This article is the personal opinion of the author. Strictly, not a professional advice. The author is not responsible by any consequence if the reader chooses to make decision base 100% ofthis article without seeking for professional advise.
Babysitter or Nursery (Daycare). Which one is the best?
There are always pros and cons between these two options.
June 4
Just a week before Christmas in 2001, Tracy Fields dropped her infant daughter off at the babysitter's house and went to work. It was like any other day … until the phone rang. Her baby girl had stopped breathing and was rushed to the hospital.
Grace Fields, who was just three months old, died later that day at the hospital.
At first, the 32-year-old Florida nurse and her family believed it to be a case of sudden infant death syndrome. But the Polk County medical examiner ruled that Grace died from intoxication by diphenhydramine, the generic name for an antihistamine and sedative used in cough suppressants and sleeping aids. The baby had overdosed on cough syrup.
A Tragic Accident
While police were questioning the Fields family, the baby's mother decided it was time to question the babysitter.
At first, Tracy Fields said she wasn't getting any answers from Paula Burcham, the 53-year-old former operator of the Lakeland, Fla., home day care, and a longtime babysitter for the Fields family.
It took months for Burcham to tell the full story. When she finally admitted to giving the child cough syrup in her milk, she and her lawyer said the baby's death was a very tragic accident. Burcham said she didn't tell police that she had given the baby medication because she was too upset. "I didn't handle any of that good that day," Burcham said on ABCNEWS' Good Morning America.
Burcham says she knew that the cough syrup was not meant for infants, but she only gave her a small amount and did not think it would kill her. "It looked like just a little bit," Burcham said. "I've done it for 17 years."
Burcham pleaded no contest to a charge of manslaughter in May.
When Burcham is sentenced on August 15, she faces up to 8 years in prison.
Fields said she wants to see Burcham sentenced to the maximum. She believes that her baby's life may have been saved if Burcham had told police that she had given the baby cough medicine.
Burcham says she regrets her actions, but she claims she never knew infants should not be given cough medicine, even though there is a warning against it on the bottle. She says that she has tried to apologize to the Fields family, but she says she understands why they haven't been able to forgive her.
"I sent her a card and she sent it back," Burcham said. "I just feel like I don't deserve to apologize to Tracy — to hurt her anymore."
Burcham had been providing day care for children in her community for 17 years before the death of Grace Fields. She baby-sat the Fields' three other children.
Mom Says Babysitter Used Medicine as Sedative
Fields says she believes Burcham is only sorry because she doesn't want to go to jail.
She says Grace didn't have a cold when she dropped her off at Burcham's home. Fields says she would have noticed if her daughter were sick, given her experience as a nurse who specializes in treating young children with lung problems in an ICU.
"I believe she was using medication to sedate kids for years. Grace was not sick that morning," Fields said.
Fields says the loss of her daughter has been extremely difficult to deal with, especially since her job entails working with babies who are being treated in the hospital. She says her co-workers have helped her deal with the pain, but her marriage could not survive the tragedy. Fields and her husband were divorced after Grace's death.
The nurse says she plans to spread the word about the danger of using over-the-counter cold medications for children. She wants bigger and more strongly worded warning labels on such medications.
14-month-old Nurain Damia Mohd Naqudden who was allegedly abused by her babysitter has died this morning.
The toddler slipped into a coma on Friday but succumbed to her injuries without regaining consciousness at the Sungai Buloh hospital.
Petaling Jaya district police chief ACP Azmi Abu Kassim said a post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death.
On August 8th, the victim's mother Nor Ani Shafarina Sani received a call from the babysitter at 7pm telling her the victim fell and was injured.
The mother rushed home to find Nurain Damia unconscious, and took the toddler to the Hospital.
It was later reported that doctors, who tried to remove blood clot in the victim's head, could not proceed with the surgery procedure, as a blood vessel in her head was swollen.
Nurain Damia was buried at the Bukit Kiara cemetery before Asar prayers.
