What were they thinking?

[Unamused Cat]

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) - Two Newton parents are charged with neglect in the death of their baby who died of dehydration.

Alan Meador and Jessica Lenze are charged with neglect of a dependent person. They were arrested last Thursday.

According to police reports, authorities responded to a call about a baby not breathing on Jan. 20, 2008. Emergency officials found 1-year-old Domanic Meador dead. An autopsy showed he died of dehydration.

Authorities say Meador and Lenze had closed all the air vents in the apartment except the one in the baby's bedroom and had set the thermostat between 70 and 75 degrees so the child could sweat out a cold. Investigators determined the temperature in the child's room was between 90 and 106 degrees.

http://www.whotv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9700669

[AussieMum]

A very misguided old wives tale.
My parents always said the best cure for a cold was to sweat it out.

I never considered it for a child, I'm always paranoid that my childrens rooms are too hot are too cold etc.

Gosh, the poor parents have to live with this for the rest of their lives.

I do hope this was an honest yet tragic mistake.

[theskyisfalling]

I agree I think this was a misguided attempt at making the child better. Pedialyte people Pedialyte!!!!

[Dakota Valkyrie]

I wonder if "sweat it out" doesn't refer to a fever? Fever is the bodies natural reaction when fighting something. I rarely gave my kids "fever reducers" unless they were uncomfortable or the fever was high. I gave few medications for anything because I wanted them to be effective when really needed. But then again I am an "old wife".

[Kitty]

I wonder if "sweat it out" doesn't refer to a fever? Fever is the bodies natural reaction when fighting something. I rarely gave my kids "fever reducers" unless they were uncomfortable or the fever was high. I gave few medications for anything because I wanted them to be effective when really needed. But then again I am an "old wife".


This is the same reason my virally infected kids think I'm evil.. they want cough supressant.. I want them to cough the gunk out.. so they get hot drinks and a lozenge instead.

[sanityslipping]

This is the same reason my virally infected kids think I'm evil.. they want cough supressant.. I want them to cough the gunk out.. so they get hot drinks and a lozenge instead.

I'm with both of ya'll. Get it out! But, I also have the military cure for everything stuck in my head. Hydrate Hydrate Hydrate!

Gotta cold, gotta fever, lost a leg? Hydrate!

I didn't know you sweat it out for a cold, I just thought it was "Hydrate hydrate hydrate", although I do use the sweat it out method for a fever. But, you can't sweat unless you..... can you guess?

HYDRATE

[Athena]

Hell yes. Hydration. Until I was about 5, I honestly thought water was the cure for ANYTHING. It became funny to my parents, because they knew if they complained of anything, I'd come out of nowhere with a glass of water saying, "Here, drink this."

Of course, I say that with a box of anti-viral tissues and a big bottle of water next to me. First cold I've had in 2 years. :P

[sanityslipping]

Hell yes. Hydration. Until I was about 5, I honestly thought water was the cure for ANYTHING. It became funny to my parents, because they knew if they complained of anything, I'd come out of nowhere with a glass of water saying, "Here, drink this."

Of course, I say that with a box of anti-viral tissues and a big bottle of water next to me. First cold I've had in 2 years. :P

just make sure you keep that water bottle full, get well soon, and don't forget to hydrate! Oh, yeah, if you happen to have chest congestion, the military recommends a nice run to help loosen the gunk in your chest. And, no I'm not kidding about that.

[ineedanap]

Authorities say Meador and Lenze had closed all the air vents in the apartment except the one in the baby's bedroom and had set the thermostat between 70 and 75 degrees so the child could sweat out a cold. Investigators determined the temperature in the child's room was between 90 and 106 degrees.

Ok, in order to sweat, you need to be hydrated. Let's hope these geniuses don't contribute anyone else to the gene pool.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

Trials for the parents accused of neglect in the death of their 1-year-old son, Domanic Xzavier Meador, have been postponed.

Investigators charged Newton residents 27-year-old Alan Wayne Meador and 25-year-old Jessica Mae Lenze with neglect of a dependent person, a class C felony, in January, nearly a year after Domanic’s death. Lenze’s trial was scheduled to begin Wednesday but has been postponed to Aug. 5. Meador’s trial, originally set to begin June 3, has been re-scheduled for June 29.

[...]

Lenze also admitted she had not taken Domanic out of his crib for several days and that she “just handed an older child milk and crackers over the child gate to give to Domanic,” court records state.

A police officer at the scene of Domanic’s death also observed a 3-year-old child with a soiled diaper that appeared to have been on the child for some time. Court records state the officer had to tell Meador several times to change the diaper before he did and that Meador then “directed the child to wipe himself and did not assist the child in cleaning himself.”

Both Meador and Lenze are free on bond. http://www.newtondailynews.com/articles/2009/05/12/r_qan4pvplsruqipkh_kewxg/index.xml

[lucky]

How sad for those kids. Not shown any love... and that poor baby, to lay there dying and have no one come and pick him up and cuddle him.

RIP Dominac, xoxo baby boy.

And just to add, that I am 30 and I still think water is the answer to everything. It may not be the cure, but it definitely helps.

[akika666]

Hell yes. Hydration. Until I was about 5, I honestly thought water was the cure for ANYTHING. It became funny to my parents, because they knew if they complained of anything, I'd come out of nowhere with a glass of water ....

haha my daughter thinks water cures everything, but she thinks it must be externally applied. apparently in one of her Barbie movies, there is a magical spring with healing waters.