A near fatal brain injury, and they plead this to simple assault?! You would get more for a fight where the worst injuries were some bruises and the participants were adults!

I understand they prosecutor wanting to help out the parents, but I feel the charges were lowered too much. I wonder if the perpetrator were a man, instead of "a mother of three", if such a lenient plea deal would have been struck.

I agree with Don. Also, I think someone should shake her so long and so hard that she ends up with a brain injury. I believe in an eye for an eye. That baby may be brain damaged now.

If this happened to someones pet you would see a stiffer sentence.

This women should be in jail. I HATE her. Why babysit if you try to kill helpless babies? I also believe in eye for an eye, this monster should be tourtured! THEY NEED TO TAKE AWY HER THREE KIDS!!!!! Makes me sick that she only got probation...our system is a joke! who's the judge? (not a very good one). I have a 4-month-old baby boy right now and i couldn't imagine someone doing that to him, he's so innocent and helpless! If i were that baby's parents, this lady wouldn't be walking around free...she would have been in an "accident."

If you only knew this women and heard the entire STORY not just what is wrote for the MEDIA. Cindy is a WODNERFUL mother of 3 who is truely a great person who was in a situation that all the facts where not there including CHOP made wrong diagnosis 2 times. She only had this baby a week and there were old brain bleeds which ment this happened prior to the last occurance. Cindy handled things to the best of her knowledge and she contacted the parents like she was supposed to, This child was in many of peoples hands not just CINDY, The only reason Cindy plead GUILTY is becasue she did not want a jury to determine what outcome her life would have. She again has 3 small children who are taken very well care of as well as other children who she watched there was NEVER a issue, I wish people would look at people who has a crime sheet and a half befor judging a person who does not. Again I WILL LET THE FACTS BE KNOWN Cindy Berdick not only is a wonderful wife, mother, and care giver I would trust her with my kids in a heartbeat and I dont leave my children with just anyone.

There surely is and believe me when I say Cindy is a awesome women who would do anything for anyone and is the most caring person is the world but this has been going on long enough he life has been a disaster and not only for her but for her children. If you thought someone was hurting your child and even after this day took place would you continue to take the twin back for 2 more days. Ummmm I wouldnt

lets just say the put the blame on Cindy makes a great story doesnt it,,,,,Cindy woulnt hurt a fly and now her life is ruined,,,,

People are so quick to pass judgement. There are two sides to every story, then there is the truth. Cindy is a wonderful person and an even better mother. The media makes these stories sound 1 sided and never say the true facts. I don't think you can say what "you would of done" unless you are in the exact same position. Cindy would never hurt a child. She was the reason half of the parents kept their children at the daycare so long. She was the person all the children wanted to see and be with. The facts and evidence do not add up. And Cindy knew that the justice system did her wrong though the whole case, why would she let them determine her future? Taking the plea agreement actually shows that she put her kids and family first. So before and calls Cindy names and is so quick to judge know the WHOLE story, bc if you did you would NOT feel this way. I will continue to support cindy and also try to get the facts out in this case.

One more thing, they said this child had OLD hemoglobins as well: so how'd they get there? Why wasn't that investigated?! Hmmm

@Jaimee and @Janine — Thanks for your comments. This article is about the outcome of the court hearing, and Cindy Berdick pleaded guilty. I didn't say that she was a bad mother or make accusations... only what was said in court (where she did not speak) and during the investigation. So there was no way to share her side of the story. I don't have Cindy's contact information, but I would love to find out more from her if she would like to talk with me. If you'd like to put her in touch with me, my e-mail is jesseka@patch.com. Thanks.

I believe Jaimee and Janine were addressing the comments made by the ignorant people above, not directly about the article you wrote. I don't blame Cindy at all for not necessarily wanting to get in contact with you or any other media, and just want to get on with her life, with her family. Jaimee and Janine are right. As someone who's child attended the daycare where Cindy used to work, I can honestly say that SHE is the reason I chose that daycare in the first place, and the reason we remained happy there for the whole time my son was there. I too would trust Cindy with my child without reservation. And it just seems so unfair and unjust to the poor baby who was harmed that the person who actually did this to him is likely still in contact with him. Old brain bleeds show up differently than acute (new) brain bleeds on scans, so if your documentation shows old brain bleeds, that lends to prove Cindy's innocence. I just pray for Cindy and her family, as well as the baby, that all can move on and remain safe.

