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Original poster

Baby injured at childminders - advice needed please

212 replies

EmilyD2012 · 25/04/2013 14:03

My DS (10mo) returned from the childminders on Tuesday evening suffering from sunburn. Overnight his face swelled up badly, by Wednesday morning his face was horrific - bright red and he couldn't open his left eye because it was so swollen. We took him to A&E and were told he was most likely suffering an allergic reaction to something or severe sunburn.

After giving him antihistemines and pain relief we were discharged and his face slowly started to deflate. Yesterday afternoon his skin started to blister and, by the evening, was weeping constantly. I took him to the doctors who said that he was suffering from serious sunburn to the face. I asked the childminder how long he had been out in the sun for and she said it had been 30 minutes at most. The doctor disputed this and said that it was very unlikely to have such a dramatic reaction to just 30 minutes in the sun. It is only April, after all.

The childminder is a friend of mine and has always been brilliant with my DS (she has a baby the same age). No part of me thinks that she would have deliberately let him come to any harm. That said, the last 48 hours have been horrendous. Every time I look at my baby my heart breaks. His face is a mass of blisters and open wounds. His left eye looks like it could bruise. I've been given hydrocortisone cream to treat the skin but every time I touch him he screams in pain. Last night I put him to bed and wept.

Today, the childminder came round and saw for herself what a terrible state he is in. I didn't want to make her feel worse than she no doubt already is, but equally felt it was important for her to see that I wasn't exaggerating when I contacted her from the doctors yesterday.

I just don't know what to do. Some of my friends say that such a careless act is unforgivable and I should never leave my DS with her again. Others are more forgiving and say that, after seeing him, she has surely learnt her lesson.

Any advice at all would be greatly appreciated. What would you do?

Thank you x

OP posts:
thebeastandbeauty · 25/04/2013 14:21

"When the childminder turned up today she brought her DD with her. She is also sunburnt"

Doesn't sound good to me :(

I'm not trying to go on a witch hunt with your c/m here. But two burnt children in one day?

afussyphase · 25/04/2013 14:18

Definitely get another opinion. Sunburn - even being out in the April sun all day - would not normally be that bad. Could he be allergic to sunscreen? I am very, very susceptible to sun, in a normal way, and it takes me a good 8 hours of tropical beach exposure to get multiple blisters. (I've tried it, unhappily enough)..
I've got a very mild sunburn from being out for several hours yesterday (here in the UK). Do you have any doctor friends that you could ask?

Original poster
EmilyD2012 · 25/04/2013 14:18

Thank you so much for the responses.

Neither myself or DS's dad have especially sensitive skin, but clearly he has had a very bad reaction to the sun (assuming that's what it is and there is no other information being withheld). My fear is that he was left out in the sun for well over half an hour. In places it looks like his skin has almost 'melted'. I'm crying as I type this, it's just awful.

When the childminder turned up today she brought her DD with her. She is also sunburnt but not to the same extent. Nowhere near. That said, she does have a slightly darker skin tone, but even so. The difference between them is stark.

Packing up to go back to the A&E dept now - will check in when back to see if there are any more thoughts on here and to update you.

Thank you again so much for your support x

OP posts:
Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 25/04/2013 14:17

I'd get a second opinion first. That's extreme sunburn even if they were out all day. It's warm but not that warm . Either it's a reaction like first dr said or your baby is very sensitive to sunlight. Did she put sun cream on his face could it be that?

Saltire · 25/04/2013 14:14

Is it possibly an insect sting? I know some people can react badly to bee/wasp stings

I agree with outraged, it does sound very severa to be sunburn - and only on his face. If it was that hot surely ohher parts would be burnt and also her own child or other mindees would be burnt too

Thurlow · 25/04/2013 14:13

That's terrible. Personally, I'd be tempted to talk to a doctor again and ask how long your son needed to be outside in direct sunlight to burn that badly, firstly because those does sound like a very extreme reaction to April sun, and secondly to give your CM the benefit if the doubt. Is she a registered CM? (I know some people do still just use friends for childcare). I'd be amazed if a registered, qualified CM looking after her friend's baby let them sit in direct sun for hours. Not that I'm saying it wouldn't ever happen, just that it's such a basic thing, keeping kids out of the sun, that it would seem such an unusual thing for a CM to do

Hope your DS gets better, that must be awful.

Pootles2010 · 25/04/2013 14:12

I agree with outraged, odd that a&e thought it an allergic reaction. Sounds not quite right about sunburn tbh, get a second opinion.

CrowsLanding · 25/04/2013 14:12

OutragedFromLeeds I completely agree. You must get a second opinion op. Hope your ds gets better soon Thanks

OutragedFromLeeds · 25/04/2013 14:10

I would try and find out what else it could be. Get a second opinion. It doesn't sound like sunburn at all. If it is sunburn, maybe he has unusually sensitive skin? I can't see how he could possibly get that badly sunburnt by accident. Was the childminders child sunburnt? If she was out with both of them in the sun all day, wouldn't her child also be badly burnt? Is it only on his face? Something doesn't add up here imo.

Saltire · 25/04/2013 14:08

My granny used to react very badly (like you describe) in the sun. She had to cover up with long sleeves, long leg trousers or skirt, hat etc, even to put the washing out.

It is possible this ha shappened with your son

FannyFifer · 25/04/2013 14:07

Good god that's sounds awful.

Do not put hydrocortisone cream on open wounds, don't think that is recommended at all and may make things worse.

Go back to Dr, or maybe bring to A&E sounds like may need properly treated for burns and probably an antibiotic.

Your poor poor baby.

thebeastandbeauty · 25/04/2013 14:07

You poor thing, that sounds awful.

I think I'd be terminating the contract :( I am by no means a cotton wool mother but I kept my DC in the shade when they were babies and would be living if my 10 month old ended up in that state.

Could your DS have a condition that makes him react very badly to the sun? Did the GP mention that? It's just I'm sure I read on here that someone had a child who reacted very, very badly to minimal sun.