Daycare Negligence is on The Rise

Daycare Negligence Is on the Rise

Daycare Negligence is On the Rise  

Daycare Negligence has grown at an alarming rate over the last 2 years. When we trust Daycare workers to care for our children and they fail to maintain a reasonable level of care, we have a legal right to hold that daycare accountable.

At Barnes & Cohen Personal Injury Attorneys we have seen first-hand the tragic effects of Daycare neglect and abuse. We all realize that children scrap their knees, fall on the playground and receive minor injuries from play. As parents attempt to evaluate their child’s daycare, we ask you to carefully consider the warnings listed. Serious injuries, neglect and even death have occurred at daycares in our area.  We are concerned about the serious injures children are suffering due to Daycare Negligence. Please pass this information on to anyone you know with a child we have included links to checklists to help parents when evaluating their current daycare or looking for a daycare. What are the Warning Signs of Daycare Negligence? What Behavior Changes in Your Child may indicate Daycare neglect or abuse? What Daycare Facility and Daycare Staff issues may indicate neglect or abuse.

What are the Warning Signs of Daycare Negligence?

Physical Injuries

  • Bruises, Cuts, Fractures, Falls, Scratches, frequent minor injuries.
  • Excessive Thirst or Hunger when Your Child is Picked Up from the Daycare.
  • Diaper Rashes
  • Problems urinating, having a bowel movement or a rash in their private areas.
  • Shaken Baby Syndrome Symptoms- Tiredness, not eating, not smiling, difficulty- swallowing, Sucking, Breathing, vomiting, difficulty staying awake, baby may be very stiff or limp.

THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS CONDITON WHICH COULD LEAVE YOUR CHILD WITH BRAIN INJURIES, LOSS OF HEARING AND VISION, LEARNING DISSABILITES, BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS OF EVEN DEATH. CONTACT YOUR PEDITRICIAN OR TAKE YOUR CHILD TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM IMMEDIATELEY IF YOU SUSPECT YOUR CHILD IS A VICTIM OF SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME. IF THIS HAPPENED AT A DAYCARE CONTACT BARNES & COHEN FOR A FREE CONSULTATION AND THE COMPENSATION YOU NEED TO HELP WITH YOUR CHILD’S FUTURE HEALTHCARE NEEDS.

Tragically even with cameras present a baby in Florida suffered fractures to his legs after a daycare worker pulled the one-year-old from a swing and dropped him on the floor. Shortly after that incident, she was caught on the same camera slapping the boy. Another worker in the same room witnessed the abuse and did nothing to report it or protect the child. Fortunately, it was all caught on camera the police have charged both ladies in the abuse of this child.

What Behavior Changes in Your Child May indicate Neglect or Abuse? 

  • Bed wetting or potty-training problems.
  • Bathroom habits that your child did not exhibit before.
  • Unexplained Fear- Excessive Crying, Fear or anxiety associated with the daycare or childcare workers.
  • Personality changes- Child becomes withdrawn, shy, mood swings, aggressive behavior, clinging to parents.
  • Child pretends to be sick to avoid Daycare.
  • Frequent Nightmares
  • Sexual Behavior or Language inappropriate for age.

Warning Signs of Daycare Staff Issues that May Indicate Neglect or Abuse.

  • Daycare discourages or will not allow drop in visits.
  • Daycare insists that you call before visiting.
  • Daycare child to staff ratio is above recommended standard.
  • Daycare staff is not adequately trained.
  • Daycare has not run a background check on all workers.
  • Daycare allows children to have direct contact with relatives of daycare workers, janitors and others that have not received a background check.
  • Daycare does not give age-appropriate supervision.
  • Daycares that provide transportation are responsible for keeping accurate logs and ensuring that all policies are followed when checking children into the daycare.
  • Daycare Staff appear to be unresponsive, uncaring and unfriendly to the children in their care.
  • Daycare Staff Hygiene is questionable.

A Jacksonville, Florida daycare owner has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of a 4-month-old that died in a hot van while in his care. Childcare facilities that transport children are required to conduct a physical check of the vehicle and provide a log that records each child that is picked up. The baby was picked up and left in a car seat while the other children and the owner that was driving the van went inside the daycare. A simple check of the vehicle or a log recording that the baby had been picked up would have saved that baby’s life, but the safety checks were not followed. Just recently another safety measure has been added to the requirements an alarm is now required to be installed on all childcare transportation vehicles. Parents have a right to check transportation logs to insure their child’s daycare is following the correct procedure.

Warning Signs of Daycare Facility Issues that May Indicate a Safety or Negligence Problem.  

  • Playground equipment not being properly maintained.
  • Playground environment does not meet safety standards such as swing set hooks, sharp objects uncovered, an adequate layer of mulch or other soft material to absorb children’s falls.
  • Interior of daycare does not appear to be maintained or cleaned adequately.
  • Bathroom is not checked and cleaned throughout the day.
  • Broken toys, chairs or other equipment that needs to be replaced.

Florida parents can check Daycare reports for violations and serious offenses before enrolling their child in a daycare. You can also monitor your Child’s daycare reports at Florida Department of Children and Family Services. 

Are you searching for a Quality Daycare Program for your Child?

A Quality Checklist for Evaluating Early Learning Programs Online. 

A Daycare owner is responsible for the negligence and abuse that occurs at their facility. Daycare workers are responsible for the care of all the children in their charge. Daycare owners and daycare staff are required by law to report neglect and abuse. When they fail to maintain a reasonable level of care, they are acting negligently and can be held legally liable for their actions. If your child has suffered harm at the hands of a childcare employee, whether it be serious injuries, physical abuse, sexual abuse or child neglect, we are here to help you fight for the justice you and your children so rightly deserve. Unfortunately, the signs of daycare abuse aren’t always apparent. It is important that parents are knowledgeable about what to look out for. Monitor your child’s daycare with drop in visits, view the live camera feed if this option is available. Observe and communicate with your child.

If your child has experienced a serious injury at a daycare facility or if you suspect abuse or negligence we are here to help. Don’t ignore the warning signs contact Barnes & Cohen today for a free consultation.