When we employ maids and babysitters, we trust that they have our children’s best interests at heart. Sadly, we know this is not always the case, with many horror stories of maid abuse coming to light. This is not to say that every maid out there is “bad”. But, when we hear of stories of maids abusing our little ones, we relay these to you with the hope that they serve as timely warnings to you. Never take your little ones’ safety for granted, mums and dads.
The most recent case that came to our attention is shocking. It involves a three-month-old child’s babysitter allegedly breaking the little one’s thigh bone.
An X-ray confirmed the infant had a broken thigh bone
Broken bones, such as the one in the photo, are extremely painful. So you can imagine how much pain the three-month-old baby was in.
The incident happened in Selangor, Malaysia. According to the child’s father, he sent his daughter to the babysitter’s house at around 7am in the morning, and picked her up at 3:15 in the afternoon.
Once he got his daughter home, he was confused as to why his daughter wouldn’t stop crying. Being a medical assistant, he decided to take his daughter to the hospital so she could be checked.
There, an x-ray examination discovered that the three-month-old baby had a broken thigh bone.
It’s currently unclear what caused the broken thigh bone, or if it’s the babysitter’s fault. However, the hospital will be trying to determine what caused the injury.
The police will also be taking a statement from the babysitter in order to investigate what happened.
How can you prevent broken bones in your baby?
No parent would want their child to suffer from any injury, particularly broken or fractured bones. And while most bone fractures aren’t lethal, they’re not something that parents should simply let happen to their little one.
Here are some important things that you should know.
What are the signs?
- Swelling around the area with the broken bone.
- Constant crying.
- Inability to move the limb.
- Redness and bruising.
- Visible deformity in the affected area.
What should mums and dads do?
If you believe that your child has a fracture or a broken bone, make sure to take them to the doctor immediately. These types of injuries should not be taken lightly as not only do they cause extreme discomfort, they can cause permanent damage if not treated properly.
Make sure to follow the doctor’s orders in order to best care for your child’s injury.
Can these be prevented?
For the most part, the only thing that mums and dads should keep in mind would be to always keep an eye on their little one. Avoid placing them on places where they might fall or hurt themselves, and always be careful when carrying them around.
Always be extra careful when it comes to your baby, and you won’t have to worry too much about serious injuries.
And when it comes to making sure your child is not hurt when under the care of someone else, be upfront with them about what you expect. For example, if the child has bumped his head in your absence, tell the carer that they should not be afraid to inform you immediately.
Make available to them a list of emergency contact numbers, and advice them what they should do should an emergency arise.
Source: New Straits Times
Photo screencapped from: nst.com.my
READ: Maid boils baby to death highlights importance of not ignoring red flags
Republished with permission from: theAsianParent Singapore