The injuries were consistent “with child abuse, not by accidental circumstances.”
In an unbelievably shocking case, a baby died at daycare after suffering from abuse. A 10-year-old girl has been charged with killing the baby.
6-month-old baby died at daycare at the hands of a child
The 10-year-old girl was living at the foster home which also served as a daycare centre in the town of Wheaton, in the United States.
According to Reuters, the girl was holding the infant, when she accidentally dropped him at the daycare centre. The baby hit his head on a stool and started crying.
The child started panicking, and didn't know what to do. So she ended up stomping on the baby's head.
The baby started bleeding from the head and became unresponsive. The infant suffered multiple skull fractures, and had to be airlifted to a hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Sadly, the baby died on 1 Nov 2018.
The Chippewa County sheriff’s office said in a press release that according to medical specialists, the injuries were consistent “with child abuse, not by accidental circumstances.”
The girl appeared in court on 5 Nov 2018 in handcuffs, accompanied by her parents. She was charged with first-degree intentional homicide. She was charged as an adult.
She was seen weeping throughout the court proceedings.
Teaching older kids how to treat a baby
"How can she be so cruel? How can she stomp a little baby on the head?"were the questions that came to our minds first. But seeing the girl walk into the court clinging on to her daddy's hand and sobbing away reminded us that she was just a child.
A child who didn't know what to do.
Mums and dads, it is important to teach older kids how to treat a baby. Here are some tips:
1. Explain to older kids how important it is to never try and pick up a baby or carry them on their own.
Let them know that a baby's head is very sensitive and their skull isn't fully formed, so it's very bad for them to bump their head.
When the soft head of the baby strikes a hard surface, the delicate, developing brain may hit the skull. This causes blood vessels to rupture resulting in internal bleeding – also known as a hemorrhage. Even if there is no bleeding, there is still the risk of swelling, which may create pressure in the brain.
In worst case scenarios, a concussion could happen, which could affect the functions and development of the brain.
So no matter how big and strong the child is, picking up the baby is something best left to adults, unless it is an emergency.
2. Teach children that they should always ask you before giving baby something to eat or play with. Explain that the wrong types of food/toys can be dangerous, especially when it comes to babies with allergies.
3. Older children should be instructed to never climb on the high chair or crib. It can knock the baby over or topple the crib.
Also READ: Why newborns should never be left alone with toddlers