4 month old?

Question

The 4 month old little girl I recently started babysitting seems odd to me. She is inconsolable sometimes. I know I'm doing everything possible (checking diaper,feeding,holding,checking temp,monitoring bowel movements for abnormalities,keeping to a schedule,on and on...) as I have been babysitting for over 10 years. Not only that, but sometimes she seems comotose. Her eyes glaze over, she won't respond to my voice or other noises, she doesn't blink, breathes shallowly, if I move her when she is having one of these spells, her head just lols from side to side, and normally she can easily hold her head up. She is completely limp and it cares me. Also, she (and I know this will sound terrible) does not look quite right. Her head is extremely narrow, unnaturally so, her eyes protrude far from her sockets, and her tongue is always hanging out down her chin. Neither of her parents look even slightly like this, but they do seem like drug addicts. Does this sound like a drug baby to you?

I seem to be upsetting people by suggesting the parents may be involved in drugs, but they both are in their mid 20's, only work part-time at fast food places didn't graduate highschool, much less attend college. They both forget to send formula, diapers, wipes, common things and seemed stumped when I inquire. They live all over- friends houses, both sets of parents houses, wherever. I have noticed that on a few occasions their eyes are funy and dialated. Neither one of them are clean: they have dirty hair, smell a bit musky and never wash the babies coat, snowsuit or blankets. They often oversleep and don't wake for work till I call to ask where the baby is. The father had his license suspended for fleeing the scene of an accident.

Answer 1

Yes it does, and as the child's caregiver you have an obligation to call child protective services. You can always do so as an anonymous call.

Answer 2

I have sympathy for you!! This sounds like a no win situation.
First, I would really consider if I wanted to sit for this particular child.
Second, I thunk that drugs would be my assumption as well.
Third, seizures, could cause this behavior, in babies this small they can often be undetected (not felt or seen). The other possibilities might be a problem with the babies heart. A murmur is sometimes gone unnoticed.Over worked health care practitioners, sometime overlook things that are not so apparent, because of the volume of care they have to provide daily. No good answers for you other than encouraging the parents to seek out a different Pediatrician, in the hopes that there may be an answer there. So Sorry!

Answer 3

Sounds very disturbing. I hate to say it but yes. It sounds as if the baby does have medical problems, and yes of course if the mother had did drugs while pregnant that could cause it.
Sad sad sad. I dont know what to tell you. How well do you know the people? Have you asked about any medical problems the child might have?

BIG TIME EDIT:
I hope you read this because i want to go on record as saying you need to step in and call children services. The child is not being well taken care of. It is plain to see that this is bothering you...so do the right thing. I know its a hard choice-but do what is right.

Answer 4

No,she does not sound like a drug baby although her mother probaly was on drugs when she was pregnant with her.You are gonna have to do what I tell you to do for the babys sake.Tell her mom that just incase of a emergency you need her to write you out a form stating she gives you permission to take the baby to the hospital.Have her sign and date that form.Have her put her cell phone and house phone and any numbers she can be reached at along with any insurance information on the baby.The next time that baby comes to your home in that condition get the sign form and take that baby to the hospital.Once there explain to the doctors that she is like that alot.Point out her dirty coat and blankets and tell how you think the mother and father is suspected of being on drugs.Im telling you this because I dont think she is a drug baby,I think she is being drugged at home so mom,dad does not have to deal with her and her side effects are still in her when she is brought to your house.Please do this for the baby.

Answer 5

oh my this situation is really alarming, it definitely sounds like there are some big issues here, if you are frightened for the baby's safety I suggest calling child protection services, I know this may sound harsh , but it is better for the sake of the child that someone checks this situation out before something awful happens , her parents don't sound like the most responsible parents on the planet.Try and get some out side help for the baby's sake. Take care . Val

Answer 6

If you are concerned about this little girl than I'd suggest you talk to her parents. I would not ask them about the drug baby suspecision. However to me it sounds like this child could have some degree of downs syndrome. Go to this web site and see what you think down-syndrome.xaffix.com
Many children are born with some degree of this metally debilitaing genetic disorder. They persent many different symptoms and have different physical handicaps. Not all DS kids are the ones pictured in the media. More often than not they have minor physical deformations like the extended tounge. Another site that has good info is www.webmd.com
I hope this help

Answer 7

i work with the Mentally Retarded Developmentally Disabled and it sounds like the child might have some of the same symptoms that some of my clients have. it almost sounds like the baby could have a little bit of Down Syndrome. the only way u will be sure is ask the parents. maybe they havent filled u in on all the medical situation. if the child does have some sort of disability u need to know about it. especially if u r taking care of their child. u need to know if there r certain medications or special needs that the child might need. it is very unlikely that the parents r drug users and for the most part it is very sad that people jump to that conclusion. talk to the parents. they r the ones who r going to explain the situation to u.

Answer 8

Talk to the parents to verify if they know of any medical conditions. If they are not aware of any then when the child is having one of these episode of unresponsiveness then you should call 911 so that a medial team can look at the baby!
Based on their evaluation if they suspect abuse they will contact CPS. If they baby has a medical condition they will find that out as well. I would not call CPS unless I witnessed abuse. Does the child have any marks on her? If I were you as her caregiver I would document her condition when you receive her and when she has these episodes. You do not want to be liable for something out of your control.

Answer 9

The baby might have fetal alcohol syndrome or might be a crack baby or something. but bottom line, if you feel something is wrong and the parents are not doing their job, you can call social services and report them. you don't have to leave your name, but you can tell them why you feel they should investigate them and they will take it from there. And if they find anything fishy, then it's by bye baby. And they might not be taking her to her doctor's appointments and they can get into trouble for that too because that's neglect. But honesly, if you feel that this baby is not right and you don't want to tell the parents, call social services and they will handle it. Whatever the case is, something is not right with that baby and needs help. You can be the key to getting that baby help. Something needs to be handled about that.

Answer 10

This does not sound like a case for CPS (yet). Calling CPS on someone for the wrong reasons can really screw up their lives. This child sounds like she may have a seizure disorder. Talk to the parents. Ask them if thier daugher is like this at home. The 'comatose' reactions sounds like she's having seizures. If the parents refuse to do anything about it, then maybe CPS can be involved. But please, don't call them until after you've talked to the parents and find out what's going on.

Answer 11

My aunt runs a daycare and had a child that sounded similar to this. His parents were not drug users however. He had a disorder that caused seizures. I would recommend that this child be taken to a dr immediately! These could be doing permanent damage! They may need to be controlled with medication. If the parents don't want to get him evaluated, it may be a case for DCFS.

http://www.capefearvalley.com/outreach/outreach/BabyBook/Pages/Seizures.htm

http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/babyills/10907.html