Babysitting Question

[Anonymous]

Oh no! That’s awful!!! Wow…I hope that solidified your decision to CALL THEM IN! They need a wake up call. I agree that you should continue to give him formula while he’s in your care. It’s just so sad. My mouth dropped open when I read that. Good luck. I know how stressful this has been for you.

[Anonymous]

Thank you Robin! That is so sweet of you to offer, but I’ll be able to buy some if I need to…hopefully I won’t need to and she will wake up!

I really am fuming over here…I know my dh is probably sick of talking about it but I just can’t get over it!

[Anonymous]

OMG. Now that is definitely child abuse; to deprive an 11 mos old infant formula or milk. Up until age two they desperately need the fat content in milk or formula for proper neurological development. She is endangering this baby’s health.

I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that she’s selling his formula on ebay. If you could find out it would be very good evidence against her.

[hellbennt]

hmmm…maybe say you’d like to sell some baby clothes on ebay & does she know anything about it? I’m awful- I would play innocent to fish around– I’d play dumb and just talk out loud like “I have some name brand clothes we got as gifts that we just never used & it’s a shame-I’d love to sell them on ebay, but it seems too overwhelming-do you know anything about selling on ebay? I wish I did…”

maybe she’ll tell you how she loves to sell on ebay! then you somehow have to get her ebay id…like “I’d love to take a look at one of your listings, just to get an idea…what’s your userid? or maybe it’s your husbands? I’d probably have to use my husband’s because he has an ebay account and I don’t…”

Oooo I’m so mad at her and i’m just sick for the poor baby!!

[Anonymous]

I am just getting back from being away with my family and I am so sorry for that child. He needs the calories from formula or from whole milk and if he is skinny at 11 months, he should DEFINITLY stay on the formula.

How is the child developmentally otherwise? Lots of babble, beginning words, good eye contact, good fine motor skills when playing, pulling up and almost walking? I would use these milestones to really decide if the child is just small, or not truely thriving, but I am not a doctor…..

I think you have to do something now and not wait. I think for that child’s well being, you have to. I realize that you are afraid of that woman. Are you a licensed daycare? Could you say you got a surprise inspection recently, so then she might think it was that? Or say that you are in the licensing process so the state came out, etc… then you could truely not have to tell her or have her suspect it was you that said something?

This is a really tough place to be, but if it was your grandchild, or neice, and you really didn’t know how bad it was, wouldn’t you want someone to protect that child by calling?

I am not familiar with foster care or if she has other family members that could step in, but it really sounds like a dangerous environment even if they are not physically abusing that child, it certainly sounds like they are neglecting him.

Please let us know what you decide to do. I can not imagine the weight on your shoulders for this one.

Ann Marie

[Anonymous]

Oh, yes. I am definitely going to do something after today’s phone call. My dh and I discussed it again and he does not want me to confront her about anything while I am here by myself with her and just the kids. He agrees that she is a loose cannon and who know’s what she will do. I researched online this afternoon and got the number for our county’s Family and Child Services and I will be calling on Tuesday after I see him and her.

I am not a licensed daycare and he is the only child that I babysit. I only keep him for her while she is taking some college courses so this is the first time I have dealt with any situation like this.

I will let you all know how it goes. Please keep him in your prayers.

[Anonymous]

Oh, I meant to add that he seems fine developmentally. He took his first steps last week.

[Anonymous]

I have been reading this post, but not commenting b/c it upsets me so much, but I just can’t keep my mouth shut anymore. I can’t believe that a mother would do this to her child. I know there are sick/strange people in this world, but this is ridiculous… I feel so bad for you having to deal with her. but at least the little guy has someone to look out for him. I wish you luck with CPS and I hope and pray that this can be resolved before the poor thing has any lasting damage done.

[Anonymous]

I am a child welfare worker for the state here in Florida.(I promise, we’re not all bad here at DCF Laura If you have any questions or concerns about protocol, I would be glad to answer by PM or on the boards in case anyone is interested. I have every state’s abuse hotline # also. I would be glad to help!! In Florida, you are exempt from any liability from making an abuse report in good faith.

[Anonymous]

So glad you are going to go ahead and make the call. August may be too late if she stops formula and does not offer milk. This whole situation is so sad and makes me so angry. Thank goodness that baby has you looking out for it.

So Sorry again you are in this situation. Please keep us posted.

[Anonymous]

UPDATE: I talked with the mom yesterday and she is giving him milk now. (She just waited 4 days because she hadn’t gone to the store yet????? ) So I talked with her and explained how he needed milk or formula at this age for proper growth (in a nice sort of way). So she agreed and told me to keep the extra formula (that I had already put into tupperware ) in case he gets extra hungry at my house so that I could feed him that. (I also explained about the excessive hunger at my house and she didn’t have much to say about that.)

I will update more as it comes…please keep them in your prayers!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the update- I was wondering and praying yesterday. Just curious, did she say why she wanted to introduce milk early?

[Anonymous]

Well, that’s good news. Hopefully she’s not just saying that to appease you. Is she going to bring milk for him to your house now?

[Anonymous]

She didn’t say why she started milk early so I don’t have a clue???? But she is going to bring milk over to my house and she gave me permission (LOL) to feed him formula whenever he acted hungry . Are you kidding me…thanks for the permission but if a child is in my care, they will be fed when they are hungry! Thank you for the support and prayers ladies!

[Anonymous]

I figured I would post here to get an update since I am not sure if 1mommy has seen Erica’s post about us all wondering how this little one is.

[Author]

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