Switching daycares... rant.

JennJenn613

We started DS1 in daycare at 20 months. I chose this daycare because most of the other facilities I toured had pretty crappy infant/toddler rooms, but this one had a huge room with plenty of toys and really nice people.

However, gradually things changed. The infant room was split up so that the youngest infants were in a tiny section off to the side. Some nice teachers left and were replaced by women who never smile. They're constantly pushing ratios; sometimes at dropoff there'll be 15 kids and 1 teacher in the 2- & 3-year-old room. There are supposed to be "only" 10 kids in that room, and even that seems way too crazy for a young 2-year-old. They only recently combined the 2's and 3's; I thought being with the 3's would help him pick up some stuff but all he's picked up is bad behaviors. It also makes naptime very difficult (he doesn't like to miss a thing) and he rarely naps for an hour there, if at all.

A couple of months ago my mom went to pick him up and he was just laying on the floor crying. Very unlike him. When he got home I realized he wasn't moving his right arm. Took him to the clinic and it ended up being nursemaid's elbow. I still don't know what to think about that... I hope he got it from another kid or from falling down, and not from a teacher.

It seemed like every other day DH or my mom would tell me about some other negative thing they saw, like one time my mom came to pick up DS1 and the kids were jumping off cots stacked to counter height, while the teacher was busy changing a diaper. A couple weeks ago I finally got sick of the mayhem of the 2&3 room and decided to find a new daycare. When I told my mom she finally told me that the director gives DS1 (and other kids) a sucker EVERY DAY when he leaves. A two-year-old! Whose teeth he will barely let us brush!

I put in our two-week notice on Monday, and on Thursday he came home limping. We thought maybe he sprained it a little, but it was worse today so i took him to the clinic. It's fractured, the doctor said it's the type of fracture you get from jumping off things. 

 

I don't really have a point in telling all this. I just needed to rant. 

lazysusan

the fracture and nursemaid's elbow made me really mad.  They need to fix what they are doing wrong or more kids could get hurt.  

mben1119

Estwd2:

I definitely would not send my kid back at all and I would report them. That place sounds like a mess that could use a surprise state inspection.

This. I'm pretty laid back with Ds and bruises and stuff, but your LOs injuries would infuriate me.

financialdiva

mabenner1:

Estwd2:

I definitely would not send my kid back at all and I would report them. That place sounds like a mess that could use a surprise state inspection.

This. I'm pretty laid back with Ds and bruises and stuff, but your LOs injuries would infuriate me.

I agree. And I wouldn't even finish your two weeks notice if you could get other care in time.

Hugs. I am so sorry you went through this. We had issues with our first daycare and while I felt conflicted about switching DS, I am 110% we made the right decision and couldn't be happier. GL. 

PnkDingo

As someone that still has recurring nursemaid's elbow issues as an adult: quite literally anything can cause it.The last time it happened to me was 2 days ago going to pull my purse off the floor of the backseat of my car.

Working daycare I had two separate children come through my classroom (I've worked infants to 2's in centers) over the course of 4 years with recurring elbow issues, one was "heavy" (45lbs at 2 heavy) and just bracing his arms the wrong way to push himself off the ground would cause his elbows to dislocate, the other was a little girl who would just throw something or tug something the wrong way and her elbow would slip out of place.

I'm definitely not saying by any means that it's a "typical" injury or that daycare shouldn't be held accountable, because it is their job to supervise what is going on at all times, but they should have some idea as to what may have caused it, and the complete non-use of the arm in a toddler is pretty telling that something happened.  I can't imagine, even in a busy classroom, not knowing something was wrong.

The fracture is horrible, and that, again, it's something they were negligent in reporting is disgusting. When it comes to that, I'm with the PP, I wouldn't even finish out the 2 weeks, and I would absolutely be up in arms about PAYING FOR those past 2 weeks when the safety of my child in that center wasn't guaranteed and would also likely notify the state. They may only take your name and jot down a few notes and schedule a wellness check in the future, but you never know who else has called and told them similar things that have happened, and if it occurs often the state expedites the wellness check. (Believe me, I called on my own center more than once for minor infractions, and one very major infraction over the course of my 6 years there. Sometimes a state check is the best sort of reality check to an owner/director that they need more vigilant/caring/qualified staff members when just normal parent/staff voices aren't being heard!)

emberlee3

I am so sorry that you and your child experienced this.  I would take my child out immediately and report the center to the state. 

ASmallWonder

mabenner1:

Estwd2:

I definitely would not send my kid back at all and I would report them. That place sounds like a mess that could use a surprise state inspection.

This. I'm pretty laid back with Ds and bruises and stuff, but your LOs injuries would infuriate me.

Ditto all this. I'm ok with bumps, bruises and scrapes and I even understand accidents but that place sounds like accidents are just waiting to happen. 

drpayne

I would be pissed. I'd consider asking them to help with the expenses. DS comes home with bruises all of the time and I'm pretty laid back about it but if I found out they were LETTING him jump off of things it would be a different story. And the suckers would bother me. Giving kids candy on a daily basis doesn't seem like a normal thing for a day care to do. My kid has never even had candy. Good luck.

bearkatjen

Wow! I would be furious too. Accidents happen, I totally get that. DS sprained his ankle at recess a couple weeks ago jumping from the top of the slide, which he was told not to do. However, daycare called DH immediately when it happened and they could explain how it happened. The fact that you are the one discovering these injuries blows my mind!

