I have changed name for this. I am involved with a toddler group and an 18 m old there is constantly hitting and scratching other children, usually younger ones who are at floor level. Obviously this is upsetting for everyone. Child's mother asked me for advice before she brought the child to the group, and I advised her to follow her dd everywhere and physically stop her before she can do it. This is not happening. Mother is chatting to someone else and the little girl wanders off and hurts another child. Other mothers in tears - one little girl was hurt 4 times in one session with dreadful scratches on her face, one scratch near her eye.
I spoke to the mother again about making sure she is with her daughter and she said she doesn't need to be right next to her, because she can tell when she's going to do it, but that she wasn't watching at that particular moment. She also said "And I take her off into the corner when she has done it" (Time Out style, and she also speaks to her firmly and tells her not to do it)
I don't think this is working and I want to ring her and say that she needs to stay right next to her daughter and prevent this happening until this stage has passed. Is this a reasonable request? Has anyone any other ways of dealing with it? Thanks so much in advance, I am feeling very upset and stressed by the whole situation and don't want to make things worse, but feel that it's impossible as it is. I understand she probably cannot stop every single scratch or bite, but I saw it happen 4 times myself and I was only in the room for about 10 minutes.