Police have detained the babysitter, in her 30s, a day after the incident, and she is being remanded for four days, to facilitate investigations.- See more at: http://www.ntv7.com.my/index.php//7edition/local-en/SUSPECTED_ABUSED_TODDLER_DIES.html#sthash.0H1EmLEf.dpuf
Babysitter or Nursery (Daycare). Which one is the best?
There are always pros and cons between these two options.
Babysitter vs Nursery / Daycare
Some mothers chose babysitter maybe because they believe that daycare is handling TOO many children, and their baby might be neglected. Most babysitter also kids-lover and their bond with the child like their own.
Also, the risk of your child getting the flu or any viral / bacterial infection from other infected child. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), hand, foot, and mouth disease, scarlet fever and Kawasaki disease are what most parents are afraid of.
The risk of letting an individual to babysit your child is, human ALWAYS make mistake. They are numbers of accident reported happen in the babysitter's house. Plus, not all babysitter houses are designed according to specification of childproof like nursery / daycare are required to.
Babysitter is also having a house-chores to do. Some even raise their own children in the same time. While in nursery / daycare, all staff has different role - babysitting, cooking, cleaning, and each staff are focusing on their own task.
The risk of letting an individual to babysit your child is, human ALWAYS make mistake. They are numbers of accident reported happen in the babysitter's house. Plus, not all babysitter houses are designed according to specification of childproof like nursery / daycare are required to.
Babysitter is also having a house-chores to do. Some even raise their own children in the same time. While in nursery / daycare, all staff has different role - babysitting, cooking, cleaning, and each staff are focusing on their own task.
Which choice is the best?
Personally, I won't say babysitter is better than nursery or nursery is better than babysitter. Choose wisely and make sure you are aware with the safety environment of the place of your choice. Here are simple guideline you might consider before making any decision:
If you prefer babysitter:
1. Make sure the babysitter doesn't sit TOO many children in the same time, especially if she have her own baby. Let's say if your child is having kids-fight with her child, do you think she will defend your child? Especially if she has more than one child, chances your child being bullied behind your back is higher.
2. Make sure you really know her personally. Never choose randomly. If you are really desperate for a babysitter, ask her neighbours' advise. Or maybe you can try to stalk for a few days (not that you have to stalk for 8 hours, you still need to respect her privacy). What you need to do is making a surprise visit, park your car a little bit far from her house and take a look / stalk for a little while before you greet her.
2. Make sure you really know her personally. Never choose randomly. If you are really desperate for a babysitter, ask her neighbours' advise. Or maybe you can try to stalk for a few days (not that you have to stalk for 8 hours, you still need to respect her privacy). What you need to do is making a surprise visit, park your car a little bit far from her house and take a look / stalk for a little while before you greet her.
3. Make sure the babysitter house is childproof and she has an emergency kit in her house in case of emergency -and of course she has to know how to use the emergency kit.
4. Make sure she knows basic first aid assistance such as CPR in case of choking, cut or breathless.
5. Always keep in touch with your babysitter after you leave your child.
If your prefer nursery / daycare:
1. Make sure the nursery / daycare is registered and licensed. Some country, especially in rural areas, the nursery / daycare is running their business illegally without authorization. Every parent has the right to check the status of the nursery / daycare.
2. Make sure the ratio of children and nanny is acceptable. In Malaysia, newborn to 1 year-old child : babysitter = 3:1 (2 babysitters required for handicap children) , 1 to 3 year-old : babysitter = 5: 1 (2 babysitters required for handicap children), and 3 to 4 year-old : babysitter = 10:1 (3 babysitters required for handicap children).
3. Make sure the nursery / daycare offer group insurance to your child.
4. Make sure you are satisfied with the safety environment of the nursery / daycare. (Emergency kit, childproof environment, healthy menus, emergency number for them to contact).
Here are few unfortunate story of irresponsible babysitter:
#1 Baby Dead After Babysitter Gave Cough Syrup
from ABC NEWSJune 4
Just a week before Christmas in 2001, Tracy Fields dropped her infant daughter off at the babysitter's house and went to work. It was like any other day … until the phone rang. Her baby girl had stopped breathing and was rushed to the hospital.
