Toddler Injury - Advice Needed ASAP!

[Unregistered]

I thought matchbox cars were for ages 3 and up.

[mom2many]

This is a tough age when kids get lots of bumps and bruises and I understand how you feel, because I hate it when I have a little one fall and hurt themselves. Fortunately most parents are realistic and understand new walkers aren't real steady and will fall a lot.

I think you did the right thing calling to let her know what happened, since you know she is very protective. I would have done the same thing myself. Just reassure her that this is going to happen and part of growing up!

[e.j.]

Would you give the mom the documented incident report, or just write it down in case?

Personally, I would give her an incident report to read and sign. Then I'd give her a copy.

Unfortunately for her little one, this probably won't be the last boo boo she gets. While I don't wish another accident on her, I hope the next one is at home so mom can see how easily and quickly it happens when kids are learning to walk. I'm always a little relieved when parents come in on a Monday telling me about the boo boos that happen on their watch. They tend to be a little more understanding when minor accidents happen here.

[Oneluckymom]

I agree with everyone else on here....you have done what you could and injuries are unavoidable. Just today, my 14 month old was getting out of the little red buggy that kids ride in and push with their feet. Although she can only go backwards.... In have wood floors and the thing tipped over as she was stepping out and she bumped her forehead on the floor. I felt really bad about it too. She is my climber and tries to climb into and onto everything.

What do I do, not let her get in it. I do however watch her intensely when she does use it.'this time my back was turned. Don't beat yourself up about it. And yes document exactly what happened and keep a signed copy from mom for yourself. I have an 18 mo old who has never had an injury (thank goodness) and I've had her since she was 4mo. Some are just prone to injury!!

[Crazy In Mo]

I give a cute little ouch report that tells when & where an injury happened - it's a nice way to show that you WERE watching. One child last week hit his chin & got a pretty large injury; I was nervous but the family is still talking about how much they loved the ouch report .
I never call unless it is a fairly significant injury. Kids do hurt themselves, I find if you can get an attitude that balances sympathy/"yes I care" with a casual attitude that "this is totally normal/bumps & bruises are no big deal"

In centers I have had parents freak out over scraped knees. Really? I read an article recently where the author was standing up for children's right to have scraped knees & bumps & bruises. I am all for safety but isn't minor injuries part of childhood? Who wants to live in bubblewrap?????

That sounds like a really cute idea!!! Can you attach a copy on here?

[spud912]

I hope I'm not derailing the topic any, but my 3-yo dd gets scrapes and bruises frequently (she plays rough). I would say 90% of the time she doesn't even make a noise or face when she hurts herself so unless I'm looking at her every second, I have no idea where they came from. If I were to examine her body right now, she would probably have 2 bruises on each shin and a couple of scrapes either on her legs or arms/hands.

If you had a tough child who doesn't make a big deal (or any deal for that matter) out of minor cuts and bangs, how would you report it to the parents?

I have another dcb who is extremely extremely clumsy (2 yo) who hurts himself literally every 5-10 minutes. Sometimes he ends up with a small bruise by the end of the day but I have no idea from which ouchie it came from.

I guess what I'm saying is: do you all literally create an incident report for every bruise and cut? I have always been one to not really make a big deal about the little things unless I saw what happened and/or it looks bad. If it requires extra attention at home, I will call the parents. Otherwise, I let the parents know when they pick up (again, only if I saw what happened and/or it looks bad).

[Starburst]

This is an intense mom, and she doesn't like any injuries, ever, which is why I called. I did tell her it was normal, but I know the mom is going to flip when she sees the scratch (down the whole side of her face). I literally feel sick about it.

Some kids are just Klutzy when they go through akward stages and growth spurts (such as during infancy and preteens). This one 9 year old I used to babysit (and she was taller than me ) like the second day I was watching her we walked to some parks by my house (I didn't have a car) and at the park closest to my house we were at the swings and I guess she let go for one second or something and she fell off. The swingset was over woodchips and luckly she was okay because she landed on her bottom, she just needed to laydown for a minute to get her barrings. I called my roomate to pick us up because even though we were just down the street I didn't want to make her walk. Then I called her mom immediately, but I guess she was used to these type of things so she just told me thanks for letting her know and never said anything else about it.

It could just be that if this is her first child she is just nervous- espesually with all of the things the news does about abuse in child care but never talks about the good things that happen in child care.

[daycare]

Some kids are just Klutzy when they go through akward stages and growth spurts (such as during infancy and preteens). This one 9 year old I used to babysit (and she was taller than me ) like the second day I was watching her we walked to some parks by my house (I didn't have a car) and at the park closest to my house we were at the swings and I guess she let go for one second or something and she fell off. The swingset was over woodchips and luckly she was okay because she landed on her bottom, she just needed to laydown for a minute to get her barrings. I called my roomate to pick us up because even though we were just down the street I didn't want to make her walk. Then I called her mom immediately, but I guess she was used to these type of things so she just told me thanks for letting her know and never said anything else about it.

It could just be that if this is her first child she is just nervous- espesually with all of the things the news does about abuse in child care but never talks about the good things that happen in child care.

good point....first time parents seem to have a harder time with it than those who are not. I had a family with three kids and I had two of them in my care. When the youngest would fall over her own two feet or scrape a knee here, they just laughed. But when I had their eldest, OMG they were on me like flies are to .................

