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Behind neglect, there is always a neglected individual. It is often the case that a negligent parent was once a neglected baby. One would subsequently expect the negligent parent to be more capable than anyone of identifying the signs of neglect. Yet the negligent parent will not identify neglect, and will even claim not to have suffered from neglect at all. On the contrary, the baby can easily recognize neglect. The baby learns quickly when its needs are not met, and when its gestures to the parent elicit no reaction at all. The child becomes pale and grey, with seepage from body orifices. It tries to make itself as small as possible as it understands all too well what is happening. Soon the infant becomes not just a neglected subject, but reacts to the situation almost as if provoking it. From a clinical perspective, we will focus on theoretical references that may allow practitioners to prevent these identifications, and help them to become part of a potential remedy.