Is Your Child Safe at Daycare? What Texas Parents Need to Know
- Jul 11
- 3 min read
Every parent wants to believe their child is safe the moment they walk through the daycare door. But new state data shows that serious injuries to young children in licensed daycare centers happen more often than most parents realize.
At Adam B. Reed & Associates, we help Texas families every day who are dealing with the aftermath of a child's injury. This month, we're looking closely at the risks children face while in someone else's care — and what parents can do to protect their kids.
The Numbers Are Concerning
In Fiscal Year 2024, Texas licensed daycare centers reported 559 confirmed serious injuries to children ages 0 to 4. That's more than one serious injury every single day of the year.
Here's how those injuries broke down by age:
Babies under 1 year old: 30 injuries
1-year-olds: 122 injuries
2-year-olds: 148 injuries
3-year-olds: 160 injuries
4-year-olds: 114 injuries
Three-year-olds were hurt more often than any other age group. This makes sense — toddlers this age are walking, climbing, and exploring, but they don't yet understand danger the way older kids do.
What's Causing These Injuries?
The report also looked at why children were getting hurt. The two biggest causes were:
Indoor equipment or structures — 202 injuries
Outdoor equipment or structures — 151 injuries
Together, these two causes made up more than half of all serious injuries reported. In plain terms: playground equipment, indoor play structures, and classroom furniture are hurting kids far more than any other cause the state tracks.
Why This Matters for Parents
Texas requires licensed daycare centers to follow safety rules called "minimum standards." These rules cover things like:
How closely staff must watch children
How equipment must be maintained
How injuries must be reported to parents
When a daycare fails to follow these rules, and a child gets hurt as a result, the daycare can be held responsible.
The state's report also found that supervision problems were one of the top reasons daycare centers were cited for rule violations. This means many injuries may be preventable — if daycare staff are watching children closely enough.
What You Can Do as a Parent
You can't watch your child every minute of the day, and you shouldn't have to. But there are steps you can take to lower the risk:
Ask about staff-to-child ratios. Fewer children per adult usually means better supervision.
Visit the daycare and look at the equipment. Is it in good repair? Is it age-appropriate for your child?
Check the daycare's inspection history. Texas Health and Human Services publishes this information online for every licensed center.
Ask how injuries are reported. A good daycare will tell you right away if your child is hurt, even a little.
Trust your gut. If something feels off, ask questions. You know your child best.
If Your Child Has Been Hurt in Daycare
If your child was seriously injured while in the care of a daycare center, you may have questions about what happened — and what your rights are. Daycare injury cases can be complicated, especially when it comes to proving what the facility did or didn't do to keep your child safe.
At Adam B. Reed & Associates, we understand how frightening it is when your child gets hurt in a place you trusted to keep them safe. We're here to help you get answers.
We offer free consultations, and you pay nothing unless we win your case. Our team is available 24/7, and we serve both English- and Spanish-speaking families across Texas.
Call us today to talk about what happened to your child. We're here to listen, and we're ready to fight for your family.
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