Sharp Spike In CT Home Daycare Deaths Causes Alarm

HARTFORD, CT — The state Office of the Child Advocate issued a report filled with recommendations after a recent sharp spike in infant and toddler deaths at home child care settings. There were nine such deaths between 2016 and 2017 with six occurring at unlicensed facilities.

The most common cause of death was sudden unexplained infant death and in some instances investigators found that babies were placed in unsafe sleeping situations. Criminal charges were filed in two of the nine deaths.

There was one infant death in the previous 24-month period at home care facilities and five such deaths between 2010 and 2015.

The OCA recommends an educational campaign to teach parents and child care providers about the benefits of regulated care and to maintain funds for the Care 4 Kids program.

Care 4 Kids program saw a drop in funding between July 2016 and December 2017. The program helps low-income families pay for child care. Funding for the program has been increased both through state and federal dollars since then.

OCA also recommended more stringent regulations and greater education regarding safe sleep practices for home care settings.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all infants be placed on their backs on a firm mattress within a crib, bassinet or portable crib to sleep. There should be no soft or loose objects placed with the baby and the room should be a comfortable temperature. Babies generally only need one more layer of clothing than an adult in the same setting.

OCA also recommended that greater steps be taken to ensure that child care is discontinued after an operator has his or her license revoked.

An investigation found that an operator was allowed to continue providing child care despite a license revocation a year before a child’s death. The child died from viral myocarditis and the flu. The OEC only made one visit to check and see child care had ceased when regulations require at least two more attempts if no adult is home. Multiple parents told investigators they didn’t know the operator’s license was revoked.

How baby deaths occurred, according to the OCA report:

Three children died in licensed child care settings.

Baby B, a 2-month-old, died from blunt force injuries on July 12, 2016 while in the care of Nydia Carrillo-Maldonado in Stamford. Carillo-Maldonado was arrested and charged with manslaughter. She pleaded guilty Dec. 19 and will serve 3.5 years in prison.

Baby C, a 3-month-old, passed away Oct. 5, 2016 while asleep in an unsafe sleeping environment. A subsequent DCF investigation found multiple child safety hazards and that the care operator was above regulated child capacity at the time of the baby’s death. The baby was put to sleep on her stomach while swaddled.

The provider surrendered her license.

Baby C.M.

A 4-month-old baby boy died Jan. 23, 2017 after being put down for a nap on his side with a blanket over him. DCF concluded there was no abuse or neglect, but that unsafe sleeping conditions possibly played a role in the baby’s death.

Unlicensed home-based child care deaths:

Baby A died of diphenhydramine toxicity while under the care of Carol Cardillo in Fairfield. The death was ruled a homicide by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine with the brand name Benadryl, which can have sedative properties. Police found Cardillo purchased 90 bottles of generic-label diphenhydramine over a three-year period.

Cardillo pleaded no-contest to second-degree manslaughter and was sentenced to 30 months in prison.

Baby K

Baby K, a 9-month-old girl died on July 14, 2016 from a viral infection. The baby had been allowed to nap in the provider’s bedroom with no monitoring. The operator’s license had been revoked due to violations.

No criminal charges were filed against the provider, but DCF substantiated physical neglect by the operator.

Baby J

A 2-month-old baby died June 29, 2017 from sudden unexplained infant death. The baby’s parents said they didn’t know the home daycare was unlicensed. DCF didn’t substantiate abuse or neglect.

Baby D

A 15-month-old child died Oct. 5, 2017 from respiratory distress related to food allergies. The child had a history of asthma and needed inhaler and nebulizer treatment.

The provider had called the mother several times the day of the baby’s death with concerns about the baby’s condition, but the mother wasn’t allowed to answer her phone at work. The provider didn’t seek medical attention for the child and the mother brought the child to the hospital after picking him up.

The provider and assistant told DCF they didn’t know the child had asthma, used medications or had allergies.

DCF placed the provider on the child abuse registry for failure to seek medical attention for the baby. The mother was also found to be negligent in entrusting care of her child to an unlicensed facility despite knowing the need for special care due to asthma and allergies.

Baby A

A 20-month-old girl died on Oct. 7, 2017 from a head injury that was sustained while in the care of an unlicensed provider.

The provider told police that the girl fell down the fourth set of steps while playing. DCF substantiated physical neglect against the provider for failure to provide proper supervision.

Baby M

A 3-month-old baby died on Oct. 20, 2017 from acute bronchopneumonia and sepsis. DCF didn’t substantiate physical neglect by the provider.

Read the full OCA report here.

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