14 month old came home from nursery after getting soaked and had an accident

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Hi All

I’m after some advice. My husband picked up my 14 month old from nursery on Friday, where he was was told that my DS had been playing outside, jumping in muddy puddles etc in his snowsuit, boots and gloves and he got that wet that they had to change him. But his snowsuit was soaked wet through along with his boots and gloves, so much so they bagged them up in nappy bags. He also had a fall bumped his head which was grazed and had a small part of his eye where it was blood shot.

I’m not very happy about the whole thing to be honest because if had been that wet outside what were they doing allowing a 14 month old outside and shouldn’t they have checked he had the correct footwear and appropriate outdoor clothing and weren’t they watching him sufficiently to prevent him falling? I mean he must have really hurt his head to have a blood shot eye?!?!?

As this is my first child and so first experience of nursery, I don’t know what to expect. I want to say something to the nursery but don’t know if this is the norm? I just feel outraged at the moment.

He had appropriate clothes? Snowsuit and boots!

Well perhaps what he was wearing wasn’t appropriate if it got soaked wet through? I don’t believe the boots are water proof and how did his clothes underneath get soaked too? I just don’t get it.

But they didn't leave him in the wet clothes? I think I would be pleased they were getting the children out in all weathers and not stuck indoors. As for the injury, did he come home with an accident form?

From what you say, it all sounds normal....he was dressed appropriately and prob had fun in the puddles. Falls are inevitable.

Also you could supply him with better wet weather gear if you feel that was in adequate. It sounds like he had a great time outdoors.

You're being ridiculous, sound like he had a great day; they changed his clothes and made you aware. Also, you have a boy be prepared for this to happen for the next 16 years. They love getting muddy.

Did you provide the snow suit as his coat? Ds has been outside in all weathers at nursery. He always has a spare set of clothes to be changed into, he loves it. He keeps wellies and waterproofs there.
Accidents happen, they slip they hurt themselves, in the 3 years since he started there I've signed many an accident form -usually him and another kid banging heads or something. I'm not sure what the major issue is? Would you rather he stayed inside while everyone else was out playing?

Has he not got wellies at nursery?

Most request nursery wellies...

A 14 month old have accidents all the time... Has he never had an accident at home?
-A 14 month old at nursery has a 1:3 ratio, of 1 member of staff, to 3 toddlers...

Although ; After a head injury if he has a blood shot eye, I would get him seen by a dr

What did the accident form say? It does sound like he fell in a puddle.

None of us want to see our children hurt and the rush of adrenaline and desire to wrap them in cotton wool when it happens can be rather overwhelming.

Trying to look at things practically. If a child, toddler, slips how coukd an adult even 1m away prevent it?

Wearing lots of what should be water proof layers and letting a child explore outside and splash in puddles is a fantastic experience. Fresh air, activity, learning all positive stuff.

Falling over is also a painful but necessary part of the learning experience. How did your DS seam in himself, if he was his usual self and not unhappy I'd chalk it down to one of those things.

It’s water. What do you think water is going to do to him?
I take it you were concerned enough about the blood shot eye to get medical advice about it?
Honestly, you need to get a grip and stop looking for things to complain about.

Being outdoors is great, when my little girl comes home with messy muddy clothes I’m always happy as she loves being outside.

Accident- completely normal I’m afraid. It’s going to happen. I remember the first accident form at nursery! I was so upset that I can’t protect her from everything. Although I must admit she has had worse falls with me than with nursery. As long as they can explain what had happened etc. my nursery always calls straight away if there has been a head injury.

I don’t mind him going outside but how can a child get that wet?

I also forgot to mention that although I had put two sets of clothes in his change bag, and they quite rightly changed him into a dry set of clothes, the socks they had changed him in to were damp and so were the sleeves of the jumper they’d changed him into when he was picked up to be brought home. So shouldn’t they have changed him again into his last pair of dry socks and jumper?

As I say, if it’s the norm to expect this then I have to accept it and move on but I can’t get my head around how he could get so wet!

