A Child Abandoned in a Locked Bathroom at Daycare

No parent expects to pick up their child from daycare only to learn they were left alone, frightened, and forgotten. For one family, that unimaginable situation became reality when their four-year-old daughter was abandoned in a locked restroom at her childcare center.

This case is part of our Moving Forward series, where we share real stories of families we have helped after a child was injured or placed in danger due to daycare negligence.

A Child Left Alone in a Locked Restroom

In January 2024, a four-year-old girl became separated from her group at her daycare and was left alone inside a locked bathroom for approximately forty minutes.

She waited inside the bathroom, scared and unsure if anyone was coming to help her.

Not a single employee noticed she was missing. The daycare remained completely unaware that a child in their care had disappeared.

It was only when another child opened the door to use the restroom that she was finally able to get out.

The Daycare Did Not Report the Incident

The child’s parents were not immediately notified. In fact, the daycare did not even realize the incident had occurred until the parents arrived for pickup and found their daughter visibly upset and crying.

Only then did the parents ask the facility to review security footage, which revealed what had happened.

A child had been left alone, unattended, and locked inside a restroom without any caregiver accounting for her absence.

The Emotional Impact of Daycare Neglect

While the incident did not involve a physical injury, the harm was still serious. Being abandoned and forgotten at daycare can have lasting emotional consequences for a young child.

As a result of the daycare’s negligence, the child suffered emotional, mental, and psychological damages. These are the kinds of injuries that can affect a child’s sense of safety and trust long after the incident ends.

DFPS Confirmed Violations of Texas Law

Texas childcare facilities are required to follow strict minimum safety standards established by the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). These standards exist to ensure children are supervised and protected at all times.

Following this incident, DFPS investigated and confirmed that Adventure Kids Playcare violated multiple minimum standards, including:

• Failing to ensure no child was abused, neglected, or exploited

• Failing to perform a required name-to-face check

• Failing to maintain visual or auditory awareness of the child’s ongoing activity

• Leaving a child unattended in a bathroom with the door closed while caregivers were unaware of her presence

Daycare centers are legally required to supervise children at all times and must never leave a child in a locked room or bathroom. In this case, those obligations were not met.

Seeking Accountability and Protection

When the family came to The Button Law Firm, they were devastated. They did not want what happened to their daughter dismissed or swept aside.

They wanted accountability. They wanted change. And they wanted to ensure no other child would be placed in the same danger.

This incident was preventable. Liability was clear. The daycare failed to follow the law and failed to provide the basic supervision every child deserves.

Moving Forward After Daycare Negligence

No legal outcome can undo the fear this child experienced. But accountability matters. It is how families find answers, how unsafe practices are exposed, and how future harm is prevented.

This case is a powerful reminder that supervision is not optional in childcare. When daycares lose track of children, the consequences can be immediate, traumatic, and life-changing.

We Are Here to Help Families

If your child has been injured or placed in danger because of daycare negligence, you do not have to face it alone. At The Button Law Firm, we help families pursue accountability and justice when daycares fail to meet their responsibility to keep children safe.

To share your story, contact us by calling (214) 699-4409, emailing intake@buttonlawfirm.com, or filling out our secure contact form. If you are not ready to speak with us yet, our website offers free resources to help guide families through difficult situations like this.