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Nurseries

Find nursery advice from other Mumsnetters on our Nursery forum. For more guidance on early years development, sign up for Mumsnet Ages & Stages emails.

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Original poster

Accident at nursery, not sure if I should be really worried...

34 replies

SydneyB · 11/12/2007 11:00

I have always been really happy with the care DD, 12 mths, has had at nursery but something happened yesterday that really alarmed me. Her fantastic keyworker is leaving which we are very sad about and a new girl, who we don't really know very well yet, has started doing handover. Yesterday I got there to find that DD had taken a fall head first off the changing table onto the floor and had a huge bump on her head. Apparently her new keyworker had turned round to pick another child up and DD had launched herself off the changer on to the floor. Now, I know accidents do happen but I really don't think something like this should ever happen. Its a first and basic rule that you never leave a baby unattended on a changer, even for a second, and I am really worried that this new girl might just be really inexperienced. Everyone looked very worried when I got there but at the time I didn't want to make a big deal of it in front of DD and the other babies but have since been wondering whether this is something I should take up with the management. Any thoughts as to how to handle this?

OP posts:

Katymac · 11/12/2007 11:04

I would ask the manager if they had done a written risk assessment of the accident and to see their written conculsion about how it would be prevented in future. They need to have done one & you need to see it to ressure you that they have taken it seriously

HuwEdwards · 11/12/2007 11:06

Blimey, I mean I know accidents do happen, but flipping heck, this preventing this kind of thing ought to be basic bread and butter stuff to an experienced nursery nurse. Do what Katy said - definitely!

mishytoeandwine · 11/12/2007 11:07

What Katymac said!

That should never have happened. Even if she turned round, her one hand should never have left the changer or should have been on your DDs tummy! Golden rule while changing a baby on anything other than the floor, IMO

GooseyLoosey · 11/12/2007 11:10

Agree this should not have happened and would raise it. You need to know that she will not do it again and has been made aware of the other potential risks she should avoid and indeed the general level of constant supervision that very small children require.

leggylil · 11/12/2007 11:11

OOH thats a tough situation to be in.

you are well within your rights as a concerned parent to raise your concerns with the management, and if deep down your not certain of this new girls competence (sp?) then again your well within your rights to find a new nursery placement for your DD.

I myself would do the above especially if had huge doubts about the level of care.

just a quick question (a bit of an after thought here) was you contacted straight away when accident occured? It's standard proceedure if its a head injury because you have to seek medical advice from GP -found this out myself when my DD fell off climbing frame in school-

bozza · 11/12/2007 11:12

At our nursery they have straps like in public toilets.

QuintessentialShadowOfSnowball · 11/12/2007 11:12

Bloody Hell!
Why would she pick up another child in the middle of changing your dd?

I would be seriously concerned! What is the staff ratio like? Could nobody else pick up the other child?

I would ask for a meeting with the manager to talk about this.

leggylil · 11/12/2007 11:15

also agree with above opinions......

was just telling DH (he wondered what i was mumbling about) and as he said its basic common knowledge, also he said your well within your rights to ask to see this new girls credentials if concerned about her level of experience

SweetSnowflake · 11/12/2007 11:16

My god, i would be fuming!, does she have the first idea about safety??!!, i would efinatly be speaking to her and her manager to find out HOW they could let this happen!
all the way down froma changing table FFS!

alexandre · 11/12/2007 11:18

Yes this is really bad by any standard!! I would put my complaint in writing too.

SweetSnowflake · 11/12/2007 11:20

SOunds like too many children to not enough staff if she has had to pick another up while dealing with your dd!, how old is your dd? and why cant they change babies on the floor on foam changing pads?

NorthernLurkerwithastarontop · 11/12/2007 11:22

It's not good enough - I would be worried - sorry I know that's not what you need to hear - but this is Not Good!

Egg · 11/12/2007 13:21

Our nursery changes them on the floor. I would be mortified at this and definitely raise it with the manager. She could have been hurt really seriously.

coldtits · 11/12/2007 13:24

I would be very angry and very worried - if their staff can't get the basics right, what else are they screwing up? Would they know what to do if a child choked?

Original poster

SydneyB · 11/12/2007 13:40

Thanks for all your responses. I've left a message for the nursery to call me back. They did call me straight away when it happened but as it was towards the end of the day I was nearly there anyway and didn't pick up message. And I did have to sign the accident book. But at the moment when I got there I was so stunned that I wasn't sure how to react and didn't want to make a scene in front of DD etc. Apart from that I have always been very happy with the nursery and I guess that's why I'm being a little backwards about coming forwards. Just stunned. As you all say, its just basic basic basic stuff.

