complaint·October 5, 2022

Allegation: Staff engaging in unsafe feeding practice. FS1 stated a staff would force feed the younger babies, shoving food in their mouths, with the highchair leaning back. Interviewed staff denied feeding child food unsafely. Staff 5 stated did not see any staff force feeding any children and if something like that were to happen it would immediately be reported to the director and owner. Based on LPA’s interviews, there was insufficient evidence to corroborate the allegation. Although the allegation may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violation did or did not occur; therefore, the allegation is unsubstantiated. Exit interview was conducted. The Notice of Site Visit was posted. Appeal Rights was explained. A copy of appeal rights (LIC 9058 1/16) will be provided through email and their signatures on this form acknowledges receipt of these rights. First level appeal is to Regional Manager, address is above on the report. During the course of the investigation, LPA interviewed five staff members, three former staff members, and four parents. Allegation: Staff Swaddle Infants: Interviewed staff denied swaddling infants in care. Former Staff 1(FS1) reported witnessing staff swaddling infants while they are asleep. Former Staff 2(FS2) reported witnessing staff swaddling the babies and usually place them in a rocking/swing chair to help them fall asleep, with their face covered. Staff 2 (S2) stated they place new infants in swings, until they fall asleep, at parents’ request, then transferred to a crib. On 09/09/2022, LPA received four pictures depicting infants swaddled sleeping in swings. Allegation: Staff mixed-up a child’s breast milk with formula Interviewed former staff did not disclosed another staff mixing-up breast milk with formula. Parent 4(P4) stated the teacher disclosed to P4 that the child’s breast milk was mixed up with formula. Allegation: Staff Force Infants to Nap: S2 stated they put the babies to sleep by sitting on the floor, rubbing their hair and back gently, they love it when we rub their hair. S2 stated S2 pat the baby’s shoulders not the back. FS1 stated FS1 witnessed a teacher pat the babies so hard on the back when they wouldn’t sleep. FS1 witnessed a teacher would cover the infants faces with blankets in their cribs to get them to go to sleep faster and the teacher would immediately uncover their faces as nothing is to be in the cribs. FS2 witnessed, in the infant classroom, babies’ faces were often covered by a blanket/sheet by the teacher because according to FS2, teacher stated, “it helped the child sleep”. Allegation: Staff interact with infants in a physical rough manner. Interviewed staff denied interacting with infants in a physically rough manner. FS1 stated a teacher would throw the babies down on their mat and yell at them to go to sleep. FS1 disclosed witnessing, a teacher, patting the babies so hard on the back when they wouldn’t sleep. FS1 also disclosed witnessing a teacher picking the children up by the collar of their shirts or by one arm. FS2 disclosed witnessing, a teacher, in the infant classroom, patting the children’s back aggressively when putting the infants to sleep. LPA received three pictures depicting the same teacher and a crying child. The first picture showed the teacher patting the child’s back with a closed fist, the second picture showed the teacher pulling the child up from the floor by the back of the child’s shirt collar and the last picture showed the teacher grabbing and pulling the back of the child’s shirt. Page 2 Allegation: Staff cover infants faces during nap. Staff 1 (S1) stated the staff members do not cover child’s face while sleeping. S2 stated all teachers watch the babies as they sleep, no blankets in the crib; however, they may put blankets up to the babies’ waist, when the babies fall asleep. S2 stated some parents give them their baby’s blanket and tell them they like the smell of it, then the teachers take it off when the babies fall asleep. S3 stated S3 does not notice a blanket over the children heads, it’s too dangerous. S3 stated S3 does not think they have any teachers that put the blankets over the children’s head because they have to watch them and be very careful. S4 stated one child put the blanket over his head himself, that’s the way he likes to sleep; however, when child falls asleep, S4 takes the blanket off the child’s head. S5 stated the children have their own blankets and sheets. The children’s blankets are never over their head while sleeping because the teachers never know what may happen with the blankets over the children’s heads. FS1 witnessed a teacher would cover the infants faces with blankets in their cribs to get them to go to sleep faster and stated the teacher would immediately uncover their faces as nothing is to be in the cribs. FS2 witnessed, in the infant classroom, babies’ faces were often covered by a blanket/sheet by the teacher because according to FS2, “it helped the child sleep”. FS3 stated for nap time all the babies’ heads were always covered and FS3 would ask them to stop and they would continue to do it. P4 stated P4 have been told by other parents that blankets have been placed in infants’ cribs. During the course of the investigation, LPA Torrence conducted phone interviews with five parents. 4 out 5 parents had concerns and issues with the daycare. Interviewed parents’ concerns were the complaint allegations mention above which were told to them by teachers and other parents. Based on the information gathered from LPA’s interviews, and review of pictures, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, therefore, the above allegations are found to be SUBSTANTIATED. California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division & Chapter 1,101430(a)(3)(C) Infant Care Activities, 101223(a)(2) Personal Rights, 101430(a)(3)(B) Infant Care Activities, 101223(a)(3) Personal Rights, and 101430(a)(3)(D) Infant Care Activities, are being cited on the attached LIC9099D. If the facility receives a Type A violation, the licensee shall post and provide copies of the report to parents/guardians of the children in care at the facility by the next business day and shall provide to the parents/guardians of children newly enrolled at the facility during the next 12 months. In addition, the licensee shall immediately post upon receipt the Proof of Correction for 30 consecutive days and provide a copy to current and enrolling parents. The licensee is to keep Acknowledgement Receipt (LIC 9224) signed by parents in each child’s file. In addition, the licensee shall immediately post upon receipt the Proof of Correction for 30 consecutive days. Exit interview was conducted. The Notice of Site Visit was posted. A copy of appeal rights (LIC 9058 1/16) was provided and explained. First level appeal is to Regional Manager, address is above on the report.