MORE than 18,400 babies in Scotland are at high risk of suffering abuse because they are born into families that have problems with drugs, mental health or addiction, say researchers.

The NSPCC said yesterday that 200,000 babies are at risk across the UK and that under-ones were eight times more likely to be killed than any other age group in childhood.

The figures were released as the charity revealed new projects in Scotland and south of the Border to help families where drugs and alcohol are a problem and said in some cases it would intervene even before babies were born.

The study suggests that 12,354 babies in Scotland live in a family where one of either a parent or carer is at high risk of depression or serious anxiety.

Some 950 babies north of the Border have mothers who report hazardous levels of drinking; 4752 babies live in families where their father or mother’s partner reports hazardous levels of drinking; and 1307 babies’ mothers report their partner has used force against them.

Two-thirds of official inquiries into cases where babies are killed or seriously injured involve one or more of these factors.

The charity’s campaign, called All Babies Count, calls for “early and effective” support for babies living in homes with these problems.

It said babies who suffered trauma, abuse or neglect were more likely to develop behavioural problems in childhood, antisocial behaviour in adolescence, and physical and mental health problems -- including heart disease -- in adulthood.

There has been heightened concern about how agencies care for vulnerable young children since the death of 17-month-old Baby P -- now named as Peter Connelly -- in London while on the at-risk register in August 2007.

Head of NSPCC Scotland Matt Forde said that as part of the campaign the children’s charity will run intensive projects with families in the west of Scotland.

One will focus on providing support to families where one or both parents have a serious addiction problem that is stable, such as those on methadone.

It is based on a model used in Australia and will provide practical help in how to cook and care for young children.

The second project will focus on supporting parents struggling to form attachments with their baby -- such as those suffering from mental health problems or post-natal depression.

Social workers and health professionals will work to help parents interact and focus on play.

“We want to ensure we give babies the best start in life, identify those at risk and take steps to protect them,” he said. “Research and neuroscience shows how critical the first years are both in terms of forming attachments and the lifelong impact of abuse.

“We believe child abuse is preventable and we believe the best way forward is to test out the most innovative ways of working.”

Maggie Mellon, an independent expert and chairwoman of the Scottish Child Law Centre, said: “Too many children and young people are at risk and the main culprits are poverty and inequality.

“I would welcome evaluated programmes on this but I think neither I nor the NSPCC would want parents policed by category.”

Tam Baillie, Scotland’s Children’s Commissioner, said: “I welcome the focus that NSPCC has put on this because children growing up in difficult, traumatising circumstances is a serious and ongoing concern.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We’ve made a decisive commitment to investing in the early years by contributing £50 million over the next four years towards the £270m Early Years Change Fund and by supporting relevant charities and voluntary bodies through the £6.8m Early Years Early Action Fund.

“We will, of course, continue to engage and discuss with key partners and groups such as the NSPCC.

“Overall, we aim to improve the life chances of all Scotland’s children by giving them the best start in life and a helping hand towards a happy and prosperous future.”