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Child Abuse in Daycare - Picking a Daycare

Posted on Friday, February 3, 2017




Once again daycares are in the news with children being abused and neglected. It seems like it is a never ending story with a child coming home from daycare bruised and beaten. How can we come together and make sure this does not happen? Leaving your child with someone is a hard thing to do, your using your best judgment to make sure they are being taken care of while you are at work. And who knows your child best besides you? It's up to you to make sure that they are safe.

How to choose a daycare
- Identify what you want in a daycare. Is it the hours, the cost or maybe the child per adult ratio
- Do your research. You should start looking for a good daycare months before you may need one, just so you have the right amount of time to research.
-Personal references are a great place to start.
-Check online for grades and reviews. Also check here for additional information http://www.naeyc.org/families/search
-Ask some experts. The Child Care Aware hotline (800-424-2246) can give you the number of your local childcare resource and referral agency, which, in turn, can refer you to licensed centers and home daycares in your area.
-Schedule an interview and a visit with the staff so you can see the facilities and how your child responds to those other than you around her.
-Check references. Don't just say you are going to do it, actually call and e-mail those references! -Kid test. If your daycare has passed thus far, try a few short stays with your child to see how he responds. -If it's a go - get on the waiting list!

Still, there are some daycares out there scary as it is, that pass all these tests and have been found guilty of abuse! Once again, as the parent, it's up to you to recognize the signs of abuse.

Know the signs of abuse
1. Changes in behavior or extreme mood swings.
2. Your child suddenly becomes withdrawn or shy; this is especially worrisome if the child in question wasn't withdrawn to begin with.
3. An abused child may also become aggressive as a way of dealing with the trauma of abuse. Kicking, biting and scratching are all red flags in this scenario.
4. The child starts having nightmares on a regular basis. Abuse can emotionally scar a child, and this may manifest itself in bad dreams and night terrors.
5. Acting out inappropriate sexual activity or showing an unusual interest in sexual matters.
6. The child experiences a urinary tract infection or soreness around the genitals.
7. An abused child will also tend to be clingy and react in a fearful manner when about to be dropped off at daycare. They may fake illness, cry, or otherwise make excuses not to attend.
8. Unexplained bruises, welts and cuts which do not go away may also signal child abuse.
9. Changes in toilet-training habits.
10. Bed wetting or reverting to infantile behavior that they outgrew a long time ago could also be something that needs to be looked into. http://www.daycareabuse.com/warning-signs-daycare-child-abuse/

Take the story of little Savannah Cross. Her mother left her with some babysitters who seemed affordable off of Craigslist and she disappeared for two weeks. Over the course of two weeks, two "childcare providers" abused three year old Savannah, eventually murdering her/ (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2247567/Savannah-Cross-Daycare-owner-stomped-girl-3-death-toddlers-stripper-mother-abandoned-weeks.html) If her mother would have done some research, she would have found no references or even records of the "daycare" being licensed - RED FLAG ALERT.

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If you will not leave your child at home alone, why would you leave them with someone who will not take care of them for money? In summary, it's never a good idea to go with the cheapest person who offers to babysit on Facebook. Not without going through a checklist and verifying references. And know the signs of child abuse.

If you suspect child abuse, who do you contact to help? You can contact the police or call your local child protective services agency (or the department of human services) in your city, county, or state. You can also search "child abuse" online to find the number of a hotline. The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline can provide advice and local referrals. Call (800) 4-A-CHILD or (800) 422-4453.

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