By Nancy Hirsch, and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by
Child Injury Lawyer NetworkIn Missouri and other States, parents rely on day care centers to provide reasonable and secure supervision so that parents can attend to their jobs and other commitments. Unfortunately for some infants and children in day care centers, their needs are neglected to the point that serious personal injuries and even death result while in the day care center. One commonly overlooked time of danger involves nap time or sleep time at the day care center. Infants are at risk for injury while in nap time or sleep time. This statement should be repeated and bolded. Infants are at risk for injury while in nap time or sleep time. For children under the age of 2 years old and other children needing special assistance, direct supervision is recommended due to the risk of suffocation, asphysiation, and / or SIDS (Suddent Infant Death Syndrome) incidents. In addition to direct supervision, day care centers should take steps to clear the sleeping area of pillows, soft objects, blankets, and any other items that can be a hazard for sleeping infants. At the beginning of nap time, the sleeping area may be safe; however, all it would take would be another child to toss a simple stuffed animal into the crib or sleeping area to create a hazardous situation. This is just one reason among many to have direct supervision in place for infants in a day care center during sleep time or nap time.
In Brunswick, Georgia and other cities, day care centers are responsible for the health, safety, and welfare of the children enrolled in the program. Home based Georgia day care centers are regulated, inspected, and governed by DECAL – Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. DECAL is responsible for meeting the child care and early education needs of Georgia’s children and their families. Here is a link to the website for the 
In California and other States, parents depend on day care center to watch over their children while they are at work. Most people recognize that there may be dangers in a day care center in the form of a swimming pool, aggressive dog, sharp objects, poisons, traffic, and other dangers. Many people, however, do not realize that it can also be quite dangerous for a child especially an infant at a day care center during sleep time or nap time. There is a risks of suffocation, asphyixation, and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) when an infant is placed in an unsafe sleeping environment. Here are some risks that may be present in the day care center:
In Brunswick, Georgia and other cities throughout the United States, parents rely upon day care centers for the supervision of their children. Most children are cared for in a supportive learning environment that truly focuses on the best interests of the children. At times, children are injured and even die while under the care of a care care center. Is a day care center automatically liable when a child is injured or when a child dies while under the supervision of the day care center? The simple answer to this question is “No”. A day care center is not automatically liable but is potentially liable if a parent can prove the following elements to a case:
In Seattle Washington and other cities throughout the United States, there is a common danger in many apartment complexes, hotels, and motels. An unsecured window can present a great danger to children of all ages and sizes. A thin screen is typically insufficient to serve as a safety device. This is evident by the thousands of injuries that take place every year resulting from falls from unsecured window areas. A tragic incident was recently reported in Seattle Washington in which a 2 year old child fell from a third story window in an apartment building operated by the Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services. You can read more about this story at 
During the school year as well as summer months, school buses are on the road. Unfortunately, children are injured while riding school buses, while standing at bus stops, and while loading school buses. Because of the risks of injury, it is important for parent, children, camps, and schools to follow up simple steps. This, in turn, will prevent many personal injuries from taking place.
In South Dakota and other States, there is a time during the day that a child is put at risk even though it is not so obvious to some child care providers. That time of day is sleep time or nap time. A child is put at risk for serious personal injury and even death if a child is put to sleep in a dangerous position. A child is also put at risk when there is a lack of ongoing supervision during sleep or nap time. Because of these significant risk, a day care center should have policies in place for sleep and nap time. Bedding materials should be carefully selected and all other hazards including pillows, blankets, window cords, and stuffed animals.