Baby University

R 400.8140 · R 400.8140 Discipline. (2) All of the following means of punishment are prohibited: (i) Time out must not be used for children under 3 years of age.

On March 23, 2021, I contacted and interviewed Child A's Mother over the telephone. She explained that during most of 2020 she was working from home and with Child A. She witnessed his development during this time, so she knew his behavior. When she went back to her physical office in November 2020, Child A was enrolled at Baby University on a temporary basis full time Monday through Friday. She stated that everything started off fine with the relationship between the child care staff members, including Program Director/Licensee Designee Alexis Fortis, and she and her husband. In February 2021 she stated that she and her husband attended a parent/teacher conference for Child A. It was during this conference that she heard that there were issues with Child A's speech and behavior. This was the first time she had heard any in depth assessment of Child A. Prior to this conference she had heard nothing other than minor events. She said Ms. Forris stated that she (Ms. Forris) believed that Child A needed to be evaluated for development issues. Ms. Forris only verbally explained the issues, no documentation was provided regarding specific incidents during the day. Details were not provided if the problems were related to transitions, etc. There was nothing concrete that Child A's Mother was told other than Child A could not communicate. During this same conference, Child A's Mother explained, Ms. Forris had two child care staff members come in and tell them about all the issues with Child A. Child Care Staff Member (CCSM) Erica Fourtnier told them she put Child A in a high chair as a time out for 15 minutes to calm him down. Ms. Fourtnier and CCSM Lanayia Shaw told her about the issue of Child A crying often but it never sounded as if they ever did anything to comfort him while he was crying. (Child A's mother provided short video clips taken by Staff to "show her" how Child A was behaving. At no time 3 during these clips, when Child A does appear visibly upset with red cheeks, do any staff members try to console him.) Child A's Mother had originally been told by Ms. Forris that there was a "calming room." If any children had any experiences that might require a quiet place there was a room specifically for a child to be taken with a CCSM to calm down. The explanations provided to Child A's Mother during the conference and the statements made after that conference made her believe that Child A was never taken to the room to calm himself. Child A stopped attending the facility on March 18, 2021. He is currently in a new facility with no reported problems. On April 9, 2021 I conducted an unannounced inspection to Baby University. Upon arrival I met with Ms. Forris. She explained that she had met with the Child A's Parents several times to discuss Child A's speech delay, hyperactivity and that he cried all the time. When I asked for specific dates, Ms. Forris looked at her records and found an in -person meeting on January 29, 2021 and a Zoom meeting on March 9, 2021. This was the only verbal contact through meetings. She stated that most of the contact happened during drop off/pick up times. I asked Ms. Forris if there was any written documentation of Child A's behavior from her or other CCSMs that was provided to Child A's Parents. Specifically incident reports or assessments made. Ms. Forris stated that she had the documents but was unsure if they went to Child A's Parents. Ms. Forris admitted that it was during the February 2021 conference with Child A's Parents that it was the first time that she heard Ms. Fourtnier admit to not only putting Child A in a time-out but that she put him in a time out for 30 minutes to calm him down. Ms. Fourtnier also admitted to putting Child A in a time-out more than once. Ms. Forris stated that was unacceptable treatment and was not in the discipline plan. I reviewed a copy of the discipline policy. The written policy promotes positive discipline techniques without the use of time outs. Due to thi

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