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Find nursery advice from other Mumsnetters on our Nursery forum.

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Find nursery advice from other Mumsnetters on our Nursery forum.

Nurseries

Ds (15mo) 1st visit to nursery and winds up in A&E!!

44 replies

Natalie1989xo · 29/10/2014 09:49

So... I am due to return to work before Christmas and wanted to be organised in finding childcare. DS went for his first visit yesterday morning and I went in with him, he was one of two babies in the baby room, supervised by one member of staff which is fine. The nursery owner/leader asked if I would like to leave him for an hour to see how he settles.

I leave and return in one hour as agreed, when I arrived a lady said he'd had a bump. Going back into the baby room I see the other baby is asleep and DS was being held and cuddled with a cold cloth on his head. When looking he had a large bump that went from him eyebrow to 3/4 of the way up his forehead. His eye was starting to look puffy and he was screaming.

Apparently he was pulling himself up onto the table which had a tablecloth on it and the tablecloth had slid off as he grabbed it and he hit his head on the table. I calmed him and we left, he fell asleep on the short walk home and I left him to sleep. Upon waking he was sick and generally quite groggy. Very quiet and unlike his singy shouty self. I called DH to come home and take us to the GP to get him checked, whilst waiting he was sick again and seeming tired even though he had not long slept.

We took him straight to A&E where the doctor said he was quite clearly concussed and for us to look out for more vomiting or fits. He didn't get worse upon returning home and is recovering well with his bump on his head and his black eye

Now I know all kids have falls and bumps and scrapes, my 8 year old certainly has, but if he was the only baby they were looking after then I am struggling to understand how this has happened.

Needless to say the search for a nursery continues....

OP posts:

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lornemalvo · 29/10/2014 09:52

Oh, I am sorry. I hope he is okay. That must be so worrying. Poor little guy.

Natalie1989xo · 29/10/2014 09:53

Sorry it's very long, if you jave read all of the way through then thank you

OP posts:

mausmaus · 29/10/2014 09:53

those things happen. I can't count the amount of accident reports I had signed.
it's a bit unlucky but unless thd nursery was negligent (doesn't seem to) or dishonest I would not think about jt too much.
hope baby makes a quick recovery.

Stubbed · 29/10/2014 09:54

If the same incident had happened but he just had a bump but not concussed would you be ok with the nursery? My children often have bumps at theirs...

FishWithABicycle · 29/10/2014 09:56

I don't blame you at all for rejecting that nursery! I agree it takes a special kind of incompetence for an incident that serious to happen when there's only 2 babies. Most nurseries are much better than that.

ChunkyPickle · 29/10/2014 10:04

Only you can know how you feel about it all, and whether you think this was a freak accident, or negligence.

Personally I think it's a bit too far towards negligence. DS1's playgroup always used little clips on tablecloths, and they didn't even take babies, just 2.5 up.

Yes, he got more than a few bumps (including one that he still bares the scar from now - it was a doozy) - but it really was a freak accident, and would have been a lot worse had every sharp corner in the place not had the rounded bumpers on (he went head first into the corner of the bookshelf - hard enough to split the skin nearly a cm, but if it hadn't had the guard and was just the sharp corner it would have been a serious A&E job for sure)

DuckandCat · 29/10/2014 10:11

Sounds like an unfortunate accident.

At the same time would I send my baby back...probably not!

Hope DS is ok.

Natalie1989xo · 29/10/2014 14:31

My concern is that at the time he fell, the other baby was asleep, I don't know if the girl took her eyes off the ball or whether it was just one of those things. They didn't even know where he hit his head. initially she said the table but the other lady who was there with the cold cloth said he fell to the floor. I really don't know

OP posts:

juneybean · 29/10/2014 14:33

Have you told the nursery you took him to a+e I think they have a duty to report it to Ofsted.