OP posts:

NorthernLurkerwithastarontop · 11/12/2007 13:51

If you've been happy up till now then there's a good chance this is a one off and they will get their act together now. Hope so

SweetSnowflake · 11/12/2007 16:45

this is it with nurseries, even if your dd has a 'key' worker, she will not be watched 24/7 by this girl, i have seen this first hand, it is understandlable that you did not cause fuss while your dd there but think you need to have a grown up chat with manager, your dd could have had concusion FGS and all they wanted to do was get you to sign accidnet book to cover their backs..just cos they told you about it DOES NOT condone their total lack of responsability!

vitomum · 11/12/2007 16:52

i think the onus is should now be on the nursery to provide you with reassurance` that this won't and can't happen again.

bobbysmum07 · 11/12/2007 23:54

I've read some rubbish on these boards from people urging others to phone Ofsted because fireworks have been too 'loud' at nursery displays and similar nonsense. I shake my head in dismay at most of these comments and wonder whether people on here live in the real world.

This is something else however, and you sound unbelievably calm given that you have every right to be absolutely livid.

First of all, that baby should have been taken to A&E to be checked out. Secondly, you should have been called and told what had happened. The fact that you weren't is astonishing to me and utterly, utterly shocking.

What you need to do is take your baby to hospital to make sure that she's ok -- falling from that height, she could well have a skull fracture. She probably doesn't, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Then you need to phone Ofsted. This is a nursery that needs investigating.

TheTwelveDAISYOfChristmas · 12/12/2007 00:22

I'm sorry your DD has had this fall.

My DS had been at nursery two weeks when he was on the stepping stones (actually cut down logs) and he slipped off the edge of one, hit his head on the sharp edge and split his head open and had to be put under to stitch it back together. although he was holding onto someones hand at the time and it was no-one's fault, the nursery did a health and safety assessment of the stepping stones and had them removed (well changed to flat ones sunk into the grass) to avoid this happening to another child.

Your nursery should be doing something similar and tackling this in a more pro-active manner as this sort of thing shouldn't happen, especially with a trained and experienced nursery nurse. They should have a risk assessment statement covering changing babies at height and you are within your rights to see this and to question why this has happened.

I would also speak to your GP or NHS Direct. Head injuries in children should be taken very seriously and your nursery should be aware of this.

I hope your DD is OK. Any dizziness/vomiting/drowsiness etc should be checked out immediately.

Janni · 12/12/2007 00:28

No doubt this girl will have learnt her lesson. Sadly, she learnt it on your baby. You are well within your rights to ask that she is not your baby's new keyworker - I'm sure she'll feel awkward enough with you now to be quite glad not to have to face you in future. Do not let this go because you want to be 'nice' or because you 'don't want to make a fuss'. This is serious.

trockodile · 12/12/2007 09:17

Where was the changing table? All nurseries i have worked in have a seperate changing area and only 1 child/ per staff should be in there. Not safe or imo hygenic to have children wandering around. This was not acceptable and you should make a fuss. Hope DD is ok now.

Original poster

SydneyB · 12/12/2007 12:00

Bobbysmum - they did call me when it happened. Also just to clarify, they are not changing tables as such and are a foot off the ground rather than higher up. And they are in a separate area. Anyway, since I first posted I have had a few long conversations with the management. Their explanation is that a new member of staff just wasn't familiar enough with the area and that they don't think this is representative of the care DD will receive going forwards. I may seem calm but of course I am livid and of course I am worried. But, I need to find a way to ensure that my daughter is protected going forwards as at the moment the nursery is my only immediate childcare option. I have asked that we be allocated another keyworker - someone that we already know and definitely not this new girl.

As I said in my OP, I have always been very very happy with this nursery and that is why it is hard to handle - they have an excellent ofsted, wonderful staff etc - and that is why I am finding it hard to navigate my way through this. I don't want this to turn into a nursery v childminder v nanny v sahm/wohm discussion or a general nursery-bashing discussion and I really appreciate everyone's posts.

OP posts:

vitomum · 12/12/2007 13:17

that's good news that the changing stations are so close to the ground - and probably a sensible and well thought through option for the nursery to have.

however, tbh i don't think it is right of the nursery to put this incident down to the experience of one individual. The nursery management really should be taking responsibility. If that staff member was not familiar with the area then that reflects poorly on the induction / training she has had, which is the nursery's responsibility.

it is hard to know how far to take these things with them though. I think asking for any procedures, risk assessments etc they have around the changing issue would still be fair enough, cos they don't really seem to have explained why they are so confident this won't happen again which is what i would be looking for. When i had what i considered a fairly serious concern with ds's nursery the manager took personal responsibility for ensuring that things were done differently - and i know that she really did. that was what helped restore my trust and confidence in them.

lisalisa · 12/12/2007 13:23

Message withdrawn

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