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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Injury at nursery

28 replies

Seymourcrelborne · 24/07/2018 22:14

Posting here for traffic. My 3 year old son fell today at nursery and suffered a 2 inch gash/slice injury to his lower cheek which required gluing at hospital. Gash was quite deep so you could see the white (I think it’s sort of fat tissue) underneath. The nursery have no explanation for it saying none of the staff saw it but they think he did it falling onto one of the catering size coffee boxes (like a Nescafé type metal box) i Work in health and safety so I understand the risk assessment side of stuff I guess I’m trying to gage whether others think this is suitable equipment to play with or what I should be asking for next from the nursery?

OP posts:
Redteapot67 · 24/07/2018 22:17

Ask your son how it happened - at 3 he should be able to tell you
I know it’s upsetting to see injury to your child but sometimes accidents do happen - I think you could have another chat with them see if anything was played with inappropriately but I don’t think a box even if metal is dangerous to have in a nursery. I think you have to let this one go.
I bet the staff are as upset as you are about his injury.

Original poster
Seymourcrelborne · 24/07/2018 22:21

Thank you! I asked him and he was a little vague but I think he was just overwhelmed with being at hospital etc. Your right accidents do happen
And I really don’t want his key workers to be be upset over it although I’m sure they will be!

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Mindchilder · 24/07/2018 22:21

I'm not sure what kind of box you mean?

My son's pre-school have plastic crates and wooden planks to play with. There has to be a little bit of risk involved.

MissusGeneHunt · 24/07/2018 22:21

Was it play equipment or was it left out where it shouldn't be? Metal is not suitable IMO for play equipment at a nursery. Have you asked for the incident form?

MissusGeneHunt · 24/07/2018 22:23

I do want to add that children shouldn't be brought up risk averse, but there's a difference between that and exposure to obvious hazards.... And yes, accidents do happen.

TokyoSushi · 24/07/2018 22:24

Do they have cctv? They used to at our nursery...

LeighaJ · 24/07/2018 22:26

The toys provided include coffee tins? Confused

Mindchilder · 24/07/2018 22:32

Of course metal is suitable for play equipment. There isn't a nursery in the land that doesn't have scissors, pans, spoons, instruments, cars etc.

gretchinweeners · 24/07/2018 22:39

As a former nursery nurse I can say that we used to have lots of old infant formula tins in the sensory corner so the kids could make noise with them- we always used household objects and it's common place in nurseries to have household items such as these that don't pose any immediate danger to a child- falling on to one could harm them but so could falling on to a plastic toy. It's horrible if your child gets hurt and I say that as a parent to two children as well as a childcare worker but accidents happen and kids move on from these things pretty quickly.

tinatsarina · 24/07/2018 22:55

I agree accidents do happen but how did no one see how it happened?

Mindchilder · 24/07/2018 22:59

They're not going to watch every child constantly are they? It's not possible.

Allthatsnot · 24/07/2018 23:02

I think you should mention your concern that he was quite severely injured and maybe it would be better if they used something else that wouldnt cause as much damage. They may have already removed them. I would be more concerned with how they dealt with it once it had happened to be honest. I think if they did everything they possibly could to help your son and inform you I'd be happy they did what they could.

HerdofAntilop · 24/07/2018 23:27

My son feel over onto a mug when he was a similar age and cut his forehead open - bled like anything, the mug was undamaged. I was surprised that something with a rounded edge could do so much damage but the doctor who glued his cut back together at A&E explained that we don't have as many layers of skin on our face so it's easier to damage. It was a fluke a accident that could have happened on anything - could equally have been one of his stacking cups. This sounds like a similar incident.

Milkshakeminer · 24/07/2018 23:32

I know someone whose 3yo fell off the climbing frame at nursery and broke her wrist, elbow and dislocated her shoulder, nursery called parents and ambulance, her mum was so blasé about it, just went with her, told nursery not to worry and she was back a couple days after! I suppose my point is accidents happen and people react in different ways, you’re entitled to your feelings and if you need to bring it up with nursery then do so but unfortunately they can’t watch all the children all the time

Original poster
Seymourcrelborne · 25/07/2018 05:01

The best description of the box I can give is whoever mentioned formula boxes

OP posts:
Original poster
Seymourcrelborne · 25/07/2018 05:02

Yes they have CCTV but they said it doesn’t show what he fell onto

OP posts:
fabulous01 · 25/07/2018 05:31

I have twins and they have been in nursery since 9 months
We get a lot (a lot) of accidents...

To be honest I would be concerned. I would want to know the area where it happened, see the boxes. You should know the layout anyway so that should be easily sorted.
The little one should start saying how it happened
But speak to pre school. Sometimes they over react

Our top accidents so far was one falling down stairs, she just lost her step. But it was cctv and staff were there and it just happened. Staff member was also distressed but it was accident
Then one lifted a bleach bottle and tried to drink from it!! But bottle had been washed, and the lid was secure so they had panicked and got advice from 111 before ringing us. Bloke popped up to the pre school and saw bottle etc

Yes accidents do happen, but I think I would be more concerned with they toy. Ours play on crates so we have had some on that too. But did they handle the situation well. What did staff say? Did other kids say anything as at 3
The thing is go with your gut. If you have major concerns move the child. If not work with them to understand the situation

Mindchilder · 25/07/2018 06:31

So like one of those big cardboard coffee tubs with foil lining and a plastic lid? I have some of those to play with too. It doesn't sound particularly dangerous.

Original poster
Seymourcrelborne · 25/07/2018 07:10

Yes it was one of those or at least they think it was. They just said there were a lot of things out toys etc so they couldn’t be sure

OP posts:
Original poster
Seymourcrelborne · 25/07/2018 07:12

The nursery handled it really well contacted us straight away and we came to collect him to take him to hospital and they were genuinely upset with what had happened. The cut was horrendous ( but glued so no stitches required) although sometimes they tend to look worse than they actually are. I’ve never ever had reason to worry about my sons welfare there and he is really happy at the nursery. Hai speech isn’t that great so although I’ve talked to him a few times I’m not sure whether he is even aware of what he fell on. The story changes each time with him too!

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PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 25/07/2018 07:17

Meh. DS2 was running and fell into a table with rounded corners at preschool when he was 2.5. He's nearly 7 now and has a scar exactly where Harry Potter's is. There was blood everywhere.

gretchinweeners · 25/07/2018 07:21

@PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks

Exactly! It can happen with anything, the object they fell on to isn't really relevant

Also, how can the staff have their eye on every child for every second of the day - for example the ratio for staff to kids would be something like 1-3 so even though they will be doing activities etc at some point not all three children will be standing together in the staff members line of vision- she/he could bend over to pick something up and in that split second a fall can happen! It's just life 🤷🏻‍♀️

cariadlet · 25/07/2018 08:25

It sounds a very distressing incident for everyone concerned (you, your son and the nursery staff), but they handled it well and with young children accidents are pretty inevitable, no matter how well cared for and how well supervised they are.

It must be frustrating that the staff can't say exactly how it happened, but it's impossible to watch every single child for every second of the day.
As you didn't have any worries before this incident, your son is happy and the nursery contacted you immediately then I don't think you need to take things any further and I can't see that there are any actions that the nursery should be undertaking.

gabsdot · 25/07/2018 09:03

Accidents happen. I used to work in a preschool and the worst injury a child suffered happened right in front of me. He tripped over his feet and banged his head, hard on the table. He had a huge cut which needed stitches.
Often keeping your eye on kids doesn't guarantee they won't get injured.

Mindchilder · 25/07/2018 12:21

gretchin - the ratio can be 1:13 for 3 year olds rather than 1:3!