Children bumping heads

[Cookskitchen]

I have just returned from softplay with 3 year old and my friend and her 3 year old.

Background - This a smallish toddler softplay, all the kids run off on their own and play with the parents watching on. And I do watch him and make sure he’s ok!

My little one come running out cry with another little boy after bumping heads. In my personal opinion this is some fairly normal that can happen with children around this age. My 3 year is the youngest of 3 and they have all at some point had a bump into another child.

The other little boy unfortunately did have a small raised bump in his on his eye brow about the size of a small grape. My child had a small red mark - nothing in comparison.

As soon as I realised that the other boy was hurt I went over to the parents asked how he was? Said sorry, Didn’t realise it was a bad bump, Asked if they need help, asked if they wanted to get a cold compress. I was concerned and showed in my opinion appropriate level of concern.

The next thing I know 4 members of staff are around the parent and child, I’m getting pointed at with mad faces at me and my child. A member of staff coming over and asking is it my child that hit the other child. I responded with well they bump heads… and accident, the parent is crying, talk of A&E (I totally understand it’s not nice seeing your child upset with a raised bump! And possibly if that is the first time something like this has happened)
I asked what my child did -and why he hit the other child!

To which did made me get my back up a bit, I did stay calm and just sort of repeated myself, they bump heads, think it’s were the other little boy hit his head (the soft part of his eye brow that has made the bump swell up vs my son the harder top of his forehead, leaving only a little red mark)

The parents and the 5 members of staff at this point pretty much made me feel shit!! I was glared at as I was leaving. I did go over as I left and say hope he’s ok…etc.

This is an accident right?? Accidents happen. A lovely lady come over to me after and actually ask if my son was ok (and me at this point).
My number has been taken to follow up.

AIBU to feel a little annoyed at the whole reaction to it all? and I know I just need to get over it and not think about the whole situation over in my head!!

ta x

I’d make a complaint to be honest to the soft play place; total over reaction on their part and they should calm a situation like that down not escalate it.
These things happen and even if your child had hit the other one they’re only 3!

I’d also complain. They sound like they’re after compensation - either that or they’re massive drama queens

Just relax in the knowledge this childs parents will have a lifetime of worry and angst if this is how they react to a playground bump. Your response was reasonable. It was polite and it was caring for all concerned. If others want to turn playtime into a blame game then let them fester in their own little pit of anger.

Kids bump heads. Of course someone normally comes off worse. Certain parts of the head swell up quite badly if knocked quite innocently. Kids run around. Kids bang into each other. Unless your child has a habit of running into people head first and this has happened a few times, move on and let them fester.

This is a total overreaction imho! At our local soft play the staff don't get involved with accidents (this is made clear when you walk in!) I guess for insurance reasons? It seems quite a reaction by the parents too.

Sounds like a huge overreaction if it was just a head bump. Did anyone actually see what happened? Someone mentioned hitting? Why did they think your child hit the other?

Yes, this is an accident, pure and simple. You are not at fault, your DC is not at fault. It was bumped heads in a soft play and it happens all the time. You were entirely reasonable.

They've taken your number to follow up what? Who's going to call you and what for? Sounds like a massive over reaction on the part of the parent, who may well have some stuff going on, but moreso the staff who had no need to whip this up into something it absolutely isn't.

Try and forget it, absolutely no fault of yours.

The other child probably said "he hit me" as that happened from his perspective... but as you know children run into each other and hit each other accidentally.

Also it would be hard for a three year old to hit another three year old and cause a raised bump, they slap open handed, or grab clothes at that age, it would have had to be their little heads banging.

Hope you're little one is ok.