requires fortnightly access with his nan, so I deal with her.
his nan had him for the withdrawal process which she describes as brutal. All he did was cry, he didn't like being held and it was awful. Even, at 7 months he wouldn't settle for me, it took hours of rocking and calming him.
Immediately, I noticed he randomly shock for no reason, he was very active for a baby, he didn't like to sleep and he had a very bad temper. He was just 7 months old but he would get frustrated, clench his fist and squeal.
Now, he is over 1 year old, he hit his mile stones on schedule and I think he is very clever and advance in some things but behavioural wise, something is just not right. He is very aggressive when no one is ever aggressive to him or around him, he bites, hits, pulls hair, and is just cruel, he is very very active, absolutely fearless with climbing and throwing himself around, he head butts people and objects until he cries, tantrums are very frequent and escalating with age: he throws his things, lashes out hurting anyone near him, throws himself now with no regard of hurting himself, squeals and yells, he has very bad temper...
He is just one, and showing signs of behavioural conditions. He didn't come from a home of abuse or anything like that. He was removed solely because of his parents addiction and he has been a safe, stable, routined and consistent home for more than 8 months, yet these behaviours still exist.
There is not a lot of research on ice and it's impacts on infants and toddlers beyond the basic physical affects but all involved in this little boy's case, believe his behaviours are the result of his mother's ice use in pregnancy. He also has bad eczema, frequent chest infections and a heart murmur but again the research isn't there to tie this ice usage in pregnancy.
We will never know how much this little boy's life has been affected by his mother's disregard for her unborn baby and ice addiction, but from those who live and see it, we know it is definitely not harmless...
I don't care how hard you claim ice is to give up, taking drugs whilst you are pregnant is one of the worst things a mother can do... A baby has no choice or control over what happens but that will live with your choices forever. You will never know the full extent of your drug habit on your child and you should live with that