Angela814

Please report them. Even if the injuries weren't directly caused by the daycare, you should have received an injury report. I used to get a report if DD bumped her head. It's part of the requirements of a licensed daycare facility.

monica92603

Angela814:

Please report them. Even if the injuries weren't directly caused by the daycare, you should have received an injury report. I used to get a report if DD bumped her head. It's part of the requirements of a licensed daycare facility.

Our daycare center is required to give us an accident report signed off by the director and then signed by me.  They keep a copy and I get a copy.  Sometimes it's for the silliest things and I'm like "really?"  If I were the one to discover the injury and it was a broken bone and the daycare didn't report it to me?  Oh there would be hell to pay.  I'm glad you're getting your child out of there.  I would definitely try to find alternate care in the meantime, even if it meant starting at the new daycare sooner.  I'm sure someone from the daycare will ask you "oh what happened" and I would have a nasty reply of " I don't know.  YOU tell ME?"  I also agree w/ others saying to report them.

MagPie 1986

drpayne:

I would be pissed. I'd consider asking them to help with the expenses. DS comes home with bruises all of the time and I'm pretty laid back about it but if I found out they were LETTING him jump off of things it would be a different story. And the suckers would bother me. Giving kids candy on a daily basis doesn't seem like a normal thing for a day care to do. My kid has never even had candy. Good luck.

THIS. I would, too, ask them to pay for the fractured medical expenses.  And as for nursemaids elbow in children, the most common mechanism is when adults pull children up by their hand or forearm ( and they don't do it gently) and it dislocates the elbow. they would hear about that from me, too.  

Report them...for the sake of all the children in the room. 

BabyNewbury2012

omg that is horrible!!!! You did the right thing by taking him out of there! Daycares like this should not exist!

JennJenn613

The reason I haven't reported them is because nursemaid's elbow CAN be caused by lots of different things, and accidents DO happen with toddlers trying to jump off everything. I got over the elbow, but the fact that he was obviously limping when my mom picked him up really makes me mad. She saw him and cried out "You're limping! Why are you limping?!" and nobody said anything.

I almost sent them to the new DC today but I was worried about him having to adjust to wearing his "boot" at the same time as he was adjusting to a new school. He's not super-shy but I know he is going to have a hard time with all the new people, and missing his little friends. It breaks my heart.

So, instead we sent him back to his old DC today and he tripped coming in from outside and hit his head on a door. Now he has a bump and grandma is on Concussion Watch. That f---ing boot!!! He's going to crack his head open while we try to heal his toe! 

The main thing I would report them for is being over ratio all. the. time. This is why my kid is getting injured, there are not enough eyes when you are watching 10+ rambunctious kids.

lrn327

Oh wow!  I hope you'll send him to the new place tomorrow.  Your LO can't afford any more time at the old one.  I'd definitely report for the ratio.  You can mention the injuries and allow them to investigate that part if they choose.

Angela814

JennJenn613:

The reason I haven't reported them is because nursemaid's elbow CAN be caused by lots of different things, and accidents DO happen with toddlers trying to jump off everything. I got over the elbow, but the fact that he was obviously limping when my mom picked him up really makes me mad. She saw him and cried out "You're limping! Why are you limping?!" and nobody said anything.

I almost sent them to the new DC today but I was worried about him having to adjust to wearing his "boot" at the same time as he was adjusting to a new school. He's not super-shy but I know he is going to have a hard time with all the new people, and missing his little friends. It breaks my heart.

So, instead we sent him back to his old DC today and he tripped coming in from outside and hit his head on a door. Now he has a bump and grandma is on Concussion Watch. That f---ing boot!!! He's going to crack his head open while we try to heal his toe! 

The main thing I would report them for is being over ratio all. the. time. This is why my kid is getting injured, there are not enough eyes when you are watching 10+ rambunctious kids.

Like I said, I would report them simply because you didn't get an injury report for an injury that obviously happened while under their care. It doesn't matter if it's an accident or not. That form is mandatory.

JennJenn613

Angela814:

JennJenn613:

The reason I haven't reported them is because nursemaid's elbow CAN be caused by lots of different things, and accidents DO happen with toddlers trying to jump off everything. I got over the elbow, but the fact that he was obviously limping when my mom picked him up really makes me mad. She saw him and cried out "You're limping! Why are you limping?!" and nobody said anything.

I almost sent them to the new DC today but I was worried about him having to adjust to wearing his "boot" at the same time as he was adjusting to a new school. He's not super-shy but I know he is going to have a hard time with all the new people, and missing his little friends. It breaks my heart.

So, instead we sent him back to his old DC today and he tripped coming in from outside and hit his head on a door. Now he has a bump and grandma is on Concussion Watch. That f---ing boot!!! He's going to crack his head open while we try to heal his toe! 

The main thing I would report them for is being over ratio all. the. time. This is why my kid is getting injured, there are not enough eyes when you are watching 10+ rambunctious kids.

Like I said, I would report them simply because you didn't get an injury report for an injury that obviously happened while under their care. It doesn't matter if it's an accident or not. That form is mandatory.

I'll definitely mention it. We didn't get anything for the elbow or the foot injuries. I think for the elbow they just thought he was sick. Should they have done an incident report the next day, after we found out it was actually an injury? I am guessing yes...