Toddler’s Missing Braid Sparks Daycare Investigation and Lawsuit

ByMoneyReign

A New Jersey mother is taking legal action after her 2-year-old daughter returned from daycare with a cornrow braid missing from her head, leaving what the mother describes as a “big bald spot.” The incident, which occurred last week at Growing Kids Academy in Ocean Township, has raised questions about supervision and transparency at the facility, with the mother claiming she received inadequate communication about what happened to her daughter’s hair.

Tamara Hemingway told reporters she sent her daughter, Myla, to daycare with four braids on the right side of her head, only to discover one had been completely removed when she picked her up. “You have to use some type of force for a braid to be removed,” Hemingway explained. “It was a cornrow so it was braided down to her scalp. There’s no way that, I don’t know who could have done it, but I know for a fact she or a kid would not have done that,” according to ABC7 New York.

The daycare maintains there is no evidence the braid was forcibly removed, despite surveillance footage showing the child playing with her hair throughout the morning. Ocean Township Police were called to investigate the incident but have not filed any charges.

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The Mystery of the Missing Braid: What Surveillance Shows

A report filed with Ocean Township Police indicates Myla’s hair appeared normal around 11 a.m. based on daycare surveillance footage. The video shows the toddler playing with her braid several times throughout the morning, according to investigators who reviewed the tapes.

At approximately 11:45 a.m., one of the teachers is seen removing a smock from Myla’s head, at which point the child puts her hand to the right side of her head. After this interaction, the officer noted the braid was no longer visible in subsequent footage.

Despite a search of the facility, neither the hair nor the barrettes that secured it were found. This missing physical evidence has complicated the investigation, with both sides offering different interpretations of what might have occurred.

Communication Breakdown: Mother’s Primary Concern

Hemingway emphasizes that her main concern isn’t just how the braid was removed, but the daycare’s handling of the situation afterward. She claims she only learned about the missing braid when a staff member sent her a photo to confirm whether something was wrong with her daughter’s hair.

“They’re supposed to notify me. Just to even like give whatever little information you do have about the incident until you look into it further and confirm. But no one even called me to just let me know that little bit of information,” Hemingway said.

The mother expressed frustration over what she perceives as insensitivity from the daycare staff, noting that no one called to check on her daughter’s wellbeing following the incident. “I’m very upset and I’m very frustrated because this is my child. Like she’s not able to let me know what happened. And that’s the concerning part,” she added.

Conflicting Accounts: Daycare’s Response

The director of Growing Kids Academy told reporters it isn’t clear exactly what happened to Myla’s braid, but insisted there is no evidence it was pulled out. A daycare worker later stated the allegations were “unsubstantiated” and that “nothing’s been found,” according to Law & Crime.

Attorney Marc Caswell, who is representing Hemingway, claims the facility offered inconsistent explanations. “What troubles me about the case is that the facility deflected and they told my client various different things. They didn’t know if her child pulled it out. They didn’t know what happened at first they said that they had no idea that it even happened,” Caswell stated.

This perceived lack of transparency appears to be a central issue in the planned legal action, though neither Hemingway nor her attorney have specified exactly what claims they intend to file against the daycare.

Lasting Impact: Beyond the Physical Damage

Since the incident, Hemingway has removed Myla from Growing Kids Academy. She reports the 2-year-old has been sensitive to people touching her hair since the braid was removed, suggesting potential psychological effects beyond the physical loss of hair.

Child development experts note that hair-related incidents can be particularly traumatic for young children, especially those from cultures where hair carries significant cultural importance. Cornrow braiding, which involves intricate patterns braided close to the scalp, has deep roots in African and African American cultural traditions.

The case raises broader questions about supervision in childcare settings and protocols for incident reporting. Early childhood educators recommend that parents clearly document their child’s appearance before and after daycare if they have concerns, and that facilities implement clear communication policies for notifying parents about any physical changes, no matter how minor they might seem.

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Legal Landscape: What Might Come Next

While specific details about the planned lawsuit have not been disclosed, legal experts suggest potential claims could include negligent supervision, failure to follow notification protocols, or even allegations of assault if evidence emerges that someone intentionally removed the braid.

Cases involving children in daycare settings often face evidentiary challenges, particularly when the children are too young to clearly articulate what happened. The existence of surveillance footage in this case provides some objective evidence, though interpretations of what it shows clearly differ between the parties.

As this case moves toward litigation, it highlights the importance of communication between parents and childcare providers, as well as the need for clear protocols when unexpected incidents occur.

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