Articles about Child Abuse/Death in Unlicensed Home Daycares.....

[cheerfuldom]

in case anyone want to read....sounds like one of the deaths mentioned was positional asphyxiation in a swing, another was unsafe bedding/sleeping arrangement

http://www.stltoday.com/news/special-reports/daycares/more-missouri-babies-die-as-laws-oversight-lag/article_086e3cb5-1d44-5512-a038-4d4c2ff70eed.html

Macie's parents have a blog and they are coming up to the one year anniversary of Macie's death

http://angelbabymacie.blogspot.com/2012/01/birthday-1-year.html

[Breezy]

How tragic. Oh those poor parents. That is my biggest fear doing childcare and taking infants.

[greenhouse]

I chose a center daycare initially because of horror stories like these. I feel sick about the shaken baby.These poor families. How many of you would trust an adult you just met to talk care of your infant 40-50 hours a week unsupervised? I realize the hypocrisy that I am a provider asking others to trust my unsupervised care, but home daycare frightens me and none of you great providers on here live near me.

[Ariana]

These stories are so sad

[mac60]

If the proper research was done it is my guess that you would find more accidents/deaths in a childs/families home, than with a daycare provider whether it is a center, licensed, or unlicensed. Providers/centers always get a bad rap when it comes to things like this. Tragic yes, but......

[kidkair]

If the proper research was done it is my guess that you would find more accidents/deaths in a childs/families home, than with a daycare provider whether it is a center, licensed, or unlicensed. Providers/centers always get a bad rap when it comes to things like this. Tragic yes, but......

Just to show how bad of a rep daycares can get. The article linked in OP sited 9 child deaths in a daycare situation. According to MO's 2010 annual report found here: http://www.childdeathreview.org/spotlightMO.htm there were 915 child deaths in the state in 2010. 16 from SIDS, 614 natural, 221 unintentional injury, 60 homicide, 24 suicide, 13 undetermined injury, 24 undetermined.

[cheerfuldom]

I agree, daycares do get a bad rap sometimes. However, I think one of the intentions in the article are that daycares should be held to some sort of standard and regulations. For example, providers should know basic safe sleep standards (such as not laying down a baby on the tummy on a couch) and then should they disregard that, held to some consequence that at least prohibits them from watching children in the future (or at least warning parents of the possible issues with a provider). I realize that parents may give false claims however, there has to be some middle ground on educating and regulating providers while still allowing for good providers to continue their businesses. That was my point in posting this article (as well as the others I have posted in the past)

Its also a good reminder to all providers to be careful on a day-to-day basis about safety. We can't ever think "oh it can't happen to me". Also making sure that we do not go over our own personal limits on children, regardless of how many the state allows us to have. It is better to have a pay cut and keep the stress level down then to continue one with too many children and run the risk of shaking a baby or something in a moment of rash action.

[Cat Herder]

I wish there was more training explaining how BURNOUT has a major role to play in the cases that DO happen and how to avoid it to begin with.

[busymommy0420]

I wish there was more training explaining how BURNOUT has a major role to play in the cases that DO happen and how to avoid it to begin with.

I agree!

I also think providers need to be honest with themselves and take a break if needed. Call someone to help you, close for a day, change your routine. I think most parents would rather have to find alternative care for a day or so then to have to deal with a horrible accident. I call me Mom, she is not a substitute but if I am in the house I have no problem sitting in the other room for an hour while she does arts and crafts with the kids.

[Ariana]

I don't blame the parents for what happened but how do some of these things go on without the parents knowing? I also find that as a care provider I'm shocked at how little some families ask me before enrolling their kids. They just blindly trust and do absolutely zero research into what to look for when choosing a good provider. I also know parents who have pulled their kids from a good provider because they charge $5 extra than the lady "down the street". Everyone has a part to play here IMO.

[Cat Herder]

I agree!

I also think providers need to be honest with themselves and take a break if needed. Call someone to help you, close for a day, change your routine. I think most parents would rather have to find alternative care for a day or so then to have to deal with a horrible accident. I call me Mom, she is not a substitute but if I am in the house I have no problem sitting in the other room for an hour while she does arts and crafts with the kids.

I don't blame the parents for what happened but how do some of these things go on without the parents knowing? I also find that as a care provider I'm shocked at how little some families ask me before enrolling their kids. They just blindly trust and do absolutely zero research into what to look for when choosing a good provider. I also know parents who have pulled their kids from a good provider because they charge $5 extra than the lady "down the street". Everyone has a part to play here IMO.

These things can not be discussed enough, IMHO. Thank you..... lovethis