…to be mad at DS’ nursery

[Ohmy88]

Sorry this is a long one…

My DS is 2y4m & generally loves going to nursery. There is 1 key worker he loves in particular, H.

When I picked DS up yesterday H said he’d had a fall in the garden but was absolutely fine so no accident form. According to H, a while later & “in need of some attention” my DS started limping. H said one of the other KW noticed this & started fussing so H told them not to as he was just “being funny, dramatic, attention seeking”. H had a laugh about DS feigning this injury but said otherwise he’d had a great day.

I did think this was a bit odd at the time. DS might say “ouch” when for example, he has a minor fall or his cousin brushes passed him. We know he’s not hurt he just wants a kiss better or a little cuddle. But he has never faked an injury & I’m not sure at his age would even know how?!

Anyway I scooped him up & off we went with DS pointing to his foot & telling me he’d fallen. When we got home I took him out the car & put on the path while I got his coat/bag. He was rooted to the spot & wouldn’t walk to the front door which he usually does. At home all evening he wouldn’t walk, wouldn’t climb the stairs at bath time & kept asking to be carried saying his foot hurt. Today is my day off with him & it’s much of the same, when he is walking he has an awful limp. I’ve seen my mum & SIL & they both commented on it too.

I’m really upset that nursery have brushed over this & not tended to my injured child. The more I think about him hurting himself & not getting the care or sympathy he needs, let alone being left to limp & crawl around doing the afternoon activities, the more angry I feel. I know I need to say something to H when I drop him off in the morning, but not sure how I broach it & whether to escalate it to the room leader or even the nursery manager? Or am I being unreasonable & an overprotective mum?!

First if all I'd take him to get his foot looked at before taking him back to nursery tomorrow.

Why haven't you sought medical attention?

I’d get it looked at by a doctor ASAP and then go from there but H definitely sounds like they are in need more training. With young kids and injuries surely you always err on the side of caution and never presume they’re faking it.

But YOU haven’t attended to your injured child either? You’ve also just brushed it off as not a problem, otherwise you would have taken him to get him checked out?

You need to take him to A&E !

You're moaning at the nursery for leaving him but you have also done the same.. You have said he couldn't walk from the car so why haven't you gotten him checked out?

We have seen a doctor this afternoon - certainly not on MN for medical advice.

First, get him medical attention and then, armed with a diagnosis of whatever's wrong with his foot, slap the nursery with a complaint especially because they haven't followed the accident reporting procedure which I believe is a legal requirement.

Ok X post, but this was pertinent information that you omitted from the OP. Knowing what is wrong with his foot, you can now put that in the complaint to the nursery.

Sane as above, I'm confused about why you haven't sought medical attention either.
I agree that this needs to be brought up at nursery, but you need to have him seen to beforehand

I would get it looked at. My daughter had a similar incident at nursery another child put a chair down on her foot, she was fine initially, then refused to walk and I had to carry her home. She refused to do any walking at all that èvening and I found myself googling all sorts despite there being no mark or other sign of injury. However my daughter is known for being dramatic and attention seeking for minor injuries. She got up the following morning and ran about with no problems, if she'd still been limping I would have taken her to the doctor.

Bring it up with the nursery, but he might well have not felt pain or shown sign of injury at the time

What did the Doctor say? I certainly would be having a discussion with the Nursery. I doubt as your son's age he would know how to put on a limp and the Nursery should never assume he is being dramatic etc

What did the Dr say? That's kind of vital info to decide if nursery are bu or not.

What did the doctor say?

What was outcome of GP?
Hard to say if nursery are BU without knowing tbh

What was the verdict?

What the doctor said is absolutely key to how unreasonable the nursery are being.

Given all the completely unnecessary padding to your first post I'm surprised you missed out this super important information.

What did the medical staff say. Presumably he hasn't done anything much to it and whilst sore he's not actually injured it e.g broken or sprained it?

I'd definitely discus with the nursery as he shouldn't have been presumed to be putting the limp on but if everything is usually good I wouldn't be making too much of a fuss.

They didn’t see any cause for concern & suspect a minor sprain. There is no swelling or bruising & although reluctantly he is weight bearing. Just advised to keep a close eye on it. What the doctor said isn’t really relevant to my post tbh, he hurt himself & it was ignored. Minor or not…

Ok so doctor doesn’t think he’s faking and suspects a sprain. That is very relevant!! I wouldn’t go in guns blazing but I would calmly make the nursery manager aware that H was completely wrong to presume your child was faking it, say that it’s highly unlikely that a child of that age could even do so and if they’re hurt they need to err on the side of caution, call you and let you decide if you want to pick up.

It's a tough one, as you didn't do anything either until today. But his attitude towards saying he is faking it is horrible. I dont really see what they could have done though if it all looked OK etc.