Mother, centre wrangle over baby's injury

Sarah van Eyssen's arm is broken in two places. Photo / Simon Baker

A dispute has broken out between a mother who says her baby's arm was broken at daycare while the centre says the injury could have happened at home.

Jenny van Eyssen arrived at the ABC Learning Centre in Kaiapoi, north of Christchurch, to find her daughter Sarah wrapped in a blanket in the arms of a staff member.

Mrs van Eyssen was told nothing was wrong and her 15-month-old was "just tired" from playing on a bouncy castle hired for a party on the Friday.

But Sarah was restless and kept crying all night, falling asleep only after taking painkillers. The next day the infant slept nearly all day but nothing seemed to be wrong with her physically.

It was not until Sunday that Sarah's elbow was purple from bruising and noticed by Mrs van Eyssen, who took her to hospital. X-rays confirmed her left arm was broken in two places. Now Sarah must wear a cast until the middle of this month.

"We've had to cancel our holidays and I've had to take more leave to nurse her. She can't go in pool, can't get wet, or anything like that," said Mrs van Eyssen.

"Sarah should be having a better Christmas, it's really not good enough."

Mrs van Eyssen is concerned about supervision on the bouncy castle as no one reported any accident. The ABC website promises a ratio of one staff member to four children for those aged 2 and under.

Either Sarah fell off the bouncy castle while no one was looking, said Mrs van Eyssen, or an older child landed on her arm while playing.

The different age groups are supposed to be kept separate, she said.

"Why was a 15-month-old put on a bouncy castle in the first place, without any permission or consent?

"Whether Sarah fell or was jumped on by other children, I will never know as no one will admit to it now."

Mrs van Eyssen complained to ABC about the incident and took her daughter off the Kaiapoi centre roll. Centre management agreed to refund the fee paid for the day of the accident and the day before, when a 3-year-old bit Sarah on the arm, breaking the skin.

Rob Facer, chief executive of ABC, has received a 20-page report from the Kaiapoi centre about Mrs van Eyssen's claims.

Mr Facer said two staff members watched Sarah and other children play on the bouncy castle, but Sarah was allowed on for only 10 minutes because she was only 15 months.

"Whether or not letting a 15-month-old on a bouncy castle is such a good idea, I don't know, but that was the judgment call of the staff there."

He said all staff were trained in first aid. Even with the benefit of hindsight, he said no one could identify any incident which might have led to a broken arm.

"Clearly, the child has been hurt. Whether that happened at the centre or at home, we'll never know.

"We run a structured, almost sterile environment to give the best possible care to 7000 Kiwi kids every day. We wouldn't be in business otherwise."

Mrs van Eyssen conceded it was difficult to prove exactly when the arm was broken, but is adamant Sarah was not injured at home.

"She just wasn't herself from the time I picked her up."