LIke others said, just document it and try to relax about it. If you do not seem to overly concerned about it, the daycare parents won't either...

[Starburst]

I guess what I'm saying is: do you all literally create an incident report for every bruise and cut? I have always been one to not really make a big deal about the little things unless I saw what happened and/or it looks bad. If it requires extra attention at home, I will call the parents. Otherwise, I let the parents know when they pick up (again, only if I saw what happened and/or it looks bad).

I think it depends on their parents. If I had a child who was always getting marks and scratches and their parents are overprotective and you are afraid they may try to make complaints to licensing. I would do a daily health check and probably also make note of any marks and bruises/scrapes they have before they enter and have parent's sign a "mini report" and possibly do one when they leave too; so they cannot say they went home later and "found marks" on their child and blame it on you. And keep the mini reports in the child's file with the date. This also could help protect you if someone other than the parents (like grandparents/aunt/uncle/ family friends) drop off the child and the child has a mark that they sign off saying the child arrived with a particular mark or scratch.

[daycaremum]

I thought matchbox cars were for ages 3 and up.

Was this a helpful comment? I don't think so. I would let a small child hold a matchbox car, as long as child wasn't putting it in their mouth.

[Willow]

I guess I just have to face it - she is going to be upset, but I do the best I can to keep everyone here safe. I think it is just the fact that both ouchs are on her face - ug. This is a mom who works in my son's school, and I just worry about her complaining about me to his teachers and stuff. And she is friendly with another mom who is here...just worrying about the snowball effect.

I am probably making a bigger deal out of it then I have to. I just need to get her out of here and try to downplay how bad I feel. I know if I make a big deal out of it, the situation is only going to get worse. I just feel so upset about it!

I do the exact same thing.....I understand your fear completely



If it helps at all as a parent I would appreciate a provider who cared so much.

Take a deep breath before she arrives, it'll be over before you know it.


As an aside, are you at a place where you could consider letting this family go? It sounds like mom causes you whole heaps of undue stress. No one needs that day to day, especially over stuff that is so typical for her child's age.

[snips&snails]

ouchform.pdf This is the one I currently use - I do print it in black & white & I make a copy for my files. Only thing I would change is it would be nice to have a spot for the parent to sign

[MamaG]

Well according to my great grandma if you don't get a bump on your head before age two you won't live to old age. My kids should live forever!

On a more serious note if I was you I'd have a talk with dcm. Explain that if she doesn't trust in you to care for her child she needs to find new care. I explain at the interview how things work here and that if they have concerns to respectfully discuss them with me. That I care for each child equally. If at any time a parent acts as if they don't think I know what I am doing I politely tell them I would prefer if they truly don't trust me to find new care. That's how false accusations happen!

[e.j.]

I guess what I'm saying is: do you all literally create an incident report for every bruise and cut?

Ordinarily, I wouldn't create an incident report unless the injury was "serious or unusual" (per regulations in this state). Since Bunnyslippers described the dcm as "intense" and feels she will be angry and upset over the dcg's injury, I don't think it's a bad idea for her to write up the report and have the dcm sign it.

Bunnyslippers will have a record of exactly what happened and how minor the injury is - and that dcm acknowledges the injury is as Bunnyslippers describes. Bummyslippers won't have to rely on memory should dcm later try to make it a bigger issue than it really is. Also, if dcg goes home tonight, trips and falls and sustains a more serious injury, Bunnyslippers has a signed record of what happened at her day care and the fact that the injury was minor.

The incident report may also serve to calm the dcm down a bit. Sometimes, "drama mamas" calm down faster when they feel their child's boo boos are being treated with the seriousness they feel is deserved even if it seems like overkill to most of us.

[Blackcat31]

I thought matchbox cars were for ages 3 and up.

Was this a helpful comment? I don't think so. I would let a small child hold a matchbox car, as long as child wasn't putting it in their mouth.

It may not have been a helpful comment, but IMHO, it IS a relavent question.

I FULLY understand that children just learning to walk are completely accident prone and scratches, bumps and buises are part of growing up for almost all kids.

Initially when I first read the post about the DCG holding a Matchbox car and that it was what caused her scratch, I thought the same thing. Kids her age should NOT have access to a Matchbox car.

For me it has nothing to do with not chewing on it but that it is simply not recommended for that age group probably for several reasons...one being they are sharp and hard.

I have toddler Matchbox type cars that are soft so if they do fall while carrying or playing with one it won't cause further injury.

@Bunnyslippers......please don't think I am being rude as I am not and I am not trying to say that this is in ANYWAY your fault because I know it isn't and I know you are a good, caring and loving provider.

I only mention the car because IME, parents who are that over-protective will pick out those bits of information and will use it against you to prove their point that anything that happens to their child is YOUR fault.

If I were you, I would have a heart to heart with DCM about scratches, bruises and bumps being a natural and NORMAL part of growing up and becoming independent and stress to her that it is absolutely necessary that she trusts you to care for her child or you won't be able to continue working together anymore. I mean who wants to work with someone who makes you walk on pins and needles about everything?! Kwim?

In the future I would absolutely make sure the kids (especially this one) don't have access to toys that are not recommended for their age group.

It is just far too much liability and had something really serious have happend you would or could have been held responsible all because she WAS playing with a toy that is not for her age group.

Liability and logic RARELY go hand in hand.

Keep us posted as to how things go with mom at pick up.....hoping you are not a giant bundle of nerves and all goes well!