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10 years ago, a daycare provider was found guilty of killing a baby due to shaken baby syndrome. She was given a 20 yr. sentence. She was just released due to new evidence that the baby had a pre-existing condition. The evidence was so strong it was convincing enough for a judge to over rule the original sentence. She is now free. Her children were 7 and 14... now 14 & 28. She's lost 10 whole years with her children. The DCP's lost their child forever. The whole thing makes me mad/sad. I know this is a *freak* scenario and plenty of daycare providers have wonderful careers, but it kind of scares me how much liability falls onto our shoulders, and what could really be at stake.
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That is EXACTLY why I will only take infants of current families that I KNOW.
It is also why I am quick to suggest termination for those babies that cry ALOT because usually by the time a provider posts, she has already reached the end of her limit and rather than try to make things work for a $, I'd rather they termed and didn't put themselves in the position to ever appear or become that stressed out.
Yes, articles/stories like that remind me everyday why it's important to have a good honest open relationship with the families you work with. -
yes it scare me, a lot!
...but I've already quit SA, I can't stop infants too!.... besides, there are several other scenarios, ( involving kids of all ages) that scare me as well, when it comes to this business, so all I can do is continue doing the best I can and cross my fingers that nothing that drastic will ever happen to meComment
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Besides the fact that I simply am not cut out to cater to infants, and the capacity table, this is a HUGE motivating factor in my only accepting kids over 18 months. I used to watch infants, and the first few weeks I would stare at them the whole time they slept for fear of SIDS happening on my watch! I worried all the time, and what happened to that provider (because of that provider? don't know the deets) gives me nightmares.
Kudos to all of you who have the delicate nurturing and patience it requires to care for babies!Comment
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There was a provider in the next county over from me who had a baby die from SIDS maybe a year or two ago. The provider was clearly at fault because she napped the baby on a comforter... but what gets me is the parents supposedly knew about the nap issues from the very beginning and apparently were afraid for their child the whole time. The provider left the baby in a water soaked diaper from swimming and the parents picked him up like that and he had a severe rash from it. The parents sued the provider and won, but aren't pursuing the money because the provider has no way to pay it.
The parents are now pushing to pass a law requiring all Kansas providers in my state to carry liability insurance.
I know these two situations are different, but it scares me so much that parents aren't held accountable for their decisions. If a parent feels weird about something I do and feel their child is in danger then they need to be running from me as fast as they can, kwim? Not just waiting to see if something bad happens.Comment
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It terrifies me! I watched a program a while back about how easy it is to confuse common child hood accidents and shaken baby (older infants crawling and bang their heads, young toddlers trying to climb on chairs and falling off, etc) as well as pre-existing conditions, etc.Comment
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Wow! This definitely scares me.
I'm in the midst of interviewing a family with a 3-month old. If they enroll, I will not be taking anymore babies.Comment
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We have 4 babies under a year, and they do require a lot of work, but we are extra careful with them. Last year a 2yr old boy went into a room used for napping only (not supposed to go in there otherwise), was in there maybe 30 seconds, and came out with his mouth bleeding. We have no clue what he swallowed and he doesn't talk very well so he couldn't tell us. He ended up having to have surgery to fix his throat bc whatever he swallowed scratched it.
Just goes to show that all kids can get hurt and we have to keep a close eye out on all of them.Comment
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This exactly.
I had a screamer baby, and termed immediately the day I needed to leave the room to calm down.
I WILL NOT put myself, my family and my career at risk. I have a VERY HIGH liability policy in place, that covers me even IF I am at fault. I do everything I can think of to cover my butt, because accidents happen to the best of parents/providers.
I follow Tripp Halstead on facebook. He was playing at daycare and a tree branch fell from a tree and crushed his skull. He survived, but his long term prognosis isn't great. His parents knew it was an accident and did not sue his daycare, in fact, they still keep in touch and visit her/the kids.
Now I have my trees checked and trimmed each spring, just in case. AND we also don't play outside in the back near our trees when it's windy.
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I have more of a preschool setting, so parents of the 18 month month and above naturally seek me out. I'm not sure that I could handle infants and doing a preschool.
But yeah ... that scares me!Comment
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My trouble'd family that I've posted about a lot were an accident waiting to happen. Many health issues that the parents were in complete denial about.
During the initial interview, I noticed they couldn't sit still with the baby, or the baby would fuss and cry.
Baby started child care at 3 months old. Right from the get go I had problems getting the baby to eat. Could only get baby to eat 2oz. a day in a 6 hour time period. Baby would scream, arch back, spit up, try to ****, then turn head away and continue screaming. I figured Reflux! My own children had it. Mom was nursing and didn't believe there to be any problem other than her diet. For six months this went on, a healthy baby born at 8lbs, gradually slipped into the 5% for height and weight. Finally when the day care children were starting to put their hands over their ears and yell "stoooppppp" when baby cried, I told the parents something had to be done, or I would terminate. Baby got on reflux medication and was a different baby.
Unfortunately feeding issues continued with table foods, reverse tongue movements, and choking frequently, due to effects of reflux. EI was assigned for 8 months. After EI discharged, child regressed and started choking again.
Stressed the safety issue again, told them to work on strengthening simple informal learning, or we could no longer work together.
They turned around and left stating I could no longer keep their child safe.
After working and helping this family with Reflux, choking, and several other health issues that I proved to be correct about, over and over again.
They turned it all around onto me. So....yes! This really concerns me too.Comment
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sometimes i wonder if parents should be charged also. There is a big thing in ontario where a child died in a homedaycare that had 25 children (we are to only have 5) and the ministry knew, the health inspectors all knew because they went to the home multiple times. But the parents kept bringing the child back.
apparently the child died because it was fed bad food, which the health inspector knew. The problem was the provider was european and spoke russian and would cook her style food and care was cheap. And yes they had that many kids in the home, and the home looked run down to boot. But none of the neighbours ever said anything. Also they have had 5 or 7 dogs too.
now the ministry wants to have a law, its a mess. But it boils down to the fact that the people that were suppose to protect the child never did their job and now the rest of us are paying the price.
yes accidents happen, but how many times do we wonder if we can't handle all the crying how do parents do it without snapping or the over medicating. Do you ever wonder if parents bring their kids all ready broken.Comment
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Is this Bryce Mosier's case? I follow them on Facebook and often wonder if the provider was on here or if anyone knew her. Karin's Kids I guess?
While his death was labeled as SIDS by the coroner, who had no knowledge of the conditions in which he was left (face down on a blanket in heat) she was found responsible for his death in a civil suit. SIDS is a broad term and this was not SIDS. He was neglected and died of asphyxia from unsafe sleep practices.Comment
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Yes that's who I was referring to. And yes, the provider was negligent, like I said above. But who in the world continues to take their child to a daycare that they KNOW is putting them in dangerous situations?Is this Bryce Mosier's case? I follow them on Facebook and often wonder if the provider was on here or if anyone knew her. Karin's Kids I guess?
While his death was labeled as SIDS by the coroner, who had no knowledge of the conditions in which he was left (face down on a blanket in heat) she was found responsible for his death in a civil suit. SIDS is a broad term and this was not SIDS. He was neglected and died of asphyxia from unsafe sleep practices.
And no, I don't know her, but she lives 30 minutes from where I live and she's no longer a provider.Comment
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I just posted a thread related to this called I'm ready to share my story.Comment
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