So Sad, And Scary....

[sharlan]

I can totally understand panicing when she found the baby unresponsive, she knew she did wrong. I would probably panic all the way to the phone to call 911.

In no way do I justify what she did. How does any sane human being find an unresponsive child, move the child, pat it on the back, and walk away? IMHO, she compounded the problem when she LIED. (Remember I am OCD about lying.)

I never knew of positional asphyxia until my grandson was born.

[Crystal]

I agree she compounded the problem when she lied. I imagine that they are really going to try to stick it to her for that. It is an additional charge against her, and so is placing babies upstairs to sleep which is against licensing regs and fire code.

I understand that she probably had a crier that she didn't want to listen to. What I don't understand is leaving him in the carseat. We take 15 hours of health and safety training in Ca. and positional asphyxia is well covered......

I also don't undertsand how she could sit there with a dead infant lying upstairs for hours....like it hadn't even happened....WHO DOES THAT??????

[sharlan]

I agree she compounded the problem when she lied. I imagine that they are really going to try to stick it to her for that. It is an additional charge against her, and so is placing babies upstairs to sleep which is against licensing regs and fire code.

I understand that she probably had a crier that she didn't want to listen to. What I don't understand is leaving him in the carseat. We take 15 hours of health and safety training in Ca. and positional asphyxia is well covered......I also don't undertsand how she could sit there with a dead infant lying upstairs for hours....like it hadn't even happened....WHO DOES THAT??????

No it's not. Nothing was ever said in either one of the classes that I took. My daughter took both classes with me and she said the same thing. The person who did our training 1 1/2 yrs ago had no idea what she was talking about most of the time. My daughter corrected her on several issues.

[Crystal]

No it's not. Nothing was ever said in either one of the classes that I took. My daughter took both classes with me and she said the same thing. The person who did our training 1 1/2 yrs ago had no idea what she was talking about most of the time. My daughter corrected her on several issues.

It is here. One of the first things we covered was SIDS, SUIDS and risks of sleeping in equipment of any type, proper use of cribs with no bedding other than fitted sheets. I suppose it depends on the trainer....but every provider I know in our area (and I know many) recieved this training before becoming licensed.

[nannyde]

I agree she compounded the problem when she lied. I imagine that they are really going to try to stick it to her for that. It is an additional charge against her, and so is placing babies upstairs to sleep which is against licensing regs and fire code.

I understand that she probably had a crier that she didn't want to listen to. What I don't understand is leaving him in the carseat. We take 15 hours of health and safety training in Ca. and positional asphyxia is well covered......

I also don't undertsand how she could sit there with a dead infant lying upstairs for hours....like it hadn't even happened....WHO DOES THAT??????

I don't think it's covered well in Iowa. In fact... I think that safety training that is NOT thru red cross or american heart or Iowa public health dept is kind of scarce...........

I don't know that for SURE so don't quote me on it. But I've noticed over the years that safety training is harder to come by because... my theory... is that they don't want to endorse anything that could be used against them in the future.

They allow us to have 12 hours of online or book study for our registration every two years. They are picky about what companies they allow to do it because they have had too many deals where providers could go online and quickly get thru the twelve hours by using their computer savvy OR by doing it alongside of one of their friends and cheating with the answer sheet.

So they only allow programs that are not highly cheatable. I noticed the last time I looked at the few they allowed that weren't from the ones I stated above that the not "allowable" courses they crossed out were ALL safety classes.

I think everyone is afraid to do specific safety training that says what you CAN do. Saying you CAN'T do is a lot easier and less risky.

I've been working on a positional ashphxia blog and I'm half afraid to publish it. I'm fearful that someone will take my words and use it for bad instead of good.... to get OUT of care ... instead of give good care. I've done a ton of research on it and I think I could do a great article but even "I'm" afraid of publishing something like that. It's not possible to think of EVERY possible way someone can undo the good that you tell them to do.

I think that's the problem with safety classes in general. You can't dream up how someone can take one piece of your stuff and turn it into something that would actually hurt a kid.

Can you tell us where to get the training California does in their 15 hours? Is it written anywhere?

