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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Poll : Is it normal for toddlers to hurt themselves

45 replies

freshstart · 15/02/2006 22:21

Ok. Straw poll here

2 in March.

Is it typical for a toddler to have the odd bump and scrape.

Tripping, run ins with other toddlers, misdemeanours with toys etc

OP posts:

SorenLorensen · 15/02/2006 22:21

Good grief, yes! Has someone implied otherwise to you?

FrayedKnot · 15/02/2006 22:22

I would say of course. Why?

RedRidingHood · 15/02/2006 22:22

Definately - dd has scratches bruises and grazes - she just runs everywhere full speed and then goes too fast for her legs

kid · 15/02/2006 22:22

very typical. DS always had at least 1 bruise on each leg plus the odd bump or mark on his head.

goldstarlover · 15/02/2006 22:22

yes! definitely! you should see the state of ds atm and he is only 1!

RedRidingHood · 15/02/2006 22:23

plus for a while dd used to bang her head for attention - had several bruises on her forehead until she did it too hard one day and realised it hurt!

Flossam · 15/02/2006 22:23

ds HAS more blue and brown on his legs than skin colour! At 15 months.

SorenLorensen · 15/02/2006 22:23

Both ds1 and ds2 had facial scars before the age of 2.

Nemo1977 · 15/02/2006 22:23

YEP ds is 2.4yrs and constantly got bruises, scratches etc

paolosgirl · 15/02/2006 22:23

Crikey, yes! Course it is....I'm probably a bit of a mean old cow here, but I genuinely think they only way they ever learn to assess situations is to experience them (within reason, of course - bleach and razorblades are still a no-no ).

mummytosteven · 15/02/2006 22:23

Yes, of course it is.

QE2 · 15/02/2006 22:23

Oh yes for sure! ds's aged 1 and 3 are covered in bruises on their shins and the faces or foreheads from tumbling over all the time. Too busy wanting to get somewhere fast but not looking where they're going properly!

SorenLorensen · 15/02/2006 22:24

Come on, fs - elaborate - my bath's going cold!

FrayedKnot · 15/02/2006 22:24

Yep I was just off to bed too.

meggmoo · 15/02/2006 22:24

Yes, Yes, yes.

Ds two in May is always covered in scrapes and bruises some self inflicted as he decides to hurl himself off a chair/sofa/stairs for the millionth time.

Original poster

freshstart · 15/02/2006 22:27

I have two children and lots of family children and lots of friends with children.

I believe that the above is very typical (and more in the case of my DS who is verrrrrrrrrrrry clumsy)

I am a childminder - fairly new to it really (6 months)

I have one mindee, 2 in march that has been coming for two months.

In that time we have had a small bump to head by pulling toy on top of them. A bump to back of head when mindee and DS had a confrontation over a toy they both wanted - let go at same time and both fell backwards. Small carpet burn on nose when crawling through our home made cardboard tunnels too vigourously!

The thing is - the situation is making me feel VERY stressed.

Mindee is very happy with me but I get this overwhelming terrible realisation of the huge responsibility I have undertaken whenever one of these bumps occur. Also majorly panic that the mum will think that Im not capable. I think not all of this is imagined, I get the impression that she is pretty mortified when anything happens and no harm ever comes to mindee when at home.

It really has got me wrung out - sounds daft but true.

BTW have two other mindees who dont worry me at all, they have similar scrapes but I dont feel this extreme stress about.

OP posts:

Lonelymum · 15/02/2006 22:28

Between the ages of 16 and 22 months, my ds2 went to casualty 3 times: once with a split open head which needed gluing, once with a broken leg and again with another split head which needed gluing. All 3 times he was in my or dh's care and I worried about social services being called in but fortunately we moved between visits Nos 2 and 3 so I don't think they got wind of our mistreatment. (JOKE!)

QE2 · 15/02/2006 22:29

Lonleymum

Original poster

freshstart · 15/02/2006 22:30

The thing that is worrying me and it really is : What happens if something did really happen that still would be a real accident that couldnt be prevented (broken limb or bad cut for example) if normal every day bumps and scrapes are met with this horror.

Its making me doubt myself.

Its also making me limit the experiences the mindee has. For example took them to the park today and ended up panicking and strapping them back in pram for long, long walk thinking at least if they are restrained they are safe!!!

OP posts:

RedRidingHood · 15/02/2006 22:30

FS don't worry sure the parents understand.

kid · 15/02/2006 22:31

As my DS always has accidents like that at home, I'm never surprised when he comes home with a new bump or bruise. I have to admit, if he never had these accidents at home, I would be concerned if he came home with bumps.

Do you fill out accident forms? If they are still leaving their child with you, then they must know you are capable of looking after him/her.

RedRidingHood · 15/02/2006 22:31

My childminder was new to it but I'm sure the parents know what the child is like.

ghosty · 15/02/2006 22:31

It would not be normal for a toddler to NOT have any bumps and scrapes TBH ... no one can expect a small person who has only just mastered the art of walking to walk/run all the time without falling over ...
Nor would it be reasonable to expect a two year old who does not have the verbal skills/understanding/reasoning to sort out a dispute with another toddler with a "Oh, Ok, fair enough, it is my toy and I do get to play with it all the time so you can play with it for the hour that you are in my house" ...

My DD was 2 on 3rd Feb and is currently sporting a big scab on her knee from taking a tumble on the way to school last week, has numerous interesting bruises of varying shades of blue and green on her shins and has a bump on her forehead that she got this morning because she ran into the dining room table when playing with DS.

She also will sit clutching as many toys as she can hold saying "MY toys!" if another toddler so much as looks at them.

She will also happily bash her brother over the head with a toy if he tries to take it from her.

If DH or DS try to give me a cuddle in front of her she loses it and throws herself at my legs, pushing whoever away sobbing, "MY MUMMY! MY MUMMY!"

Freshstart ... I really hope no-one has said this is not normal ....

Lonelymum · 15/02/2006 22:31

Hasten to add that he is now 8 and has only been to casualty twice since: twisted his knee at Beavers (but no real injury) and split his head open on side of swimming pool the other day during school swimming lesson.

Honestly, all these bumps and bruises (and in my kids' cases, worse injuries) are pretty much part and parcel of normal childhood.

Hulababy · 15/02/2006 22:32

At that age my DD was coveredin bumps and bruises. She was ever so clumsy!

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