Grace Fields, who was just three months old, died later that day at the hospital.
At first, the 32-year-old Florida nurse and her family believed it to be a case of sudden infant death syndrome. But the Polk County medical examiner ruled that Grace died from intoxication by diphenhydramine, the generic name for an antihistamine and sedative used in cough suppressants and sleeping aids. The baby had overdosed on cough syrup.
A Tragic Accident
While police were questioning the Fields family, the baby's mother decided it was time to question the babysitter.
At first, Tracy Fields said she wasn't getting any answers from Paula Burcham, the 53-year-old former operator of the Lakeland, Fla., home day care, and a longtime babysitter for the Fields family.
It took months for Burcham to tell the full story. When she finally admitted to giving the child cough syrup in her milk, she and her lawyer said the baby's death was a very tragic accident. Burcham said she didn't tell police that she had given the baby medication because she was too upset. "I didn't handle any of that good that day," Burcham said on ABCNEWS' Good Morning America.
Burcham says she knew that the cough syrup was not meant for infants, but she only gave her a small amount and did not think it would kill her. "It looked like just a little bit," Burcham said. "I've done it for 17 years."
Burcham pleaded no contest to a charge of manslaughter in May.
When Burcham is sentenced on August 15, she faces up to 8 years in prison.
Fields said she wants to see Burcham sentenced to the maximum. She believes that her baby's life may have been saved if Burcham had told police that she had given the baby cough medicine.
Burcham says she regrets her actions, but she claims she never knew infants should not be given cough medicine, even though there is a warning against it on the bottle. She says that she has tried to apologize to the Fields family, but she says she understands why they haven't been able to forgive her.
"I sent her a card and she sent it back," Burcham said. "I just feel like I don't deserve to apologize to Tracy — to hurt her anymore."
Burcham had been providing day care for children in her community for 17 years before the death of Grace Fields. She baby-sat the Fields' three other children.
Mom Says Babysitter Used Medicine as Sedative
Fields says she believes Burcham is only sorry because she doesn't want to go to jail.
She says Grace didn't have a cold when she dropped her off at Burcham's home. Fields says she would have noticed if her daughter were sick, given her experience as a nurse who specializes in treating young children with lung problems in an ICU.
"I believe she was using medication to sedate kids for years. Grace was not sick that morning," Fields said.
Fields says the loss of her daughter has been extremely difficult to deal with, especially since her job entails working with babies who are being treated in the hospital. She says her co-workers have helped her deal with the pain, but her marriage could not survive the tragedy. Fields and her husband were divorced after Grace's death.
The nurse says she plans to spread the word about the danger of using over-the-counter cold medications for children. She wants bigger and more strongly worded warning labels on such medications.
#2 SUSPECTED ABUSED TODDLER DIES
from: NTV7
14-month-old Nurain Damia Mohd Naqudden who was allegedly abused by her babysitter has died this morning.
The toddler slipped into a coma on Friday but succumbed to her injuries without regaining consciousness at the Sungai Buloh hospital.
Petaling Jaya district police chief ACP Azmi Abu Kassim said a post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death.
On August 8th, the victim's mother Nor Ani Shafarina Sani received a call from the babysitter at 7pm telling her the victim fell and was injured.
The mother rushed home to find Nurain Damia unconscious, and took the toddler to the Hospital.
It was later reported that doctors, who tried to remove blood clot in the victim's head, could not proceed with the surgery procedure, as a blood vessel in her head was swollen.
Nurain Damia was buried at the Bukit Kiara cemetery before Asar prayers.
Police have detained the babysitter, in her 30s, a day after the incident, and she is being remanded for four days, to facilitate investigations.- See more at: http://www.ntv7.com.my/index.php//7edition/local-en/SUSPECTED_ABUSED_TODDLER_DIES.html#sthash.0H1EmLEf.dpuf
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