[mismatchedsocks]

What a sad story all around. I dont understand how one can not call 911 if she found infant unresponsive, regardless if she had baby upstairs. MOVE a dead baby, rub its back and walk out and carry on!?!?!? She obviously has some mental problems, and am glad that this is being pursued. Who knows what else she has let slide, and what is with the other charges?!?! sex in front of child? I dont see how she was provider of the year???

[Crystal]

I'm going to ask around and find out where other providers recieved their training. Unfortunately, the health/safety portion only has to be taken once prior to licensing (cpr/first aid is every two years) I did mine at the college, years ago.....I know they no longer offer the course. They even covered binky holders...ya know the little clippies that hold a binky fastened to the child's clothing.....they showed how that could get pulled across the child's windpipe and suffocate them......they were very thorough. I will do some research into what is being taught NOW in the classes available elsewhere.

[Cat Herder]

There are many videos and news stories of babies dying in swings/carseats on Youtube.

There are also lot's of training/psa videos about this topic available there for free.

WARNING: very sad/graphic and lots of photos/video of babies who died and the families they left behind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRe3mPSoy7o

[Crystal]

What a sad story all around. I dont understand how one can not call 911 if she found infant unresponsive, regardless if she had baby upstairs. MOVE a dead baby, rub its back and walk out and carry on!?!?!? She obviously has some mental problems, and am glad that this is being pursued. Who knows what else she has let slide, and what is with the other charges?!?! sex in front of child? I dont see how she was provider of the year???

ahhh...the whole provider of the year thing is silly to me....it is based on the best written letter by a parent of the providers nominated- not by inspections, licensing records, etc. A selection panel who has likely never met the provider reads the letters submitted, then selects the best one. I don't think that qualifies anyone to be provider of the year.

[sharlan]

Not to take this off topic, but the last class I took, a lady came to my house. I agreed to have 5 other providers come here for their training. The lady didn't even have a VHS player to play the very outdated video. I had to bring one down from upstairs. She was more interested in selling her "goodies" at the end of the meeting. A 15yo who took basic health could have done a better job. I don't recall her discussing SIDS other than "back to sleep" and I know she never said a word about SUIDS. Today is the first I've heard of that.

[Crystal]

Not to take this off topic, but the last class I took, a lady came to my house. I agreed to have 5 other providers come here for their training. The lady didn't even have a VHS player to play the very outdated video. I had to bring one down from upstairs. She was more interested in selling her "goodies" at the end of the meeting. A 15yo who took basic health could have done a better job. I don't recall her discussing SIDS other than "back to sleep" and I know she never said a word about SUIDS. Today is the first I've heard of that.

Ahhh.....I didn't even know that was doable. Sounds like she really prepares her clients for saving lives, huh?


So, there is another issue with licensing standards......in some states there are NO standards at all, so providers wouldn't have even basic training, and in states like ours, there seems to be little oversight in WHO is doing the training and WHAT is being taught??? I wonder if this is a county/by county thing??? I have a list of local trainers.....I am going to call them and ask them if they train on this topic.

[Michelle]

I have learned more about health and safety from this site than I did from the classes I took when I was first licensed.
Even though I don't have to stay for the first aid class when I renew my CPR I always stay, hoping to learn more stuff. ( I don't)

I learned about positional asfixia here, also about not having blankets and padding in the cribs.. etc.
Also about keeping the doors locked and interviewing tips.. to keep the weird creepers away

[sharlan]

Ahhh.....I didn't even know that was doable. Sounds like she really prepares her clients for saving lives, huh?


So, there is another issue with licensing standards......in some states there are NO standards at all, so providers wouldn't have even basic training, and in states like ours, there seems to be little oversight in WHO is doing the training and WHAT is being taught??? I wonder if this is a county/by county thing??? I have a list of local trainers.....I am going to call them and ask them if they train on this topic.

CA's standards is no standards.

[Country Kids]

We have no type of safety training that is required except abuse and neglect. That is only required once when we become registered.

[Crystal]

another update:

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2011/10/28/daycare-provider-charged-with-felony-in-babys-death/