MyFox
 

C_Fox's Blog

by C_Fox from Cape Cod, MA

Last Post 126 days, 18 hours Ago


Is There Something Amiss?
Jun 7, 2008 | 11:37 AM
Category: News
Report This Post

There is a news story today about a baby being killed at a daycare center.  The baby was 9-months old and the person held responsible was another child that was 7-years old.

Investigation revealed that the 7-year old had dropped the baby on a carpeted cement floor in the basement that was being used as the center's location.  She not only dropped her, but dropped her twice after taking her out of her baby carrier or seat she was in!

The caregiver said she had gone upstairs to change a diaper and heard a noise, then went down to find the baby on a couch bleeding from her ears.  She then called 911.

Officials said there would be no arrest of the 7-year old, but that she would be "evaluated" and it would be determined as to who would take custody of her.  The report also said the care center would remain open.

Now, here's my question.  Why has no responsibility been put on the person who ran this daycare center?  Why did she have to go "upstairs" to change a diaper?  Shouldn't there have been a changing station located in the same room?  Doesn['t it stand to reason that you don't leave an infant alone with other older, but still young children?

That, to me, is not good care or acting responsibly.  To my way of thinking this was negligence on the part of the daycare provider.  It never would have happened had she been where she should have been.  I'm beginning to think childcare workers/owners should be required to take some classes in child psychology.  Any adult that is not aware that an older child can quickly and easily hurt a baby has no right taking care of children....and they certainly should not be allowed to have their daycare center stay open after such an incident!

What do you think? 

 

 

19 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 19
Page 1 of 1
herbdaniels read my blog
Jun 7, 2008 | 1:24 PM

You are absolutely right lady!
From your post I just don't have a clue as to enough of the facts to really figure it out.
I'm a pretty darn good amateur detective....a true legend in my own mind (where are all those smiley things they have in the discussion section)....
If you post that news article on here (you can copy and paste), I will read it and maybe others will, and we might get a better idea.
sirB read my blog
Jun 7, 2008 | 2:43 PM

Hey C_Fox,

I think this story will unfold more in the coming days. I'll have to look into it. From what you say the caregiver was not using good judgement and she should have to pay in one way or the other. I hope the parents of the baby will push for her to be jailed, or something like that. Sadly enough, news like this doesn't surprise me anymore.
C_Fox read my blog view my photos
Jun 7, 2008 | 3:21 PM

I'm not sure you can copy a news article here, herb, but here is a link:

http://kevxml2a.verizon.net/_1_2R3DTED043R8OHT_44763049
_vzn.isp/apnws/story.htm?kcfg=apart&sin=D9155B2G1&qcat=
usnews&ran=14462&passqi=0&feed=ap&more=1

And, we aren't fortunate enough to have pictoral smileys on this forum...I think we should start a revolution! (Can you see me smiling?):) This :) is about all you will see.
fenwaydav read my blog view my photos
Jun 7, 2008 | 5:38 PM

Hi Ms. Fox, Like the others this is the first time I hear about this story. A seven year old with a small child like that is a disaster waiting to happen. By no fault of the seven year old. At that age right and wrong can sometimes be to much to ask for when left alone. They may not fully understand they are dealing with another life. For all we know, they could think they are playing with a doll. My niece who has two little girls says they like to play mommy with their new brother. To run a place like this the person should have little more common sense. Is jail truly the answer? Her stupidity will be punishment for the rest of her life.
Xantun read my blog view my photos
Jun 7, 2008 | 6:09 PM

C_Fox, there's so much about this story that isn't right...I don't know about the laws in Pennsylvania, but to have one person watching 6 kids is asking for trouble.

The authorities need to take a long hard look at how this place got licensed if having one person care for 6 children at a time is a normal thing at this center.
fenwaydav read my blog view my photos
Jun 7, 2008 | 7:28 PM

OK, I just read the story and it's one for the books. First of all it was a 20 year old left with 5 kids infant to 7 year old. Like you said she went upstairs to change a diaper and the 7 year old threw the baby on the floor twice by her own admission. They are trying to figure out if they should take the 7 year old into custody and put her in some type of crimminal faculty. That seems a bit drastic. The place appears to have been operating withing the law except for the amount of kids to this one care giver. I don't want any part of this one.
C_Fox read my blog view my photos
Jun 7, 2008 | 8:36 PM

I originally read this story on my Verizon homepage, but then it disappeared! After some searching, I was able to find out that the story comes from Pittsburgh. It was in the Journal News. The investigating officer is Lt. Daniel Herrmann, who is in the news in regard to other crimes in that city.

The report I originally read did not say there would be any investigation into the daycare center, but it did mention it at the end of the second story.

I wonder how a license is given out; is there any on-site inspection? I'm pretty sure there are guidelines that have to be followed such as ratio of adults to children, and that no child should be left unattended at any time.

