Accident

[Unregistered]

Last Wednesday one of my childcare kiddos fell from and got a concussion while under my care. I have obviously been beating myself up and hurting more than words can express since it happened. I was right there in the room, but it happened SO fast that there was not anything I could have done. I called 911 immediately and soon after her parents who gave them permission to transport her. I called the parents a little later and left a voicemail expressing my concern. I got a phone call back with the mom understandably mad and yelling at me, which I expected as a parent myself. However, they didn't keep me in the loop at all and have let their anger grow. I love that little girl, as do my kids, and my other childcare kiddo, so it really hurt to not know what was going on. They didn't stay at the hospital for long, but still wouldn't return anything from me. I have reached out to them numerous times and only finally just heard back from them yesterday. The phone call was less than pleasant. She spent a good time harassing me, calling me names, yelling, and more, which was followed by the dad (who has since blocked me) posted a status on Facebook asking for suggestions for a lawyer to sue a daycare, which was then followed by another harassing and just down right mean text message. It's been a very difficult week for me as it is.. I feel horrible for what happened and it is eating at me, not knowing or being able to see her was killing me, and now the parents reacting this way hurts so much. I am just so lost and confused on where to go from here.

[momofboys]

Last Wednesday one of my childcare kiddos fell from and got a concussion while under my care. I have obviously been beating myself up and hurting more than words can express since it happened. I was right there in the room, but it happened SO fast that there was not anything I could have done. I called 911 immediately and soon after her parents who gave them permission to transport her. I called the parents a little later and left a voicemail expressing my concern. I got a phone call back with the mom understandably mad and yelling at me, which I expected as a parent myself. However, they didn't keep me in the loop at all and have let their anger grow. I love that little girl, as do my kids, and my other childcare kiddo, so it really hurt to not know what was going on. They didn't stay at the hospital for long, but still wouldn't return anything from me. I have reached out to them numerous times and only finally just heard back from them yesterday. The phone call was less than pleasant. She spent a good time harassing me, calling me names, yelling, and more, which was followed by the dad (who has since blocked me) posted a status on Facebook asking for suggestions for a lawyer to sue a daycare, which was then followed by another harassing and just down right mean text message. It's been a very difficult week for me as it is.. I feel horrible for what happened and it is eating at me, not knowing or being able to see her was killing me, and now the parents reacting this way hurts so much. I am just so lost and confused on where to go from here.

First of all :hug::hug::hug::hug: - I think you really need to stop beating yourself up. Yes, a child got hurt but it sounds like she is going to be okay. The parents have a right to get angry BUT they have absolutely NO right to call you names, yell at you, harassing you, etc. I personally would cease all communication with them - you have reached out & they have rebuffed your efforts with nastiness. Have you contacted licensing/your insurance company? Do you have anything that parents signed stating you are not responsible for medical fees associated with accidents occuring at daycare. I don't have much advice but wanted to say I am sorry this happened.

[NeedaVaca]

Exactly how did the child get hurt, your post didn't really explain what happened. Without knowing that information it's hard to say if the parents are being fair or unfair in this situation. Are you licensed?

[Unregistered]

I have stopped communication and didn't reply to that last text and am working on all the stuff with insurance and what have you. I am not really looking for advice, so don't worry about that, I feel like all the things that need to be in place are or being worked on.... just need some comfort as it's been such a hard, hard time.

[mbullette]

Don't beat yourself up. Kids get hurt all the time. Are they going to sue the school if their child gets hurt at school????? Don't let them get to you. Maybe they just posted that on Facebook because they know you would see it. Some parents just need to grow up and accept that kids get hurt and sometimes there is nothing you can do.

Hugs to you!!!

[NeedaVaca]

Kids have accidents, get hurt, it's just a fact of life...My own DD was in those footed pj's when she was about 1 1/2, slipped on the floor and got a really bad cut on her chin. I was standing right NEXT to her and couldn't catch her fast enough. Sure, I felt horrible but there was nothing I could do, sometimes things happen and I can guarantee one of these times it will happen on their watch!

[CedarCreek]

I too would like to know exactly what happened. Not to judge you, I'm just curious and I think it would help to understand the situation better.

I'm sorry the parents are treating you this way. The Facebook post was completely out of line and I agree with the PP that likened it to suing the school if the child was hurt there. It's ridiculous.

I could see if it was something neglectful and the child was hurt as a result of that but I'm gathering that this was one of those fast happening freak accidents. Am I right?

:Hugs:

I hope everything works out for you.

[SilverSabre25]

Okay, maybe I'm just laid back but....

I'm a parent, and I cannot see EVER getting that angry at someone just because my child got hurt in their care. Well maybe not "ever", if the person had been truly negligent (truly, not just "out of the room" or "looking the other way") or abusive, then maybe. But for most normal accidents under someone's care, I cannot imagine getting that angry, calling names, saying rude and hurtful things, and for the love of sanity I can't imagine suing just because my child got hurt.

