A mum was left horrified after she picked her son up from childcare to find he had more than 20 bloody scratches on his face.
7NEWS reported that the mother from Box Hill broke down in tears recalling the moment she picked up her 10-month old infant, Noah, from Only About Children Melbourne Central last month.
The mother was told by staff that her child’s bloody face resulted from an accident during a routine nappy change when another toddler scratched his face unsupervised.
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“We [her and the children’s father] were both in tears. We couldn’t believe such a horrible thing happened to our boy,” she told the outlet through a translator.
The parents took their child from hospital where the doctors were in disbelief the child was scratched so severely at daycare.
Doctors made sure his eyes and brain weren’t also injured.
Thankfully, medics told the parents that Noah’s scratches would soon heal and not scar.
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“I feel lots of pain in my heart. I don’t even want to click the images [of Noah’s injured face],” Rachel said.
While speaking to 9News, Rachel said that while the daycare centre said Noah’s injuries resulted from an accident, her husband suspects it was child abuse.
“They explained that this happened accidentally, but we just can't accept this explanation," she said.
"More than 20 scratches on Noah's face, how can this happen accidentally?
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“My husband says that this was definitely not an accident; this was child abuse.”
The family has received an apology letter from the daycare centre; however, Rachel is also seeking compensation.
Department of Education spokesperson was also informed of the incident and told 9News that they were putting in ‘measures to address this incident including reviewing its procedures at nappy change times to include an additional educator at these times’.
"The department takes the safety, security and wellbeing of every child extremely seriously,” the department added.
The images of the baby’s face have since gone viral, leaving many users stunned.
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One Facebook user wrote: “How is a toddler and 10 week old under supervision in the same area? From my time working in childcare years ago to experiences with family, as soon as they are mobile, they get moved up a room.”
Another said: “Ok, I understand and could let it slide with one at most from another child if dealt correctly, but a baby and that many I don't understand…”
While a third shared: “So heartbreaking! So traumatized for us mums!”
A spokesperson for Only About Children told LADbible Group: "Education and Childcare provider, Only About Children confirms an incident occurred at the company’s Melbourne Central centre where a baby sustained scratches to his face caused by another child in the nursery.
"Staff at the centre provided first aid to the baby. The parents subsequently took the infant to hospital for additional checking and was released on the same day.
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"Only About Children immediately commenced an internal review of the incident. The Victorian Department of Education has also completed a review of the incident.
"Both reviews concluded the scratching was an accident. Only About Children confirms staff were on duty and in attendance at the time and that four infants in total were in nursery care at the time."
Chief Executive of Only About Children, Anna Learmonth said: "This is obviously an upsetting issue for the family involved and we would like to apologise for the distress caused.
“The health, safety, and well-being of every child at our centre remains our top priority, and we will continue to strive for excellence in all aspects of our operations.
“While this is an extremely isolated event, we have put in place additional measures to address this incident, including reviewing our procedures at nappy change time to include an additional educator.
“We are pleased to know the infant has now made a full recovery and look forward to welcoming him back to our centre in the near future."
Charisa Bossinakis