Houston is one of America's largest cities and growing each day - with more and more families moving to the area. Therefore, it is important that Houston-area daycares make sleep safety practices in classrooms a priority. While infants sleep most of the day, Houston toddlers and preschoolers over the age of 18 months are required to have a scheduled rest time if they are in the center’s care for five or more hours.
Our Houston daycare injury lawyers aim to educate hard-working parents like you about sleep safety while your infant or toddler is at a Houston or surrounding-area daycare, including childcare facilities located in: Atascocita, Bellaire, Clear Lake, Conroe, Cypress, Deer Park, Friendswood, Humble, Jersey Village, Katy, Lake Jackson, League City, Missouri City, Pasadena, Pearland, Richmond, Rosenberg, Spring, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, and Tomball.
How Do Sleep Injuries Happen at Houston Daycare Centers?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) estimates there are more than 3,500 sleep-related infant deaths in the United States, including Houston daycares, every year. These deaths can easily be prevented, but only when caregivers are properly trained to follow state guidelines and the safe sleep recommendations developed by experts.
When it comes to infants, sleep injuries at Houston daycare centers are most common when they are not put in safe environments. The AAP recommends infants sleep on their backs on a flat, level surface to reduce the chance of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). It is believed that putting infants on their stomachs means they get less fresh oxygen, which can lead to an infant “rebreathing” the air from a small pocket of bedding around the nose.
In addition, Houston-area caregivers should not:
- Allow infants younger than four months to sleep on any inclined surface like a car seat, stroller, infant sling, or carrier
- Leave a child in a crib with a lowered drop gate
- Place anything in the crib with the child, especially anything soft, like a blanket or a toy
- Swaddle an infant who has begun to independently roll over
For toddlers and preschool-age children, a lack of supervision during naptime can lead to a child getting hurt at a Houston daycare. Rest time for children is not an excuse for a break or time off for Houston daycare providers. Bored or distracted toddlers can easily wander away from a nap mat or get into stowed baskets or supplies, which can lead to choking and other injuries.
What Are Common Sleep Injuries That Occur at Houston Daycares?
Sleep safety at Houston daycare centers is critical because improper practices can have fatal consequences for infants. The most common of these fatal consequences is sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also known as “crib death.” It can happen to a baby that appears to be healthy and may be triggered by the portion of an infant’s brain that controls breathing and arousal from sleep, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Some research also indicates that swaddling can put babies at a higher risk of SIDS. When babies are incorrectly swaddled, they are at risk of suffocation. The blanket can potentially get wrapped or twisted too tightly around the neck, especially as a child begins to independently move his or her head or roll over.
Young children in Houston are also at risk of experiencing fall injuries at local daycare centers when a distracted caregiver does not properly secure the child inside a crib. Leaving a gate down or unlocked may cause a child that rolls over to fall several feet to a hard surface below, injuring their head or potentially breaking bones in their fragile body.
Our experienced Houston daycare injury lawyers have also seen instances where unsupervised toddlers wander outside of a classroom during naptime and get locked outside on a playground for several hours or even manage to exit the daycare unnoticed. Situations like this can lead to extensive injuries like getting hit by a car or dangerous scenarios like a child being kidnapped.
Tell Our Houston Daycare Sleep Injury Lawyers Your Story
Our team of experienced and compassionate daycare injury attorneys at The Button Law Firm is dedicated to advocating for you and your family if your child was injured or killed while sleeping in the care of a Houston daycare facility. With attorneys in Houston, we are ready to listen and fight for your family in Atascocita, Bellaire, Clear Lake, Conroe, Cypress, Deer Park, Friendswood, Humble, Jersey Village, Katy, Lake Jackson, League City, Missouri City, Pasadena, Pearland, Richmond, Rosenberg, Spring, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, and Tomball. Our attorneys at The Button Law Firm are recognized on the prestigious Texas Super Lawyers list, and we can help guide you after a traumatizing incident involving your child. We work on contingency, meaning we don’t charge you or collect any upfront fees to get started on your case. Call us at 281-857-6116 or fill out a contact form for a free case evaluation.
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