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AIBU?

To expect a 5 year old not to bite me.

65 replies

Cravey · 28/02/2014 12:06

A five year old dog yh I could accept. Wouldn't be happy of course but maybe understand. A five year old child though. Aibu in expecting his parent to at least tell him off. Not laugh and say oh he's so bad tempered. He bit my bloody hand so hard it drew blood and I think I might want a tetanus. I knew there was a reason I don't like children. This is one of them. Really though to be serious I'm not wrong to expect him to be disciplined am I ? Oh and the reason for the bite. Because he wanted a camera to play with. A four hundred pound camera that doesn't belong to me. I said no. He bit me. I should add I've known this little boy for all his life and I don't think he has any special needs. Although if he had I'm not saying he should be able to go round biting people. That's him struck off the xmas list.

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Pumpkinpositive · 28/02/2014 12:10

What, if anything, did his parents say? Is he a relative?

Edendance · 28/02/2014 12:12

Oh wow! You can't really blame the child though, it sounds like the parents don't really worry about it or deal with it. If it broke the skin then do get it checked with the dr re tetanus.

DidoTheDodo · 28/02/2014 12:13

Human bites are far more dangerous than dog bites owing to the large amount of bacteria we have in our mouths.

Biting is unacceptable - to draw blood utterly unacceptable, the parents reaction beyond unacceptable.

I wouldn't be seeing this child again in the foreseeable future.

ShabbyChic8 · 28/02/2014 12:23

I agree Edendance. It is not the kind of behaviour I'd expect from a five yo but if that's the parents' attitude then you can't blame the child for doing it. I have had similar issues in the past with my sis and my nephews. I have disciplined them at the time (as in demanded an apology and explained why) but it's just a drop in the ocean when my sis lets them do as they please the rest of the time. I can understand things happen, children aren't perfect but if parents were apologetic then it wouldn't have been so frustrating.

ForgettableTampon · 28/02/2014 12:28

how upsetting for you

yes human bites can be quite horrible, medically speaking; see your GP, get it looked at

Chippednailvarnish · 28/02/2014 12:35

I'd be telling the parents that they are a disgrace and dropping them like a hot stone. You need to see your GP.

LoonvanBoon · 28/02/2014 12:40

Of course YANBU - that's outrageous behaviour on the part of the child, & even more so on the part of the parents! I can't believe they thought it was funny.

Please do get medical attention, ASAP - you'll need a tetanus booster at least. My DS collided with a child once & ended up with a bite wound - accidental, in that case, but he was given both a tetanus jab & antibiotics. As other posters have said, human bites are potentially serious, & the hand is apparently one of the most dangerous places to be bitten.

Unexpected · 28/02/2014 12:40

I think that's horrific, both the biting and the parent's response. Aged 2 might be acceptable, aged 5 not. Presumably this child is already in school and therefore has plenty of experience of learning to share, take turns, not grab other people's belongings etc. Does he normally behave like this?

However, if that response from his parent is indicative of their normal parenting style I'm not surprised he thinks this is an acceptable way to behave. I would consider emailing the parent and letting them know that you have needed a tetanus injection.

BlackeyedSusan · 28/02/2014 12:42

ouch, poor you. it really hurts. however, I have never yet had any trouble from human bites, neither has ex, to reassure you.

the parents should have disciplined the child.

Cravey · 28/02/2014 12:57

It did indeed hurt. His mum was very dismissive and said oh he's got a terrible temper. I did say to him look what you've done to aunty cravey. His response. I want the camera. I don't think they will be popping in for coffee anymore. I can't be doing with that. I also think I do need a tetanus. Happy days. I shall be calling her later after I've seen the gp and telling her if I've had to have a tetanus. I did say to her today that she should have told him off. She shrugged her shoulders and mumbled something about everyone having different standards. Which is fine but not in my house.

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Cravey · 28/02/2014 12:59

Also he's not a relative. But I don't see what difference that would have made to be honest.

