Am I being overdramatic?

[Hattythehamster]

My husband picked up my son (3) from pre school and was asked to sign an accident form as him and another boy got into an argument over a toy and my son got scratched on his back. They described them as ‘a few little scratches’ and made it sound like it wasn’t a big deal. My husband didn’t check his back at the time and signed the form and came home. When he told me I checked my sons back and I was shocked. To me these are not a few little scratches. I’m really angry and not sure what to do, feel like I need to bring it up with the nursery, but unsure what they can even do. Just want to sense check that I’m not being over dramatic?

Shocking that the nursery have downplayed what looks a pretty viscous attack. You deserve an explanation of how this was able to happen and reassurance that it won’t happen again. Your boy sounds a brave little chap.

Those are not scratches they are deep wounds. Poor little chap, I hope he is ok.

I would be absolutely furious if that was my child

That looks nasty. Where were the staff when this was happening? I imagine your son wouldn't have stayed quiet during the attack.

Poor kid. I wouldn't blame your husband, nursery should have been way more open about it.

I also don't think you need 111 at this stage. Different thing, but one of mine has chronic eczema and always has scratches (obviously slightly different as he is the one making them) and has had infections so we are always aware. These look angry but I'd slather in Sudocrem and keep an eye out, if yellow/weeping/crusty/hot/inflamed/itchier than normal/he gets a temperature then GP. Hopefully they'll just start healing.

For scratches? 🙄

Absolutely! Where was the staff? Also I'm sure this is not the first time the other child did something like this. Those are deep and some look more like bites.

@Amanitacae I think you are confusing humans with cats?? No, you don’t automatically need antibiotics for a human bite. No, 111 or the GP will not prescribe antibiotics for some not as yet infected fresh scratches. Antibiotics are given based on need - over-use is exactly why antibiotic resistance is now a thing. And no, unless the other child is Wolverine from X men and has metal nails that have rusted, and OP’s child was naked when scratched, it doesn’t need a tetanus jab.

Maybe don’t give medical advice on threads? It doesn’t seem your forté.

That's awful OP! My DD is the same age and if this happened to her at nursery I'd be going NUCLEAR. 100% complain and show them the photos!

See if they have wrote 'broke the skin' or 'bleeding' in the accident book- if not they have logged this wrong surely?

Be ready op as I expect the first thing they will say is 'your husband signed it blah blah'

Poor little lad!

That's a proper attack and I would raise hell about that. That kind of vicious wounding could seriously traumatise an infant.

A few little scratches - who are they trying to kid? They are minimising quite a horrific set of injuries sustained during their care.
What if that had happened to his face or eyes???!!!

I'd be contacting the local child safeguarding team - the staff are seriously failing to safeguard your child.

I bet other parents there would also be horrified to know their child may come home in that state.

I'm really shocked and I'm a child safeguarding lead!

Omg. That’s really bad

No way they are little scratches. Lodge a massive complaint - go to the GP's and ask for a letter and pursue the matter further. Nip this thuggery in the bud, the child who did it is an animal and needs brought to heel.

In all my years as a parent and nursery nurse I have never seen anything that bad. I can't believe they said a, few little scratches, looks like he's been scratched by an animal. I wonder if they checked him straight after and it wasn't too bad but really they should have checked again after 20 minutes to make sure it wasn't that bad. Either way it's unacceptable.
I hope he's okay and not in too much pain. Serious talk with nursery tomorrow. Depending on what they say I might move him after that.

Oooooooooooo. I actually winced when I saw that. That is not mild scratches! Definitely not over reacting

That's awful. I'd be really really unhappy.

Completely unacceptable. The skin is broken and the nursery need a plan to deal with this. They also should not have underplayed it.

I'd be fuming in your place @Hattythehamster, that is definitely not a "few scratches" soninwoukd be wanting to know who it was who assessed it and whether they actually checked your son over.

In you husband's place I probably wouldn't have checked him over at nursery for a few scratches so I wouldn't be too bothered by him not having checked.

Inwould definitely challenge preschool though!

That looks horrendous! Your poor child! I would be livid if this happened to mine (4yr old, in nursery). Nursery did not act appropriately. Hope your DC heals soon x

I'd definitely contact the nursery and ask for a meeting. Tell them you don't consider these minor injuries. The skin is broken, they are inflamed and obviously the result of some pretty violent behaviour by the other child (albeit he is three, so the fault is on whoever should have been watching and not intervened). I'd ask for a plan of action in managing the two going forward, which includes safeguarding for your son and the other child and a discussion with the other child's parents.

Those marks in the skin are bad enough that they should have been cleaned and shown to you. I used to find it difficult to speak out when situations like this happened but you definitely need to. Hope he’s okay.

Flipping heck, poor little boy!
How on Earth did another toddler do that through clothing? It looks like he has been attacked by an animal.
I am a laid back mum but I would not be happy about that. You are right to ask for a meeting. The other kid needs to cut his nails as an absolute minimum.

As per previous posters, I would say email photos of the injury to the school and request a chat. Do it today so they have it on record along with the date of the injury. In your email you should request a quick meeting at pickup/dropoff so that you can get a better idea of what happened. Eg.

• Did the staff see what happened?
• Did anyone check your son at the time?
• Did anyone clean the wounds?
• How many times was your son hit/scratched?
• Did anything else happen?
• What was the cause of the argument?
• Did your son instigate it or did the other child?
• Did your son hit back?
• What consequences were given?
• What is the policy for dealing with this behaviour going forward?
• Will your son and this child be separated?

That looks like the kid dug his claws in and clung on like a bird of prey, not scratched him. Poor little man. I agree, you need to clean it with more than Savion. I think the GP is a good idea.

Sorry but your son was attacked and I would not be taking that lightly with the nursery. I would want to know exactly what happened and what they plan on doing to prevent it from happening in the future otherwise I would be escalating it. I say this as the mother of an over enthusiastic 3 year old who is very big on rough and tumble . Could your son vocalise what happened?

I'd be absolutely furious OP,obviously the staff aren't keeping a close enough eye on this aggressive boy,that looks really sore for your poor boy and I'd raise merry hell with the nursery tomorrow.