I didn't read anything about charges being brought against the child or the caregiver, and I'm sure she had all good intentions, but if she was breaking the law in someway, she would have to be held accountable I would think.
fenwaydav read my blog view my photos
Jun 7, 2008 | 8:55 PM

Ms. Fox, My imagination is running away with me. I was sitting here thinking, what if it was the 20 year old who did it as in shaken baby syndrome. It wouldn't be hard to convince the 7 year old she was responsible, and even set it up that she dropped the baby to cover her tracks. Who would be so stupid to go upstairs to change a diaper? Just playing detective.
Xantun read my blog view my photos
Jun 7, 2008 | 9:19 PM

C_Fox, don't know about PA, but I'm pretty sure that to have a facility here requires inspection before a license is granted. I followed your link above, and the article mentioned something about how the facility would be staying licensed for the time being...But, if this is wrongdoing on the care giver's part, then they shouldn't be renewing that license when it comes up in October, if not yank it outright.

Dave, sadly, that's all too plausible.
jonsmom read my blog view my photos
Jun 7, 2008 | 9:50 PM

Dave,
That's the first thing I thought of. How sad is it that whenever I read a story I automatically think someone is lying. I guess it's all that's been going on the last few years with people blaming others for wrongdoings they committed. Anyway, how sad for the parents to lose an infant.
C_Fox read my blog view my photos
Jun 7, 2008 | 10:33 PM

We really don't know why the baby was dropped; the baby could have squirmed out of her arms, or she was too heavy, or she got frustrated by the baby's crying. Intentional or unintentional, we don't know. But, most 7-year olds do not have good control over their emotions and can react agressively to things that make them mad.

If this young caregiver had to go upstairs to change a diaper, then we know she did it more than once. It was just ignorance on her part, yet she bears the burden of responsibility if she claims to be a caregiver to children and then leaves them alone in a room with no adult present.

And, I doubt you could talk a child into saying something they know they'll get into trouble for...especially something as serious as this. The child would eventually say, "Ms So'n'So told me to say I did it."
C_Fox read my blog view my photos
Jun 7, 2008 | 10:41 PM

Xantun, I would think any inspection before granting a license would require one of these two things:

Either a changing station in the room or,

An assistant caregiver.

She obviously had neither...unless she put the 7-yr. old in charge while she was out of the room...which would be wrong to do.
bufadelli1 read my blog
Jun 8, 2008 | 7:48 AM

How is what that busy care-giver did any different than a busy mother going upstairs to change her kid's diaper, only to return to find her 7-year-old has killed her infant? Like she's a psychic who was somehow supposed to anticipate that?
People don't like to think that some horrific tragedies are not preventable, but it's true.
nomorehacks read my blog view my photos
Jun 8, 2008 | 8:32 AM

Here is a place where government could actually help. Standards,like No concrete floors used for a play area.
C_Fox read my blog view my photos
Jun 8, 2008 | 12:39 PM

bufadelli1, actually, when it comes to children, you can't expect them to think like an adult because they aren't adults. Even a mother at home should not be leaving an infant alone with an older child. That is why there is a law that a child has to be a certain age (I think 12 or 12) before a parent is not held responsible for them being left home alone. Any younger, and it is criminal neglect and they could actually lose custody of them. Of course, with both parents working now, its done all the time and it isn't until that young child does something wrong or gets hurt that anyone finds out about it.

If I were to change a diaper upstairs as a mom, I would make the older child come with me. How hard is that? Of course, this caregiver wasn't in a position to do that when she had at least six children in her care. It comes down to the fact she should have had a changing station downstairs....simple logic.
And, I as a client would have questioned why she didn't! Parent's need to pay attention when it comes to who and in what way someone is taking care of their child. Ask questions!
Such as:

How many adults will be on site? Do you have child-safe facilities and in what way?

How many infants? Are snacks provided and what kind are they? Do you regularly disinfect toys and furniture? Do you have a space for naptime? Do you take the children in a van to places and where? Things like this. Don't wait for a caregiver to do something that you don't agree with before you complain...or worse, have your child become ill, injured, or even killed.

The best care c
Xantun read my blog view my photos
Jun 8, 2008 | 4:07 PM

C_Fox, I'm not sure what the exact number is here, but there is a a caregiver to child ratio that's enforced when it comes to daycare centers getting licenses and keeping them.

Bufadelli1, that busy caregiver is different than a busy mother because said caregiver is being paid to take care of other peoples' children. As I've said, I'm not sure of the PA laws regarding child care facilities, but there were 6 kids total that this woman was responsible for, including the one who died. That seems like a lot for one person to be caring for, given that they aren't all from the same family and being raised the same. Sadly, I DO think this case was preventable.
sirB read my blog
Jun 9, 2008 | 6:51 AM

1 adult per 3 children, I believe.
bufadelli1 read my blog
Jun 11, 2008 | 5:22 PM

The busy caregiver and the harried parents are both in the same boat. The parents likely have no choice, if they want to exist, but to both work. The caregiver has no choice but to max out the number of kids she takes in to make ends meet, to make it worth it to do it in the first place. An economic system that separates mothers and children is the cause.
Xantun read my blog view my photos
Jun 11, 2008 | 8:36 PM

bufadeli1, the busy caregiver is, in most places, limited by law as to the number of children he/she can care for. sirB's numbers sound about right for this state, and while I'm not sure about PA, but, if they have ratios, there's no way that it's 1 adult for 6 children, ESPECIALLY if it involves infants/toddlers.

If there are ratio laws in PA, then this WAS preventable.
Page 1 of 1


Write your comment below:




C_Fox

I am a MyFoxLocal user who hasn't yet written a bio.

Member Since: 11/3/2007


 

View All Photos