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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DS came home from nursery sunburnt to f**k. AIBU?

187 replies

MamaBear89 · 12/06/2015 00:01

Hi there. Long time lurker, first time poster.
Yesterday, my son went to nursery. I dropped him off around 8am and went to pick him up at 5:30 as usual.
When I went to pick him up I immediately noticed he was heavily sunburned.
I coat him in factor 50 when I dress him in the morning, and (as per the nursery's rules) I send my son in with a sun hat and a bottle of sun lotion.
The woman working at the time said "oh, I don't know how he got that burned as it's been really cloudy, and so we haven't bothered applying lotion".
Not only that, but for the final hour/90 minutes of the nursery day, during which my son was inside, the nursery worker admitted that they had "watched his burn get worse and worse". Obviously, as with any burn, sunburn will continue to burn and needs immediate cooling and treatment, but this was not given.
My son was so severely burned that he's had a raging fever for the last 24 hours, is in pain with his burns, and is suffering from sunstroke. He's miserable and cuddly and very grumpy, which is understandable.
I'm absolutely livid. My son loves nursery, though, and is due to stay there until he starts nursery at the local primary in September. It would break his heart if I just pulled him out until September, so I don't want to just pull him out and be done with them, but I'm absolutely livid at the sheer negligence they've shown.

My intention is to inform the nursery that I'll be making a complaint to the LEA and then following through with this.

AIBU by being so angry? Or would you agree it's justified?
And AIBU by taking the complaint to higher authorities, or should I just let the nursery deal with it?

Any input would be greatly appreciated

OP posts:
findingmyfeet12 · 12/06/2015 08:08

YANBU

Furthermore you ought to complain as clearly the nursery has serious child safety issues. Other children could also be at risk so it's vital that you pursue this matter.

SoldierBear · 12/06/2015 08:12

That is a nasty case of sun burn and I hope your DS is feeling better today.
The whole attitude of the nursery sounds like it is verging on neglect. To see it happening and do nothing?
Definitely complain. And follow it up with a written complaint. I would urge you to use the word "negligent" in any complaint to stress the seriousness of the matter. If you doctor formally diagnosed heat stroke etc put that in too. Basically, make your complaint as strong as possible from the outset.

Lordofmyflies · 12/06/2015 08:12

I think you are absolutely justified in pursuing this. Your poor son.
I would get a GP appointment to have it documented and check him out and then request a meeting with the manager at nursery to discuss how this could possibly happened. The nursery clearly need training and policies on sun protection. They should have this anyway, but it obviously is failing.
If you are unhappy with their response take it to ofsted.

Artandco · 12/06/2015 08:12

I know it's already happened but I would also make sure he doesn't wear short sleeve tshirts any more in the sun, especially this summer so it won't agrivate the skin so much where it's been burnt
I always put sun cream on mine and then add a long sleeve linen shirt or thin cotton. Adds that extra layer of protection and that's why you never see locals in hot countries wear tshirts in the sun

LIZS · 12/06/2015 08:14

Ofsted or your LA Early Years department are the routes to complain . First you need a discussion with the nursery manager on how it happened and what measures they have put in place to ensure it doesn't happen again - retraining the staff to recognise that you can burn even when it is overcast would be a start. Hope he feels more comfortable soon.

WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant · 12/06/2015 08:34

Poor kid!
I was also shocked to have a pink child returned to me yesterday.
She only goes for a couple of hours, and only started last week.
I always put her in a long sleeved t-shirt, for extra protection!
I would, at the very least, take him to see the manager and ask for extra training for all the staff so it doesn't happen again. To your boy or any other child.
If they guarantee that all staff will be sorted by next week, then leave it. If not, go to ofstead or even the police as that must count as neglect! (From the nursery, not you!)

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 12/06/2015 08:54

Not surprised nor do I blame you for being fusious.
It was cloudy, so they didn't bother to put it on. Do they not know you can still burn when it's cloudy. If not I think they need training. And also training in how they deal with parents as well, what with her dismissive attitude when you spoke to her.
No you're not. Being unreasonable. In Mali g an official complaint

Altinkum · 12/06/2015 09:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Hidingbehindclouds · 12/06/2015 09:26

I hate things like this, would they let your child put their hand on a hot stove and leave it there? No! So why let them get burned by the sun when it's so easy to avoid?
Please make sure your child has extra fluids until the sunburn has settled, as burns leech fluid out of the body. I recommend a cool wet flannel to wipe down the skin during the night if it wakes him. A bit of calpol for the pain would not be unreasonable.
As for the nursery, a formal complaint and a demand for a change in policy (suncream on all children for outdoor time in summer term) would be the very least that I would do.
Sorry if I sound preachy, I'm a nurse and it really angers me.

grabaspoon · 12/06/2015 09:29

I am a nanny and fanatical about sun cover. Yesterday we wore all in 1 suits and long hats yet I was still putting so cream on every 15 minutes or so as we were playing in the pool and u was just worried about catching the sun.

LapsedTwentysomething · 12/06/2015 09:37

Awful. He must have been outside for a long time to be so burnt. I let DS play in sand for an hour yesterday (I'd applied factor 50 in the morning) but could see that he needed to get indoors by the end of that time. How long were they actually out there for and was there any shade apart from cloud?

sashh · 12/06/2015 09:37

You can't undo his sunburn, sorry but you can't.

A child has been burned at nursery, have they put it in the accident book? They have to, they would if it was a burn from a kettle of water, this is no different, it is something that should have been prevented.

They have also not given first aid to a child with a burn, how can they excuse this?

Once it is in the book, and if necessary insist on seeing the book and writing it in yourself, if they won't show you it then there are steps to take.

