How Safe Is My Child’s Daycare Center?

Sending your child to daycare can be a difficult decision. You want to ensure that your child is getting great care and is safe with whichever daycare you decide to take them to. But unfortunately, no matter how much research you do, a daycare can still mistreat your child or not be completely safe.

If the staff is negligent, the facility isn’t cleaned regularly, or equipment at the facility poses danger to your child, then it might not be as safe of a daycare as you thought. Depending on the circumstances, you could have a premises liability claim if your child’s daycare is unsafe. A Jackson personal injury lawyer from Pittman Roberts & Welsh, PLLC will represent you and ensure that you get justice for the wrongful injuries to your child.

Common Safety Issues at Daycare Centers

Children need constant supervision. When you trust a daycare center with supervising and caring for your child while you are at work, you expect them to give your child the level of care that you would give your child. While many daycare centers offer great care for children and ensure their safety, not all daycares are as great. Some have safety issues that could pose a risk for your child.

Here are some common safety issues at daycare centers that can lead to your child being injured physically or emotionally:

• Lack of supervision
• Untrained or under-qualified staff
• Improper medication administration by staff
• Poisonous substances on toys, surfaces, or in food
• Dangerous toys or play equipment
• Uneven floors or ground
• Sharp corners and objects
• Improper cleaning
• Poor food safety practices
• Sick kids transmitting illnesses to each other
• No emergency training or preparedness

The daycare center property owners are liable for your child’s safety while on their property, according to Mississippi property owner’s liability bill, also known as Bill 2901. However, a premises liability claim for your child’s injury from falling or slipping at a daycare could get more complicated if the daycare owners are only renting the property. Hiring a Jackson premises liability lawyer from Pittman Roberts & Welsh, PLLC can help you through the claims process against your daycare’s negligence and decide what the best course of legal action would be for your situation.

How to Monitor the Safety of Your Child’s Daycare Center

After you’ve chosen a daycare center for your child to attend, that’s not the end of your research. Once your child begins to go to this daycare, you should continue to monitor how they treat your child and other children at the facility. It’s never too late to switch daycares. If you believe children are being mistreated at the daycare, or the facility isn’t up to par, then it’s important to report your experience, seek change, and potentially choose a new daycare to care for your child.

Here are some tips about how to gauge whether or not a daycare center is safe for your child and if you should choose that particular facility to trust with caring for your child:

• Research reviews and references
• Talk to other parents who have children there
• Stop by the facility unannounced
• Check their accreditation
• Verify staff clearances and training
• Examine the curriculum
• Ask about food choices and how they handle allergies
• Inspect toys, playground equipment, and other furniture in the facility
• Ask about cleaning procedures, illness prevention, and emergency preparedness

All of these aspects could be perfect, but you still don’t feel right about leaving your child at this facility. As a parent, you should trust your instincts. Don’t leave your child at a daycare center that makes you question whether or not your child will be safe.

Even if you choose a facility that meets all of your expectations, they could still make mistakes and cause harm to your child. A personal injury lawyer from Pittman Roberts & Welsh, PLLC can help you get justice for your child and ensure that other children will not have to suffer in the same ways as your child.

Contact Pittman Roberts & Welsh, PLLC

Your main goal as a parent is to keep your child safe and cared for at all times. When you trust a daycare center to treat your child like you would, it can be hard to handle when they break that trust—and even harder when their negligence causes harm to your child. Negligent daycare facilities should be held accountable for their shortcomings in childcare so that other families and children do not fall victim to them as well.

At Pittman Roberts & Welsh, PLLC, we understand how daunting it may seem to go up against your child’s daycare facility with a premises liability claim, but we can help you. Our Jackson premises liability lawyer will guide you through the claims process so that you can feel confident in your claim. These cases can get complicated, which is why we’re here to support you. Contact us today so we can get started on your potential claim.