Natalie1989xo · 29/10/2014 14:33

Sorey that wasn't clear, with the other baby asleep she should have been watching my ds. It was only them in the baby room and when I came to look around the nursery 2 weeks ago there was a tiny baby just sitting up who fell back hard on his head. No mat under him or pillows. I considered that to be 'one of those things'

OP posts:

Natalie1989xo · 29/10/2014 14:35

My spelling is terrible! No I haven't informed them. Perhaps I should do that today if it is an ofsted issue. He is due to start properly next Tuesday but i was unsure and DH has categorically said no.

OP posts:

insancerre · 29/10/2014 17:39

Accidents do happen, yes but why on earth are they using a tablecloth that isn't secured when babies can pull it off?
Also, it is considered very bad practice for nursery staff to work alone in a room. We also never close doors especially when changing nappies
The company I work for insists there must be 2 members of staff in each room.
How did she change nappies if she was on her own?
I would seriously reconsider sending him back

adsy · 31/10/2014 14:44

How did she change nappies if she was on her own?
The same way a parent or a childminder would?
It's not considered bad practise to be by yourself with children, you know!!

insancerre · 31/10/2014 18:43

It is considered bad practice in most nurseries I've worked in
A nursery is not the same as a parent

Applefallingfromthetree2 · 31/10/2014 18:52

There should not have been a table cloth that he could pull off-so an avoidable accident IMO.

I think I would inform the nursery and Ofsted, it might seem a bit OTT but really it is a breach of health and safety.

Hope your little one is OK now OP.

adsy · 31/10/2014 20:29

It is considered bad practice in most nurseries I've worked in
A nursery is not the same as a parent
but most CM's work alone so unless there is felt to be a safeguarding issue about one of the staff it shouldn't need to be an issue in nurseries either.
OFSTED does not recommend more than one staff member be present.

AlexD72 · 31/10/2014 22:46

Is he walking? How did the accident happen (where were staff) and did you have to sign an accident form?
Not good practice at all. I know accidents happen but not if you are watching the children and a good Nursery Nurse would be able to see the dangers before the child. Two stories from two members of staff? Alarm bells are ringing!
It should have been written down on an accident form signed by the qualified supervising the room and the Manager. I dread to think what they would have done if he was there all day. Would they have called you? Were you asked to leave contact details before you went?
I would phone the Manager to ask what happened and also to inform them he had to go to a and e.

AlexD72 · 31/10/2014 22:54

Just thought does your 15 month old climb? I'm trying to think how he hit his head to get a concussion. I would not send him back. If they can't watch him for an hour......
I hope he makes a speedy recovery.

Natalie1989xo · 31/10/2014 23:20

He is starting to walk and can pull himself up. I imagine, this is how this has happened. I won't be sending him there.

OP posts:

PepsiTwirl · 01/11/2014 20:03

Tgere should never only ever be one member of staff...... Also at least two even of one baby.

This is illegal....

hollie84 · 01/11/2014 20:08

Illegal for a nursery worker to be alone in a room, are you sure?

I wouldn't choose a set up with an adult working alone because I can imagine it being pretty dull and depressing for the adult being alone in a room all day.

Tablecloth in a baby room seems like asking for trouble. However, it is unrealistic to expect someone to actually be watching your child at all times.

PepsiTwirl · 01/11/2014 22:03

I'm sure, 100%!!!!

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hollie84 · 01/11/2014 22:06

What law is it Pepsi?

PepsiTwirl · 02/11/2014 01:29

Check with Ofsted. You can never have 1 member of staff left in a room with children for a day.

insancerre · 02/11/2014 08:03

Its not illegal. There is nothing in the EYFS statutory requirements to say you can't be alone with children
However its not considered good practice as it leaves practitioners open to accusations. Also from a safety perspective it means there is no witness to accidents
Plus there is no back up if something was to happen like a fit or choking etc
A good nursery is not going to just do the minimum to keep ofsted happy. They will be looking at going above and beyond to ensure the best experience both for children and staff
A not so good nursery will cut corners and compromise safety and put their needs first before the children's

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