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On September 3, 2025, The Office of Childhood received an allegation that an unknown child was left outside while it was cold in a wet diaper and their lips were turning blue. After completing an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Jackie Ruth found these allegations to be substantiated based on the following rule violation:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(E)4. which states: "Diapers and wet clothing shall be changed promptly."
On September 4, 2025, CI Ruth conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility and held in person interviews with interim director, Marissa Nast, assistant director, Nicole Hornback, and caregivers, Hailey Mealey, Jakira Moore, Lauren Bray, and Micha Lawery.
Marissa, Nicole, Hailey, Lauren, and Micha all stated that they do not recall an incident with a child that was left in a wet diaper in the cold and had their lips turning blue. Jakira stated she recalled sometime this summer, when a child was left in their wet water play clothes and was still in them when the parents picked up. She identified this child as Child B, age 2-years-old. She said the teacher who cared for Child B no longer works here, and Parent B sent a message in their communication app with concerns that Child B was not being cared for properly.
CI Ruth reinterviewed Nicole after hearing the details that Jakira provided. Nicole stated that at the end of the summer, the facility held a foam party on the playground between the hours of 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Child B was picked up that evening around 5:00 p.m. and was found in the classroom by his parents to be in the wet clothes he was wearing at the foam party. She stated that his fingers and toes were wrinkly from being wet for so long, but she does not recall if his lips were turning blue. Parent B sent a message the following day with concerns of neglect and mentioned the wet feet, wrinkled feet, and blue lips. Child B was not left outside in wet clothes.
On September 4, 2025, CI Ruth observed the message sent from Parent B via the parent communication app.
The message is time stamped on August 8, 2025, at 6:33 p.m.
The message reads:
"Dear teachers, we picked up [Child B] today around 5:40 pm. He was in wet cloths from around 3 pm till we picked up. His class had water/foam play at afternoon. His voice is broken, he had wrinkled cold feet due to the wet shoes, he was shivering in cold. The teachers said he didn't have extra clothes but in reality he had 2 extra pair of dress, one pair of shoes, 2 pair of socks in his cupboard and we changed him right on the spot in front of the teachers with the clothes he had in cupboard. As parents, we are very upset about this incident and feel [Child B] is being neglected. We selected KinderCare because we felt it's one of the best childcare in St. Louis and we would like to keep our faith on you. Please let us know if we did not provide any necessary items for [Child B's] care and we would provide it promptly. Both me and wife check our phone every hour and can get to you in an hour notice. Thank you."
On September 15, 2025, CI Ruth conducted an interview via phone with Parent B. He stated that the center had a foam party in the afternoon and did not inform parents that it would be a "wet" day. He and his wife picked up Child B that evening around 5:30-6:00 p.m. and he was in wet clothes. Child B had spare clothing available, but he was not changed into dry clothes after the foam party. He was shivering and his feet were soaked. His teacher said that Child B did not have spare clothes, but he looked and they were right there in his cubby. He and his wife changed Child B into dry clothes in the classroom. He spoke with Nicole at the facility and sent a message on the KinderCare app so that he had a record of the incident. Child B does still attend the center and Parent B said he can tell they are trying to do better, but he still has some concerns because this is his first child and his first experience with a child care center.
On September 16, 2025, CI Ruth conducted an interview via phone with previous staff member Carlee Bramlett. Carlee stated that she no longer works there due to scheduling issues, but she was not Child B's regular teacher. She was moved into his class during the afternoon of the foam party. She and the other teacher looked for Child B's spare clothes but did not find them. She said that Child B was not soaking wet and was just damp from the foam. None of the other kids in the facility were changed after the foam party either. She did notice that Child A was a little cold, so she wrapped him in her blanket that she brought from home. She stated that Child B was not turning blue and his lips were not blue. She stated that no other parents brought forth concerns about this event and her own son came home that night in damp clothes from the foam and was fine.
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