Incident at Nursery, how much do I lose my shit over it?

[CerseiForTheWin]

Name changed as Ive been sounding off about this so much that it could be recognisable.

DS started nursery a few weeks back, he’s ten months old. I didn’t want him to go particularly but I have to work and that’s a whole other thread. No family nearby to help, just me DH and DS. He does 3.5 days and I compress full time hours to have him for the other 1.5 days.

I have been thinking they were a bit rubbish with a few aspects, like not really helping him with his bottle so it’s either going all over his clothes and he had a rash on his chest from it, or he’s not really bothering to drink at all. He doesn’t eat much yet really so the formula is definitely still an important part of his diet. Added to that they’re crap with updates, I have no real idea what he does in there all day, all we get at pick up is ‘he’s been really good today’ what does that even mean?!

Anyway, got the dreaded nursery phone call at work on Friday. They emphasised the fact that he was ‘absolutely fine’ but had a slight injury to his fingers as they’ve got trapped in a door that someone opened. I thought we’ll that’s a bit shit why was he near the door but they said he’d just ‘grazed’ his fingers but had had lots of cuddles and was fine.

DH picked up- he’s not fine, he’s had the skin taken off the ends of two of his fingers. They’ve not dressed it or anything, it’s just raw. Apparently it looked worse than it was because he kept putting his fingers in his mouth. Duh. The key worker waved the accident form at DH and he signed it but frustratingly didn’t know he was supposed to receive a copy. She didn’t give him one. He says he just wanted to get DS home but was shocked at how bad it looked. So I don’t know exactly what happened.

have included a pic. Keeping the fingers clean is a nightmare. They’re really sore.

Obviously I’m really angry. I’ll email and have a meeting with the manger as I want to know exactly what happened. How mad would you go if it was your baby, and has anybody had any similar indecent happen at their nursery?

looking at pulling him out to go somewhere else too but slightly stuck for availability for the times we need and location but have started enquiring.

I’m definitely not over reacting am I ? Incidentally I work in childcare myself in a different capacity and in 14 years of that have never caused injury to a child in any way. The kind of accidents I might expect are bumps and falls etc but this is something else.

That was my first thought.

I would seek to the manager or owners. We had an incident at nursery where wooden crate fell on my daughter, the staff explanation didn't make sense. The manager investigated and the member of staff had lied to avoid getting into trouble. Disciplinary procedures were followed and she left shortly afterwards.

I would take him to an out of hours service today OP - I would have done that straight away on Friday given how sore it is. They might be able to dress his fingers and also might be able to offer a view re what type of injury is - when children trap their fingers in doors they tend to get bruising.

Have you considered a childminder?

At 10 months I would not expect my child care provider to hand my baby a bottle and let them drink independently. Feeding at that age was still done up on our knee with snuggles. I wouldn’t be happy with this alone, never mind this incident.

That was my immediate thought too.

The doors should have closers and hinge guards

I work in Early Years and there are red flags here . I'd be making an appointment with the SLT. Here in Scotland I'd also consider reporting to the Care Commission if I wasn't satisfied.

I honestly do not over react to most childcare/education issues but definitely pursue this one!

Looks like a burn can you take him to a&e today. It looks so sore he must be in a lot of pain

I'd try and see the GP.

I'd have a meeting with the manager, but whatever the outcome of that you need a new nursery

Jesus I am also raging on your behalf. You could not possibly go too batshit on this one.

Whatever happened there was clearly
gross negligence.

Also think they are lying about what happened.

I'd say it's imperative that you get him seen by a medical professional today so that it is recorded and documented.

Not least - because looking after a burn injury can be very different to a graze injury.

And you need to know today if a medical professional thinks it is a burn or not, so that can have some supporting evidence when you address the nursery tomorrow.

I would get him to a&e if there's no out of hours service near you. Someone needs to look at his fingers.

Find another nursery. These people aren't safeguarding the children in their care. Ten months old is a baby, not an independent person.

Hi Op, like others I think it looks more burn like…..do you have a walk-in minor injuries unit anywhere near you? You can even ring them direct for an appointment time (well, you can at ours…). At least they could get them properly dressed for you (& they can log and assess). I wonder if someone accidentally put halogen light bulbs in a low level light or he’s managed to touch a kettle? Whatever, it’s not good enough.

Another one here who thought it was a burn. If looks like the middle finger is blistering?
If it is from a burn I'd phone 111 or go to a walk in centre today, to get a record of you seeking medical advice, in case you go down the reporting/complaints route

Agree with pp. Official complaint, ask for proper explanation in writing from member of staff who was present. GP. Report to Ofsted. Withdraw your child.
Accidents happen but I would expect them to be explaining themselves a lot better, including how the situation arose and what measures are in place to prevent it. The fact that they haven't undermines trust

28 degrees? Maybe he pulled himself up using something that got hot in the sun?

I was all geared up to say accidents happen but....
The pic shows an awful injury - poor dc
He is only 10 months - he should have had the closest of supervision
He needs better monitoring of drinking
They didn't let you know til pick up time
So yes you wnbu to lose your shit!

You should be able to get an out of hours GP appointment by calling 111.

Without medical advice I wouldn't be messing about putting sprays or creams on it when you don't know what type of injury it is - you could easily make it worse.

I have burnt myself all too many times. That looks like a burn from very quickly touching hot metal, or a scald from a hot drink. Looks just like the one I got from a boiling water tap.

I'd certainly want to review cctv if possible

That really doesn’t look like a door injury to me. I would take him to the walk-in centre today

I would not be happy about that at all.

Did you take a picture on day of injury?

That does not look like a door injury - why would the middle of his fingers be affected but not the sides? Also all nurseries have to gave all doors fitted with finger guards ( especially in a baby room!!) something is really not adding up

I would be thinking it was a burn and worried about infection.

this needs reporting to the authorities and investigating - I’m not sure if it’s local authority dept or ofsted but it’s urgent to do this.

hope your little one is ok x

I think it looks much more like a burn than a graze, how on earth did that happen? Either they don't know or they are not telling the truth, neither would fill me with confidence.

I'd go to minor injuries or A&E, that would be so easy to get infected. Poor little chap, must be so painful.

You need to go nuclear on this one, the nursery need to review their practices and procedures.

Another one calling bullshit on their door explanation. That clearly sounds a lot better from their point of view compared to a burn.

I can’t see how you could rip off skin in that that way even if his fingers were jammed and ‘pulled out’ of the jam with force. I think that would take the nail off rather than a chunk of skin.

I would take him to the doctors they would be able to recognise a burn.

Looks like a burn/scald to me too. Dipped his fingers in something hot, like a mug of tea, but definitely not squashed in a door. The lying about what happened is as bad as the incident itself. I wouldn’t trust them again.