They then need to take any steps necessary to prevent this happening again. So a policy of all children wearing hats when outside, regardless of weather - odiously summer and winter hats will be different.

Staff training - staff must have appropriate training to stop this happening to another child. You can burn when it is cloudy, through clothes, through windows, black skin can burn - I know I've done it all except the last one.

Staff training on what to do if a child does show signs of sunburn and or heatstroke.

Not an expert but don't nurseries have to comply with certain rules? Be registered with the local authority? You can contact them with concerns. Also the health and safety executive.

You can get various UV monitors, some are electronic devices others are more simple and can be put on a child's wrist - note I have no idea how accurate they are but a nursery could easily buy a box so each child has their own.

www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B003E82SOG/ref=cm_cr_dp_see_all_btm?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

OK so that's what they need to do in the future, you are also entitled to some compensation from them, they will have insurance, you need to get this logged with their insurance just in case (and I am not for one minute wanting to worry you, but this has to be said) he does go on to develop skin cancer, if that does happen then the insurance will need to pay out much more than they would for a burn.

This is complicated and I think you may need legal advice, personally I pay for legal advice with my contents insurance, you may have that, or your son may be entitled to legal aid if you want to go down this route.

He also needs a trip to the doctor to have the burning noted.

When you talk to the nursery do not ay 'sun burn', say burn.

The bottom line is your son got extensive burns in their nursery and they did a) nothing to prevent it b) not put it in the accident book and c) did not give first aid treatment

keep remembering that and keep saying it to them.

ChristmasZombie · 12/06/2015 10:15

Ouch! That must be sore.
I think you've had some good advice on this thread. Definitely speak to the nursery management, perhaps even escalate it to the owner, if that's possible?
You said your son has only been at the nursery for three months, and you've already had two fairly serious concerns about their practice. For me, that's enough to withdraw from nursery. There are plenty of other options around, even if you have to join a waiting list or something.

Oh, and if his skin starts to peel, E45 cream is good.

birobenny · 12/06/2015 10:21

Can I make a different suggestion. You have said that you don't want to change childcare so close to school starting in September which is understandable. However you need to make sure that it doesn't happen again while not souring the relationship with the nursery. . Why not just show those photos to the nursery manager and calmly tell her that if it happens again you will feel obliged to notify OFSTED. Then when he leaves in September notify OFSTED anyway.

findingherfeet · 12/06/2015 10:21

I would be furious you poor boy! I'd complain to ofsted after making my fury known to manager. I guess then i'd have to take DC out of nursery though...

MamaBear89 · 12/06/2015 10:54

Firstly, thank you for all the advice given. I'm writing a very stern letter and will be requesting a meeting with the management, as I think this is something the nursery needs to address immediately. (23C today with heavy cloud cover, I don't want another child in this position)
I've been coating LO in pure aloe gel and it's working wonders at cooking him down.
Secondly, I apologise to anyone I may have offended by calling his burns severe. To me, this is the worst sunburn I've known, and it is severe to me. I understand that in the grand scheme of things it's nothing to most people, but it was a lot to me, which is why I worded it as I did, but I do apologise to anyone I may have offended.

The children were outside "on and off" for the whole day, so 10 hours on and off, although from what DS told me he spent the majority of the day outside.
There are shady areas around, although how often they encourage children to use them I couldn't say.

OP posts:
flora717 · 12/06/2015 11:02

It might not be a severe case of sunburn, but sunstroke in itself is fairly serious. ANY sunburn is fairly negligent. Angry Do check for any blisters appearing today.
He also overheated, this was not dealt with by the sound of it and can be very dangerous very quickly for small children.
They need to revisit their understanding of monitoring children in their care.

silverglitterpisser · 12/06/2015 11:46

Absolutely awful, OP! Ur poor ds n utter, unprofessional, neglectful behaviour from nursery.

Lots of good advice already, yanbu in feeling the way u do. Hope u get this sorted out.

BettyCatKitten · 12/06/2015 11:51

Christ! Your poor son. Shockingly neglectful behaviour of the nursery. Yanbu, go tear them off a strip. You must be livid.

Hissy · 12/06/2015 11:53

Thanks Altinkum PMed you.

mumeeee · 12/06/2015 11:56

That is shocking behaviour from the nursery. Sun lotion should always be applied if children are out side in warm weather even if it is cloudy. Sun rays can still get through clouds. Also once they saw that he was getting sunburnt they should have brought him in and made sure he was kept in for the rest of the day.

strawberrypenguin · 12/06/2015 11:59

I'd be raging too OP. I think alongside your letter to management to should contact ofsted - it is a serious failing on behalf of the nursery. Even more concerning is the fact the staff weren't bothered.
I know it's easier said than done especially if you work during his nursery hours but I'd be pulling him out of that nursery too

Flissity83 · 12/06/2015 12:03

I would complain straight away. That is not acceptable. Even if you had forgotten his sun cream/hat (which you didn't) they still have a duty to keep your son safe so they need to react appropriately. Definitely time to make yourself heard.

catswag · 12/06/2015 12:13

omg his burns are terrible, poor lamb, I would be fuming too
it is neglect
I would remove him straight away and try n find a childminder or nanny
or family to help
please don't send him bck there as lord knows what else they skip on

terrible

don't you feel bad it is not your fault they did not put his cream on

AlwaysDancing1234 · 12/06/2015 12:17

YANBU, I would be furious. You've sent your child in with appropriate sun cream and hat etc and they've also admitted they left him for over an hour while the burn for worse. They need training at best. Make sure you attach photos to the complaint email that you send to he LEA and Nursery Manager