infanticide
n. the killing of an infant or child. Although now predominantly considered both immoral and criminal, in the past infanticide was an accepted practice in some societies, often as a response to scarcity or overpopulation or as a means of eliminating offspring deemed unfit. Infants (particularly female infants) are still at risk in some cultures. Infanticide has been observed in many nonhuman animal species. It is thought to be advantageous for a new male taking over a group, which thus avoids the need to care for unrelated young; moreover, females that lose offspring will stop lactation and be able to reproduce sooner. Infanticide has also been observed in cooperative-breeding species when two females give birth at around the same time and there is competition for helpers to provide care for the young. —infanticidal
adj.