To ask childminder about this bruise?

[mc971]

My 11 month old has recently started with a childminder who was recommended to us. He's been great with her and he really likes her so we had no concerns in sending him there etc.

I picked him up today and after changing his nappy I have noticed a bruise on his bum that definitely wasn't there this morning.

I obviously want to ask her about it but I don't want to come across as though I'm insinuating that she's harmed him. But I am really concerned and now have doubts despite everything going well.

What do I do?

Use your words and ask. Wait until you next drop him off and ask face to face.

Chances are he's had a bump that wasn't noticed by either him or the childminder,

What is her injury / accident procedure?

I'd just be straight up and ask.

Don't put someone's else's feelings in the way of your child's welfare. You have the right to ask what's happened. I'd also take a picture of the bruise just incase it does become a common, unexplained occurrence. As someone that used to work in probation you really don't know what people are capable of sometimes and you never know if you might need the evidence to back yourself up.

@Crunchymum I'm just wondering how he would have done it though as he isn't yet walking or crawling. I feel whatever I say will get her back up and she will think we are blaming her which is not the case.

Any accidents or injuries are to be reported

I imagine he's rolled or sat down on his bum on something like a hard toy.

You say he's not walking or crawling yet at 11 months. I assume there's rolling and sitting up etc so he is moving around a bit.

You should ask her although she might not have noticed exactly when it happened.

Babies do get bumps and knocks as they start to roll, move etc. The early stages of walking are filled with many bumps and bruises.

I'm a former childminder. Just ask, there is more than likely a simple explanation and I certainly wouldn't have worried about a parent asking a question

I just don't see how he could have got this bruise in such a private area.

And it could have only happened when he didn't have his nappy on which makes me think it's happened during a nappy change?

If you're accusing her if harming him then yes you need to ask. She will need to report the accusation to LADO and ofsted and will almost certainly be suspended pending investigation. So make sure you have back up childcare.

My daughter bruised through a nappy, they're only thin. It's more than likely from rolling on a toy or something but you should definitely ask her if she noticed anything

@FrannyScraps I don't think I'm going to out right accuse her but I would like to give her the opportunity to explain. If anything had happened which she knew about then I'm not sure why she didn't tell me

He's only been there for a couple of days and this has happened, it's making me feel worried and uneasy.

Just ask. I have a non mobile reception aged child and I always check with school when he comes home with a bruise/scratch that he didn't go to school with.

Well the likely explanation is that she didn't know. Why wouldn't she tell you?

My lb is crazy, constantly on the move and climbing everything he can. He's nearly 1. His poor little legs are always covered in bruises so at handover with his child minder she tells me what he's been up to and if I should expect any bruises and I do the same when I drop him off.
If the bruise is on his bum I'd assume he was stood holding on to something and fallen onto his bum and potentially sat on a block or toy.
Just ask her outright if she witnessed anything happen.

@Hotpolarbear he's not standing yet so I know it isn't that. He is rolling a lot though and on all fours trying to crawl

I mean you sound like you think she has done something and has purposely not let you know.

The most likely explanation is that he rolled over and onto something.

like a block.

Try it yourself, just not near any ribs as you might crack one.

Unless you use thick cloth nappies it’s totally possible to bruise through a dry disposable nappy.

(Parent of a very active early mover who was pretty permanently splattered with bruises).

Just ask her.

Chances are he’s rolled onto a toy. My DS used to do it all the time with mega blocks (when I was looking after him so I knew that’s how he’d done it), he’d either roll onto them or try to pull himself up and fall onto them. Nappies are only thin so a harder toy could cause a bruise.

Having said that, please look for alternative childcare. Your child has been there for a matter of days and you are already questioning whether she has hurt your child, it is unlikely that you are going to trust this child minder moving forward, this isn’t fair on your child or the childminder.