With his investigative book, “Les Ogres”, Victor Castanet has reopened Pandora’s box, in terms of scandals in private daycare centers. Except that according to the journalist, the Babilou crèches are not part of the black sheep. Really ? This is not the opinion of Bordeaux employees of the group, having worked within the Albert-I establishmentsis and Mériadeck. They decided to testify, after noting serial dysfunctions. To the point of disgust, strike, resignation.
First observation: the recurring lack of staff and, conversely, “overbooked” establishments with, at the end, critical situations to manage. “When there are two of us taking care of 12 babies, it’s not uncommon to find yourself alone. Impossible, then, to go to bed an exhausted child in the dormitory. So, too bad, he sleeps amid the noise. »A pressing desire? Caroline remembers having to “manage” in the children’s toilets, in the middle of the section…
And that’s still nothing compared to other scenes. Like in Mériadeck, where Marianne discovers that her colleague is feeding the twelve little ones sitting on the ground in a row against the wall. Faster.
Obviously, this lack of arms and exhaustion are not without repercussions on the children. “It’s difficult for two people to have eyes everywhere to manage the 15 ‘average’ children, from 1 to 2 years old, who, not knowing how to speak, tend to express themselves through gestures. » As a result, they beat each other up all day. Worse, Marianne reveals that one of the children “potentially suffering from behavioral problems was found by a parent on the boulevards: at 2 and a half years old, he had run away from daycare”.
“Children confined all year round between four walls, without ever seeing the light of day”
Overtime (unpaid)
Without going as far as these extreme cases, on a daily basis, these are “babies in distress who are left to cry on the ground, for lack of arms, even though neuroscience has proven that the absence of response and care damages the brain . It’s heartbreaking,” says Caroline. They are also unhappy employees who work “contrary to their values”, and break down in the evening. “It’s mild abuse, but it shouldn’t exist,” breathes Céline.
So, to compensate for this understaffing, the girls work overtime (unpaid) and come to work even when sick, out of solidarity and to save themselves waiting days: “On salaries of 1,300 euros, with sick leave , we come down to less than 1,000 euros,” emphasizes Marianne.
“The PMI came to visit us but the inspection was announced so the analysis is necessarily biased”
Ants, rats, humidity
Babilou’s ex-employees also denounce “infestations of ants”, humidity, the presence of “rats”, and the absence of outside – with “children partitioned all year round between four walls, without ever see the light of day.” Not enough numbers to organize outdoor outings, no fun equipment, nor budget to equip themselves. To the point that employees finance the purchase of toys themselves.
“On the walls, there was mold that Babilou had asked us to hide from the parents with the furniture,” says Caroline
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“We had three space heaters like this that made a huge noise. We lit them in the dormitory before bringing the children in,” says Caroline.
Obviously, they sounded the alarm. Alerted their directions. “The PMI [Protection maternelle et infantile, NDLR] came to visit us, but the inspection was announced so the analysis is necessarily biased,” they regret. And nothing gets better. They even end up going on strike, forcing the Albert-I nurseryis to close for a week. The parents then began to understand the situation, formed a collective and alerted their companies, since the cradles depend on a company agreement. “The town hall offered us a place in another nursery,” confides Jules, a father, relieved. I immediately saw the difference, if only in terms of educational proposals. » The girls resigned. They no longer work in daycare. Disgusted. “I wouldn’t advise any of my friends to put their children in daycare,” Caroline concludes. It’s horrible, because it was my vocation…”
“The situation is now stabilized,” assures Babilou
When questioned, Babilou management responded through its communications consultant: “We have indeed gone through difficult periods, due in particular to very serious recruitment difficulties throughout the Bordeaux region. These problems, particularly marked in management positions, led to several months of instability which weighed on teams and families. » Management specifies that “these isolated cases are in no way a reflection of a systemic problem in Babilou practices”. And to add that these facts “date back to the year 2023”. “Dedicated action plans have been put in place. The situation is now stabilized and trust with the parents has been restored. »
