Have I overreacted ? - Nursery

[sre123]

My old 10 month old daughter came home with this scratch today. Pic attached.

This is the 3rd time she's been attacked by the same child. I always have to ask the nursery workers directly if she's been "attacked" (for the lack of a better word, I don't want to sound overdramatic) They give me an accident form, but never tell me directly what happened. Only when I dig further they tell me what happened.

I have now fired off an email to the nursery manager and asked them to supervise the children's interactions more closely so that this won't happen again.

Have I overreacted?

Is she not in a baby room? How old is this other child ?

That looks nasty bless her.

How old is the other child? Is it the same child hurting her or different children each time?

They said the other child is "a few months older".

She's in a baby room.

The other child is a few months older.

That's a good question - I'll ask the manager tomorrow.

How did this happen?
Other child pushed her? Child's nail?

It's very near her eye and it looks deep.
I'd be extremely concerned about this especially as it's the third time /same child.

Are there cameras?

Having to dig for information is awful.

You have done the right thing.

Yes babies do this but, 3 in a short space of time would make me think they intervene a little more and when moving away move the scratcher or give them something to do.

One adult to 3 babies I believe?

I don’t think you overreacted. I worked in nurseries for years, and when there is a child that can be a little rough with the other kids that child has to be closely supervised or even kept separate from the other kids. I would ask for a meeting to discuss what the plan is to keep you child safe. The occasional scratch or bite from another kid is to be expected, but if it’s happening all the time I would be concerned at the lack of supervision.

That looks sore, bless her - hope she is ok. From my POV that’s not an overreaction from your side. I would be exactly the same, measures need to be put in place. Firstly, she shouldn’t be being hurt repeatedly at nursery by the same child (something should be done to prevent it) and secondly she could grow a fear of nursery if this continues and it isn’t deemed by her to be a positive and safe space anymore.

I’m an ex nursery manager. Baby room ratio of children to adults is very high so if this has happened 3 times in quick succession I’d be extremely concerned.

Their lack of transparency about the circumstances surrounding the incident also screams red flag to me.

I would not be at all happy about this. That’s not just a superficial scratch, it’s been done with some force.

I would definitely be demanding more information and wanting assurances about preventing a repeat.

I hope your DD is OK.

My DC experienced this. Scratches and incidents initiated by the same child. I asked for them to be separated if interacting or 'playing' resulted in my DC being injured. You're not overreacting if it's the third time. If recurrent scratches and 'incidents' happened to a pensioner at a retirement home, it could be a safeguarding concern.

Mine has had a few accident forms for self inflicted bumps but never attacked by another child - let alone 3 times by same one!

They need to do something about this child. Up the ratio so this child has their own person watching them if necessary.

I agree with this .. it looks deep to be a baby scratch . You are definitely not over reacting

I don’t think you over reacted. The scratch looks quite deep. I’ve got 2 at nursery and the accident forms are always very descriptive.

They say who hurt the child, not nams. Examples we’ve had over the years - self (tripped over own feet), staff member (collided with x) or another child (bumped heads whilst hugging).

The form includes a description of where and how it happened and usually the name of a witness.

I’m really surprised you’ve had 3 scratches like this in a short time period in the baby room. I would say thats outside of what you might normally expect.

Ahh bless her, the poor little thing.

No, you haven't overreacted at all OP.

I hope you get some improvement soon

Tell her to clout the other one back. It should put a stop to this.

She's 10 months old...

Oh yeah! Looks older in the pic. It's impossible for nursery staff to police this isnt it. The other kid needs excluding if this is the 3rd instance of such behaviour.

I think I will talk to the manager tomorrow and also ask to have a look at the accident forms again. They are written in a book in a nursery and the parent has to sign it.

The parent isn't given a form to take home

I see! All of the accident recording is on an app now for ours. Before then it was a paper form that we took home.

Excluding a baby...

That would be hugely frowned upon by Ofsted if you were to exclude a child, especially a baby.

That looks like a nasty scratch, the third time from the same child? I would be concerned too.

I am not familiar with UK nurseries, would they check the other baby's nails and trim them if necessary? If the baby has long nails they may not be intending to do that much damage.

I have spoken to a manager this morning.

They can't tell me if my daughter is the only child "targeted", that's confidential.

They said its not bullying, its developmental.

They did tell the other parent to cut their child's nails and they assured me that this child will be closely watched and that it won't happen again

Also, does anyone know how I should treat this scratch?

Sudo Cream or just air?

I'm worried it's going to scar.

Any recommendations? xx