Baby found dead after being left in crib for 6 hours

**Courtney** · January 23rd, 2009, 02:51 PM

Police are investigating the death of an infant at his southwest Houston home while in the care of a baby sitter.

Five-month-old Benjamin Rendon was pronounced dead at Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital on Thursday after his baby sitter found him unresponsive in his crib about 5:30 p.m. at an apartment at 7000 Fonvilla, police said.

Investigators said the baby sitter had fed the boy and placed him on his back in his crib about 11:30 a.m., still wearing his feeding bib.

The sitter did not check on him until about 5:30 p.m., when she found him face down and unresponsive, police said. She told police that his bib had flipped up and covered his face.

The sitter called the child’s father, who rushed to the apartment and took him to the hospital.

Investigators said they found no signs of trauma, physical abuse or neglect.

The Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an autopsy.

I hope I did that right if not I'm sorry.

I can't believe this babysitter felt no need to check on this baby for 6 hours.

**theskyisfalling** · January 23rd, 2009, 02:53 PM

I hope to jeebus she didn't ask him to pay her! What the fuck you're getting paid to watch a kid and then not watch him? That's why my kids go to a daycare with cameras all over the fucking place. If something happens, I'll know the who, what, when, and why.

**Courtney** · January 23rd, 2009, 02:56 PM

That's what I was thinking!

"Um excuse me, I didn't get paid today, can I pick this up as we are on our way to the hospital?"

**sanityslipping** · January 23rd, 2009, 03:22 PM

Anyone else think these statements are contradictory?

The sitter did not check on him until about 5:30 p.m.,

Investigators said they found no signs of trauma, physical abuse or neglect.

Not checking on the kid for six hours seems to be neglectful

**Jaded** · January 23rd, 2009, 03:27 PM

Courtney, do you have a link?

**TheLittleFriend** · January 23rd, 2009, 03:29 PM

"...I can't believe this babysitter felt no need to check on this baby for 6 hours..."

Bitch! My baby like to roll over, face down in crib. I have to check her often to make sure she's okay. She likes to pull blanket over her face. 6 hours without check??? That's so neglectful! If it was my babysitter, she will end up in hositpal.

**Courtney** · January 23rd, 2009, 03:33 PM

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6226980.html

Thats the link to the story when I pull it up-sorry for not posting it!

**Vilijonkka** · January 23rd, 2009, 03:36 PM

6 hours?

When did she think she'd feed him? That's kinda long for a baby to go without milk... formula, whatever. What the hell was she doing for those 6 hours??!! Updating her myspace?

**ineedanap** · January 23rd, 2009, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by Vilijonkka

6 hours?

When did she think she'd feed him? That's kinda long for a baby to go without milk... formula, whatever. What the hell was she doing for those 6 hours??!! Updating her myspace?

Probably! Seriously, kids that age need to be fed every 3-4 hours. She never once thought it odd he didn't cry for a bottle? Do we have an age on the sitter? Seriously, THINK before you leave your kids with other people!

**Zibarro** · January 23rd, 2009, 03:48 PM

sanityslipping wrote:

Anyone else think these statements are contradictory?
Quote:
The sitter did not check on him until about 5:30 p.m.,

Quote:
Investigators said they found no signs of trauma, physical abuse or neglect.
Not checking on the kid for six hours seems to be neglectful

ME!!!

That's a long time without at LEAST a diaper change! This little trollop was either on the phone or on the computer, too distracted to even check on this poor baby ONCE! I say she be banned from the following for LIFE:

1. Telephone/cellphone
2. Computer
3. Television
4. CHILDREN

Kudo's to you dad --- I wudda killed a bitch!!

**Courtney** · January 23rd, 2009, 04:58 PM

I have not seen an age nor a name for the sitter, but I keep checking to see if there are any updates!

**Athena** · January 23rd, 2009, 05:26 PM

I'd say, if the babysitter was under the age of 25 or had no experience with a newborn infant, dad has no business leaving a baby that young with the sitter.

I've had no experience with a newborn and would be hesitant to watch one even at my age. Of course, I have sense enough to turn down a job like that. A teenager may not have that sense; she may have thought it wasn't necessary to check on the baby unless it was fussing.

On a related note - I get to meet my niece for the first time tomorrow! Woohoo! They're going to be staying with us, so I'll have newborn experience real quick, here. I'm excited!

**Just my luck sucks** · January 23rd, 2009, 06:07 PM

I started babysitting when I was 12. My mom always told me to never wake a sleeping baby.

I remember numerous times when I was 12-13 of walking to the nursery door every 30-45 mins or so and peeking to make sure the baby was still sleeping. I can imagine at that young age I would have allowed a child to sleep for 6 hours.

As an older teen/young adult I would have walked over to the crib and put my hand on their back to make sure they were still breathing fine. Not sure I would have done that when I was 12-13, unless I had been told to make sure the baby ate every 4 hours.

If this was the case, my heart would go out to a young babysitter whom may have not known to get close enough to the child to insure the baby was ok. Instead of standing at a doorway and just peeking in.

RIP sweet baby.

**Silvahalo** · January 23rd, 2009, 07:14 PM

I heard about this just hours ago but was on the road at the time, glad to see it was posted. 6 hours is a very long time, sleeping for 3 hours is very possible, 6 not likely.

I would be interested to see what is said about the baby sitter, experience and age. I started officially, baby sitting at age 12, even sooner than that for my own siblings. Unless I had been well versed on when to feed and what position to put a baby down to sleep,
I wouldn't have done most things right. However, even at the tender age of 12, I knew to check on an infant sleeping...not to awake unless for a necessary feeding, just check for breathing and make sure nothing was obstructing the baby.

My son at age 5 months was learning how to roll. Most babies are still getting that concept down, roll one way, but get stuck trying to roll back. My guess is the baby rolled and couldn't "clear", his head to breath, as is the problem with babies learning to roll.
The bib prove to be a significant cause of obstruction if the baby couldn't clear his head.

So very tragic. I'm sure the parents, especially the father who found his baby, are utterly devastated. I look forward to updates on this sad case. My sympathies to the family.

Benjamin, I believe you were loved and that you will be missed and remembered....
I hope that your passing was quick and painless...sleep with the angels little one.

**AMINFH** · January 23rd, 2009, 07:43 PM

My brother was born when I was 7 and I got a lot of the experience you can get with a good mom but watching her and being allowed to help out. When I started babysitting like some of the other posters around age 12, I had always spent time with moms and their infants before actually babysitting and had all the instructions for naps and feedings etc. My first newborn I was trusted with made me nervous lol I would constantly check her to make sure she was breathing! I always wanted to know when she was awake cos she was such a cutie I didnt want to miss a minute! Its a shame that this happened. I cant just say it was an accident...maybe she didnt INTEND for the baby to die but WTF do you think when you NEGLECT, ignore a baby??? And the parent either was careless for having such an inexperienced babysitter or was surely duped by this person.