Hi all,
My son will be 2 in December. I have gone back to school to get my teaching certificate and am currently student teaching. Up until August, my son was at home with me or an in-home baby sitter. We signed my son up for daycare, and it's the "nicest," most expensive place in the area. I thought it would be a great place, especially for the price.
Well, today I pick my son up, and he has a red mark on his forehead. "What happened?" I asked, but the girls there didn't know. Okay ... I understand you have 12 kids, and if he didn't cry ... okay ...
I get in the car, and my son's got his paci in. Mid drive, he removes it and his upper lip looks like it has a grape stuck under it -- it is that swollen! I IMMEDIATELY call the daycare.
Story goes: Yesterday he apparently busted his lip. NO ONE TOLD US. There was no incident report, no info on his daily report card. By tonight it was swollen and filled with PUSS (gross, I know) and we had to make a trip to the local urgent care clinic. His lip is infected and he is now on antibiotics.
I am so angry I don't know what to do. How do I handle this situation?
Thanks for all your advice. I talked to the daycare director, who was pretty horrified about the situation. She then was able to find someone who had been out on the playground when he had originally hit his lip. Because they were concerned and apologetic, I calmed down some, but I am done student teaching at the end of the month and he'll be out of daycare until next August. I believe it would be more tramautic to move him for three weeks then not, and since I spoke with the director, everything has been documented, so cross your fingers the next three weeks go well so I can go back to being a full time mommy!
take him out of that center and find another one. my daughters daycare reported EVERYTHING no mater how minor.
Just because it is the nicest and most expensive day care doesn't make it the best one. In fact, most day care workers are well under paid for taking care of our pressious children which is shocking when you think about the $100's we shell out each month to the day care itself! The red mark on his head I would let slide. But there is no reason they didn't notice his lip and document it on what most places call a Boo boo report that they give the parent when the child gets picked up. I would talk to the director of the place and see where he/she stands and feels about what happened and go from there. If you get a bad vibe or they just don't seem to care about anything but your money then you need to find him another day care center ASAP. But if your talk goes well then give it some time and see if it improves or happens again. At your son's age they are going to get bumped, scraped and brusied. They are running around eachother, climbing on things and throwing toys. So expect some stuff like the red mark on his head, but don't let the big stuff slide!!
I agree with Stubby you must do the listed advise and it's what I would of said...and start looking for another place. Even schools have to report injuries to you small or big. I would with a witness talk to the director's maybe they don't know that the care takers aren't doing their jobs. Your child's safety is 1st and foremost you are his voice. Best wishes to you make notes take pictures.
Hi! I worked at a day care center for 4 years, and we are suppose to report every injury to the parents and to the office, so the Director could explain what happened to you, and then of course you can go and talk to the teacher about it. Sometimes happens, yes, that you didn't see what happened, the child didn't cry, but the lip?? nobody took care of it?? cleaned?? applied ice or something???? it's very disturbing. You can check the Bright from the start website to see reports on that day care or learn what to do, if need something elese you can email me.
Good luck.
Have you talked to the director? If they don't take this seriously, then I'd definitely keep him out of there. My son goes to a church preschool and I get a report about the slightest scrape. And if noone saw it actually happen (which does happen sometimes) then at the very least they'll alert me that he's got this injury, they just didn't see it happen.
Good Morning Lona,
Money can't buy everything. And just because a daycare charges more, doesn't mean it's the best money can buy. You'd be surprised that maybe the little less daycare could be the best for you kid. Because if someone is willing to take less money it means they are doing it for the love of children not to make money. The people who charge an arm and a leg to watch you kid are probably in it for the money and not the best interest of your kid. I would yank him out right away and file a report with the bbb, or whoever handles reports for daycares.
I can understand them not making a big deal out of the red mark on his head (but they still should have let you know he hit something)but as far as the busted lip,I dont know if I could have kept my cool when I talked to someone and Id def speak to a director and say something along the lines of. If Im paying you this much money to watch my kid,and you can't even give me an accident report then I think I'll take my child and my money else where.If you cant trust their judgement then your child shouldnt be there.If you feel like it was a misunderstanding and not b/c they arent watching him properly then you should make it clear to a director what exactly you expect from them and how you expect your child to be taken care of as if it were their own.Sometimes even for adults we have to set standards and let them know we won't take anything less than great.
Hi Lona,
I would be beside myself as well. I would NOT take him back there before questions were answered, even if.. maybe never. They have an obligation to take proper care of your son. If they can not explain what happened.. & WHY THEY WERE NOT WATCHING HIM, I would be very hesitant about it. You are paying for safety & security for your child. The fact that you had to take your little son to Urgent Care is ridiculous. Do you have family that can help? Would you consider reporting the Day Care? Take care & best of luck. S.
I'd take as many pictures of your son's injuries as I could. Taking him to urgent care was an awesome move.
Take your pictures and your story to a lawyer for a 30-min free consultation. (I know a good one in Woodstock)
I would absolutely make a big deal out of this at the day care center. They told you he busted his lip but how? Did someone push him into something? Did a bigger person strike him? Was he bad and someone "punished" him? How did he go from a red mark on his forehead to a busted lip? That's not one injury - that's 2. Did he fall twice?
Why wasn't an incident report filed? Who are they protecting? Who's lying? (not doing the right and responsible thing and, by all means not telling you about it, is WRONG and someone needs to be held accountable)
I'd get to the very bottom of this story.
Hello Lona,
I am a mother of a 7 week old baby girl and I searching for a daycare for 2 days a week. I am apprehensive to put her in daycare for reasons as you have described above but unfortunately, I have to return to work. If I were you, I would make certain that I obtained documentation of the incidents such as written statements from the daycare, pictures of your child's injuries, and hospital information regarding the cause of the injuries, then I would research agencies where you can report this Daycare facilities negligence, some where like the Better Business Bureau, Clark Howard, etc. This way they can be aware of changing their practices of not reporting injuries. Maybe they will take heed and become more responsible. Also by alerting the public we can be cognizant of their practice and take our business elsewhere. Just be grateful that his injuries were not as serious as they could have been. I will say a prayer that we find adequate care for our children.
Sincereyly New Mom