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WheelieBinThief · 28/02/2014 13:10

Sod that. I wouldn't be seeing either child or parents again.

frogslegs35 · 28/02/2014 13:13

Yanbu.

Different standards
No, it's called poor parenting. It's not acceptable that a 5 year old is going around biting people. As others have said though, you can't really blame the child if he has no discipline.

chattychattyboomba · 28/02/2014 13:23

That's absolutely unacceptable...not sure I would have been able to restrain myself if I were attacked like this. 5 is way way way too old to be doing this! The others are right though it is the parents who are to blame. I wouldn't want to see them again or if I did I would tell the parents to explain why they think their child biting is acceptable behaviour. If they said 'it's not' I would say, I couldn't tell by your reaction! If it was my child I would be MORTIFIED.

Sallyingforth · 28/02/2014 13:31

That is entirely unacceptable behaviour both by the child and by its mother.
I would make it very clear that the child is not be welcome in my house again. That would probably mean the mother wouldn't come either, which saves you having to ban her as well.
You said a dog bite might be acceptable. If that happened here I would certainly ban the dog as well.

YouTheCat · 28/02/2014 13:32

Will she still be shrugging her shoulders when he's 10 and she is having the crap beaten out of her by her child?

My 19 year old still bites but he has very severe additional needs.

Cravey · 28/02/2014 13:41

See cat if he had special needs then I could understand but as far as I'm aware he hasn't. He just kicks off if he can't have what he wants. She just called me and asked me how my hand was. I explained that it bloody hurts and that I am going to see gp regarding a tetanus. Her response. Oh don't be daft it wasn't that bad. I then got into what was likely to become a heated debate by asking her what she would have done if my dog had bitten her son. Well of course I would have wanted it put to sleep was her response. At which point I ended the call. And sad to say it I think also our friendship.

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YouTheCat · 28/02/2014 14:03

Do you really want to be friends with someone like that though?

If she gives any further response ask her what she will do when her precious child is over the age of criminal responsibility (10) and is still doing this. Does she think the police/school will accept 'it wasn't that bad' as some kind of excuse? She is doing her ds no favours at all.

BirthdayMuppet · 28/02/2014 14:13

I'd have struggled not to smack/push him away tbh. One's instinctive reaction to being unexpectedly badly hurt is normally to remove yourself or the 'threat'. Anyway, you're well shot of the pair of them frankly, they don't exactly sound pleasant people. Withdraw quietly but firmly from the relationship and don't look back.

Cravey · 28/02/2014 14:37

If I'm honest I did struggle not to push him away. Managed it thought. Am booked in for a tetanus in an hour. So not a happy bunny. Her husband has called mine. What with us living in the 18 century and all that. He would like my hubby to have a word as his wife is upset. My hubby calmly told him to fuck off. Lol. Oh and he also mentioned that maybe the little lad needs a muzzle. Which didn't go down very well. She won't be coming here again. I will no doubt see her put and about. Oh and joy my bar is her local. So will no doubt be seeing her in there.

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YouTheCat · 28/02/2014 14:41

Good on your dh.

You haven't done anything wrong so hold your head up in the pub.

waltermittymissus · 28/02/2014 14:43

They sound horrendous and they're certainly not doing their little boy any favours!

You're well shot!

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TheWitTank · 28/02/2014 14:44

Jesus, I would be bloody mortified if I was the parent! The pain must have been awful if he broke the skin. I could forgive the 5 year old obviously (he is 5 after all!) but the adults not apologising and laughing it off would have royally pissed me off and I too wouldn't be having them round again.

WooWooOwl · 28/02/2014 14:44

You are better off without people like that in your life, if they let their five year old get away with biting people it's only going to get worse for them.

Floggingmolly · 28/02/2014 14:49

You've upset his wife by remaining unamused at being bitten by a feral 5 year old? . Bin the whole mad lot of them.
If he does this at school and she trots out that line, they'll probably report her for neglectful parenting.

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