My daughter's nursery held a forest school every week - she would come home filthy and with soaking clothes sometimes and I couldn't figure out why as she had adequate waterproofs... I realised the issue when they showed me some of her photos, her "jumping" in puddles was actually sitting in them and splashing and waterproofs aren't actually supposed to be submerged I guess! Either way she had great fun and they helped her dry off :o

It's up to you too provide adequate clothing for all weathers - although to be fair they should have specified this when he started - and as for the fall, accidents happen. They can't be watched every second.

I know its important to play outside etc, but if I picked up my 1 year old from nursery with a blood shot eye and soaking wet clothes I'd be pretty upset too - I'd certainly want to know details as to why and how, especially if it was a hard enough head bang to take to get checked- ?

Not sure what there is to be outraged about.
Sounds fab - out and about in the fresh air, exploring the world around hem. Then, once he came in, they put him in dry clothes and all was well.

Why would anyone buy boots that aren't waterproof ?

Of course children fall and bump. If you think your dc isn't going to fall over, ever, you are kidding yourself. Nothing to do with 'how close you are watching him'. He is supposed to be investigating the world, and yes, this will involve bumps and scrapes sometimes, and it will mean he is beginning to risk assess for himself. At 14 months of course he will fall sometimes - he is still just learning.

I imagine he got that wet from falling into a puddle when he bumped his head. For nursery you need to provide waterproofs because they will go outside in all weathers, I’m surprised they hadn’t already asked for them?

I don’t mind him going outside but how can a child get that wet?

Fell in a puddle of tipped some water over himself? Or maybe it started raining?

I’d maybe just casually mention the damp socks next time you’re there if it’s worrying you. I’m sure it was an oversight. They are human and have 3 toddlers to look after. If you are otherwise happy with the nursery I’d let this go. I remember DD coming home with a dirty nappy when she first settled, I spoke to them about it and it never happened again after that.

I wouldn't be impressed with this either. my DS is 14 months and also at nursery - if he didn't have appropriate clothes for splashing in puddles then they shouldn't let him in! I don't mind him getting dirty at all, but cold, wet, and with a grazed head and bloodshot eye I would be saying something I think.

and I'm a former nursery nurse and have worked in childcare for years!

Presumably when he fell he fell in to the puddle and got extremely wet.
Honestly it’s parents like you that drive good practitioners to absolute distraction with your nit picking complaints, you fail to see the value in any experience that results in the child getting a bit wet, muddy or dirty and only want focus on the negative. Stuff the bloody wet clothes! Your child had a brilliant time and great learning experience! Bumps and scrapes teach resilience and risk management! Just chill out and save your moaning for if something bad actually does happen.

For those that are telling me to “get a grip” etc you should understand that this is my first child so first experience of nursery, so am totally unaware of what goes on and how. Hence why I posted for advice. It’s by no means a complaint as he has been attending very happily for the last two months and he’s really coming on because of his attendance.

The snowsuit is waterproof so how did his clothes underneath get wet too?!? His boots aren’t waterproof and have bought some that are. The nursery have never requested me to supply wellies but I have them at home and taking them with me tomorrow so that is wearing the appropriate outdoor clothing.

Re his head injury they asked my husband to sign a document but didn’t give me anything. I also phoned 111 because of the blood shot eye and the health practitioner that called back said that all seemed ok but if things altered to take him to a and e.

My daughter's nursery held a forest school every week - she would come home filthy and with soaking clothes sometimes and I couldn't figure out why as she had adequate waterproofs... I realised the issue when they showed me some of her photos, her "jumping" in puddles was actually sitting in them and splashing and waterproofs aren't actually supposed to be submerged I guess! Either way she had great fun and they helped her dry off

Same - DS was soaked through his puddlesuit when we went to the park in the rain the other day, which really confused me but I guess waterproofs cope fine with running around the rain but less well with sitting in puddles and going down a soaking wet slide around 30 times!

14 months struggle to stand/walk in snowshoes and boots so generally sit down and often get wet. Some love puddles too. My issue would be more the eye. But if your told about it and sign a form that explains what was done and it was appropriate then again whats the issue.