I am so sorry that they are acting like that, and I hope, dearly hope, that someday our culture returns to a place of calm and understanding about child behavior and the knowledge that, hey, kids get hurt...and then they get better. It's usually not anyone's fault and anger and legal action are not usually necessary.

[mom2many]

I too would like to know exactly what happened. Not to judge you, I'm just curious and I think it would help to understand the situation better.

I'm sorry the parents are treating you this way. The Facebook post was completely out of line and I agree with the PP that likened it to suing the school if the child was hurt there. It's ridiculous.

I could see if it was something neglectful and the child was hurt as a result of that but I'm gathering that this was one of those fast happening freak accidents. Am I right?

:Hugs:

I hope everything works out for you.

My thoughts exactly. Not knowing what exactly happened makes it hard to comprehend why the parents are acting like this. It's really sad that in this day and age, people are sue happy. Thank goodness the child is okay & I hope things get better for you soon! :hug:

[Unregistered]

We were all down in the bedroom, she climbed to the top bunk, I was behind her until she got to the top and safely inside (safety bar thing all the way around it). We keep stuffed animals up there, so she was tossing some down with my youngest son (they toss a few down and then climb back down, my youngest is 6 months younger than she is and has been going up and down by himself for about 4 months, only when we are down there, of course. This was this little girl's first time trying), my other DCB had asked me a question, I leaned down to because I couldn't hear her, and in that FAST moment she leaned herself over with the animal too far and fell over.

[CedarCreek]

Okay, I see.

With this info, I could see how the parents would be upset because she was up there in the first place. The usual age for top bunk usage I think is 5 or 6. I understand that she was only up there for a few seconds and not sleeping..but that was enough for her to get hurt.

I am not trying to be harsh, I'm just trying to explain how the parents might be seeing this.

However, I still hold firm that it was a freak accident. And that their actions since then have been a little over the top. Especially when talking about suing you.

I'm sorry that you're dealing with this. I know you feel horrible but hopefully the parents will calm down soon and you can all talk civilly.:hug:

[nannyde]

We were all down in the bedroom, she climbed to the top bunk, I was behind her until she got to the top and safely inside (safety bar thing all the way around it). We keep stuffed animals up there, so she was tossing some down with my youngest son (they toss a few down and then climb back down, my youngest is 6 months younger than she is and has been going up and down by himself for about 4 months, only when we are down there, of course. This was this little girl's first time trying), my other DCB had asked me a question, I leaned down to because I couldn't hear her, and in that FAST moment she leaned herself over with the animal too far and fell over.

You made a serious mistake allowing that kid access to that high of a fall zone. You can't compare her to your child because HE can get hurt in your home and unless it is extremely gross negligence NOTHING will happen to you. You can take the risk with your own child. You can't with other people's kids.

You should be completely responsible for the entire medical bill and any damages the parents have for this. This is really serious and you will most likely have some serious consequences.

You need to take some courses and gain some experience caring for children under direct supervision by an experienced person if you want to continue in this business. You need to learn that "in that FAST moment she leaned herself over" so you don't take any fall risks with other peoples kids.

You made two mistakes: Allowing a young child access to a fall zone without having your hands directly on the child to spot and carry their weight the entire time. The second was not understanding the risk with OTHER peoples kids. The fall zone lesson will most likely sway your mind next time... but until you GET that you can't allow OTHER people's children to get hurt you will have these things happen over and over.

There are very precious few accidents that happen when a child is in child care that can't be blamed on direct supervision at all time. Things like kids tripping over their own feet or running head first into a wall... may be deemed as "couldn't be avoided". A fall of that height will NEVER be deemed "accidents will happen" if it happens to a toddler or preschooler in a home setting.

I know you didn't make the mistake intentionally but it was a big mistake nonetheless. You must pay for the mistake and learn.

[Unregistered]

Yes, I am aware. I am not saying the parents don't have a right to be mad, but they don't have a right to verbally abuse me. The beds have been taken apart and I would absolutely pay for the medical bills. No reason to sue me for it, just mail them to me.

[Jewels]

I'm sorry, the whole situation ****s, I also can not ever imagine getting so mad at someone, My own son needed staples in his head after he was going down one of those cozy coupe cars at daycare, on her driveway which was a hill, he was not even 2, really she should have been right next to him in that car, but I never blamed her for that, I came picked him up and took him to the ER, She felt awful I knew she didn't intentionally mean for my kid to be hurt, but he was okay, nothing a few staples didn't fix. I never would have even thought about giving her the bills, my only concern was he was okay. I can't believe they are being quite so mean, sounds like a litle over reaction especially if you said you would pay for everything, and you have been sincere in your apologies, my goodness its not like you reached up and pulled her down on her head.

[Willow]

Yes, I am aware. I am not saying the parents don't have a right to be mad, but they don't have a right to verbally abuse me. The beds have been taken apart and I would absolutely pay for the medical bills. No reason to sue me for it, just mail them to me.

Did you tell them this in your email?


I personally don't think them going off the rails in this circumstance is verbal abuse. I likely would have done the same myself depending on the age of the child hurt. If she was under the age of 5 or 6 not gonna lie, I'd have had a bird......