Exactly Amy we arent commenting on what people are saying about Cindy its not fair nor is it right Cindy is not the person they are making her out to be nor would she ever be,

I agree with Amy, Janine, and Jaimee. Cindy has the biggest heart of any woman I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. She had such a positive impact on so many children. Cindy would never harm a soul and it's extremely sad that her and her family have to deal with all of these accusations along with the negativity and judgement from others that DO NOT know the whole story. As previously stated by others the child had old injuries that occurred prior to him being in Cindy's care. I can only pray that the real monster that caused these injuries to a helpless child is found out. Sadly, chances are that person does still have contact with the baby. I will gladly stand by Cindy's side no matter what because I know she is innocent.

I believe the parents need to be investigated. Who were the previous sitters? What part do they play in this abuse of the child? The media need to report both sides of the story, not just what sensationalize it. People need to know the truth, not ruin a person's character and reputation, then when the truth comes out, have to retract the story. Most people never see the retraction.

An innocent person does not plead guilty. period.

FACT - both parents, family and friends were investigated.
FACT - both parents took and passed a lie detector test. Cindy declined to take one.
FACT - Cindy did not have to take the plea bargain. She could of gone to trail and had her "expert" witnesses testify, but she didn't and pleaded GUILTY. No one made that decision but her.

FACT - As stated in the Philly Burbs article Judge Bateman called the parents’ acceptance of the plea deal “honorable,” and told Berdick he would have given her a harsher sentence had they not agreed to probation.

The above statements are facts. I will not make vicious comments about Cindy unlike what Cindy's "supporters" are doing to the parents of the victim.

These are not allegations anymore. The fact is she pleaded guilty and is viewed in the eyes of the law as guilty. She had her day in court and decided to remain silent.

Let these vicicous comments stop so both families can move on.

False- she was never asked to take a lie detector test. Fact- her attorney didn't receive the hospital scans and reports until three weeks ago. Fact -The judge did not say that he himself would have given her a harsher sentence. He said depending on the outcome,there COULD have been a harsher sentence. I heard this myself while in the back of the courtroom. Fact- she had 9 week old preemies and an 18 month old at the same time.why would 1 crying baby make her "snap"? Fact- as a mother, if I had a mandatory 5-10 mandatory sentence hanging over me, I would do whatever I had to make sure I was around to raise my children. She will always have this on her record and probably never get a job again but at least she is with her kids. You have seen how quick people are to judge- would you allow yourself to put in a position with strangers deciding if you go to prison? Fact- this baby had old hematomas that the DA's expert testified were several weeks old. These occurred before Cindy even started watching him. Fact- witnesses were not interviewed that would have supported her claims that the baby was crying and fussy the days the baby was at her house.You can sit there and say if all this is true then why not fight? when the justice system has already failed you once, are you going to trust it with your life? There is no way i would EVER take that chance, especially after seeing how this case was handled. I m sure we can all agree this case has been a nightmare for both families.

If the guilty party is so innocent, why did she fail to contact 911 as soon as the baby was showing signs of distress? Why did she decline to take a lie detector test? In most of these cases, the parents are the first ones who are investigated. Obviously, the police and DA did NOT find any evidence that they had hurt their child. In addition, both passed lie detector tests. However, they did find sufficient evidence to bring charges and try Cindy in criminal court. She plead guilty. Why take a plea deal?? Was it possibly because she knew what was actually going to come out in court??

@ Amy -I does not direct my vicious comments to you.
Vicious comments were made by other people in this article and the article on phillyburbs so bad that the
Comments had to be removed.

I will not be making anymore comments on this case because the CRIMINAL part is over.

If as a number of people have said that she indeed is NOT guilty but pleaded guilty so she wouldn't do jail time then she allowed the real perpetrator of this crime to get away with it. Now they won't go looking for who might have done this and they can now do it again. If she truly didn't do it, she really needs to speek up and get the DA to take the medical records into account. I don't understand why they weren't considered in the first place. All I can say is, poor baby doesn't deserve this.

The parents were investigated as well as the other babysitters. As noted in a previous comment the parents took a lie detector test and passed. I do believe Cindy was asked to take one and declined. Why doesn't Cindy take one now?? If medical records supposedly show that the brain bleeds were old Cindy should gone to trial and had her medical experts speak to that but she didn't. She should of havd her lawyer question the other babysitters, but she didn't. I can't stand people saying that the system did her wrong and her life is ruined. Cindy did herself wrong by not fighting this for herself and her family. She is in this position by her actions and decisions.

I am sure Cindy is a nice person, however people snap. Her friends/family should be helping her deal with her Guilty plea.