Do you mention to parents...

[SunshineMama]

This morning, dcg came in, and asked to go potty while dcm was walking out the door. When I took her (age 2), I immediately noticed two small red spots/sores on the front of where her upper pubic bone is, that looked like maybe a pimple that had been scratched. Last week, she had two similar on the top of her bottom, that dcm mentioned them to me and said it was probably her underwear rubbing her the wrong way.

This morning, dcm did not mention anything to me, and now I am wondering if I should have text her immediately and said that I noticed it. This got me further thinking, because I have seen bruises on this child occasionally as well, that ocurred from home.

I do not think there is any abuse or anything like that at all. I am looking at this more from a point of, me, not wanting to get blamed from any random bruises that dcg has that they didnt notice.

Do you text parents every time you notice a bruise or scratch on their child? If so, what do you say? Hi, I noticed ____ has a bruise on her arm, just wanted to make you aware?

I dont want the parents to think I am accusing them of anything or being bad parents, I just want to cover myself and make sure that they understand they arrived to care that way. These kids I have are young toddlers, always getting into something. None of these are suspicious injuries.

[grandmom]

In private areas, I'd be more likely to open up that communication right away. I'd call, not text though.

[daycare]

at the door each morning during drop off I access the kids for any bumps or bruises. the parents know this. Usually parents will have the kids tell me what happened (mine are mostly over 2)

If I notice it after the parents leave, I will usually take a pic of it and send it via text (if appropriate to take a pic of). I will say something like oh no did you know that Johnny has an owie on his ___________ (arm, leg, where ever it is)

this way I have it documented and the parents know about it. Even if it happens at my house, I will do just the same pic and send it to parents right away and state how they got it.

I always try to be one step ahead of the parents, this way nothing comes back on me. I know I can't alwyas be on top every time, But I do try.....

[SunshineMama]

at the door each morning during drop off I access the kids for any bumps or bruises. the parents know this. Usually parents will have the kids tell me what happened (mine are mostly over 2)

If I notice it after the parents leave, I will usually take a pic of it and send it via text (if appropriate to take a pic of). I will say something like oh no did you know that Johnny has an owie on his ___________ (arm, leg, where ever it is)

this way I have it documented and the parents know about it. Even if it happens at my house, I will do just the same pic and send it to parents right away and state how they got it.

I always try to be one step ahead of the parents, this way nothing comes back on me. I know I can't alwyas be on top every time, But I do try.....

I remember you mentioning you doing this in a recent thread. Have any of the parents ever given you a hard time about it or ever made any snarky remarks?

[daycare]

I remember you mentioning you doing this in a recent thread. Have any of the parents ever given you a hard time about it or ever made any snarky remarks?

never...... I think it is because I tell them during the interviews that I will do this. I think because of the way that it is done, I dont come at them in a way that it sounds like I am accusing anyone of anything.

I tell them that it is for everyones safety. I tell them that at any time licensing can come in and question any of the children in my care. It is important that if they have have been injured or hurt in some way, that I am aware, because I will need to give licensing an answer should they question me on how the child got a cut on their face or etc.

I also tell them that it is important that we are aware of cuts, bruises and etc so that we can watch to make sure they they heal correctly.

I once had a little boy who loved to pick at his toe nails during nap time. Well one day he is crying off and on through out most of the day. He was about 2 at the time and very shy. I finally discovered under his sock a band-aide on his toe. The toe was bright red and pussing. No one said anything to me about it.

I picture it and sent it off to parents, they say no big deal, it was a hang nail he pulled out. The next day he comes to DC. right after lunch he throws up and I feel his head, fever. He screaming at the top of his lungs my toe my toe my toe.

Long story short, he had gotten a massive infection in his toe and was hospitalized. It was super scary. The parents were mad at me in the beginning that I sent him home and said I would not let him come back to DC until I had a doc note that everything was ok with his toe.......

I felt good about everything that I did for the situation. Several months down the road, I termed this family and of course the parents tried to make a big show with licensing. Well my text pictures and documenting everything from all of the incidents kept me covered. I was told that I was doing a good job by my analyst and she told me that it was a very smart idea I had to take pics of the injuries that were both discovered or that happened at my house and send them to the parents right away.

If there is one thing that I have learned, it is that you can never cover your own butt too much in this business....

[SunshineMama]

never...... I think it is because I tell them during the interviews that I will do this. I think because of the way that it is done, I dont come at them in a way that it sounds like I am accusing anyone of anything.

I tell them that it is for everyones safety. I tell them that at any time licensing can come in and question any of the children in my care. It is important that if they have have been injured or hurt in some way, that I am aware, because I will need to give licensing an answer should they question me on how the child got a cut on their face or etc.

I also tell them that it is important that we are aware of cuts, bruises and etc so that we can watch to make sure they they heal correctly.

I once had a little boy who loved to pick at his toe nails during nap time. Well one day he is crying off and on through out most of the day. He was about 2 at the time and very shy. I finally discovered under his sock a band-aide on his toe. The toe was bright red and pussing. No one said anything to me about it.

I picture it and sent it off to parents, they say no big deal, it was a hang nail he pulled out. The next day he comes to DC. right after lunch he throws up and I feel his head, fever. He screaming at the top of his lungs my toe my toe my toe.

Long story short, he had gotten a massive infection in his toe and was hospitalized. It was super scary. The parents were mad at me in the beginning that I sent him home and said I would not let him come back to DC until I had a doc note that everything was ok with his toe.......

I felt good about everything that I did for the situation. Several months down the road, I termed this family and of course the parents tried to make a big show with licensing. Well my text pictures and documenting everything from all of the incidents kept me covered. I was told that I was doing a good job by my analyst and she told me that it was a very smart idea I had to take pics of the injuries that were both discovered or that happened at my house and send them to the parents right away.

If there is one thing that I have learned, it is that you can never cover your own butt too much in this business....

Thank you for sharing that story. I think I will incorporate the pictures as a part of my policy revision 2013.