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Original poster

DD frequently being bitten at nursery

8 replies

Mummymission · 16/11/2009 19:21

My DD is getting frequently bitten at nursery and it has again happened today and I am unsure what to do. DD loves her nursery and friends and is always pleased to go there and waves 'bye bye Mummy'. However she is frequently being bittem and today this has happened again . She has two bites in the same place (of which they only mentioned one) and this is the 7th time she has been bitten since June. I am really concerned she is a target and at a recent parents evening was informed that biting did not happen in the new room she has entered (which has now happened twice). I have seen the nursery manager once about the biting and was assured parents were informed and the biting child was made to apologise but am going to book another appointment tomorrow. I am not big on confrontation but really feel I need to bring this up again now and am also questioning whether to move her out of nursery but also feel this would be such a shame as she is so happy there and has a lovely friend who she always talks about. Any advice anyone can give would be really helpful.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mummymission · 16/11/2009 19:22

DD is 21 months by the way!

OP posts:
sonsmum · 16/11/2009 20:18

not sure removing your dd from nursery is a guarantee for success.....if you move to another nursery, there may still be a 'biter' there.
I think some kids go through this phase. The staff should be alert to it and be mindful to watch the 'biter' more closely.
My ds was bitten recently at nursery.....since then he was been wearing wristbands (he thinks they're great!) which offers protection on the forearm. perhaps something to consider until this issue resolves itself naturally?!

Original poster
Mummymission · 16/11/2009 20:33

Hi thanks for your message, Wrist bands sound like a good idea although she has been bitten on her hip/upper arms before now ... it seems that she is a target though and perhaps a childminder setting could be a better option .. just so cross this has happened again.

OP posts:
CMOTdibbler · 16/11/2009 20:40

Biting just happens though - in all settings, and the biter may also be a bitee. And it happens so fast that unless a staff member is hovering over the child, they can't physically stop it.

I know this as DS went through a biting phase at 18-26 months ish. Nursery did take it very seriously, and identified any flash points and made sure that they took action at those. In time he stopped, but he still occasionally gets bitten by other children now (actually now he can tell me who it was, its always the same child)

I don't think that being bitten once a month is a huge issue tbh

LaaDeDa · 16/11/2009 20:58

I work in a nursery and my own son has been bitten several times in the same setting.

Having seen at close hand what happens i'd say at this age they don't really 'target' another child particularly. Generally the ones that get bitten are fairly sociable typical toddlers who like to play closely with others but with all the normal toddler non-manners - infringing on the personal space , snatching toys, pushing in, refusing to let go of a toy - basically behaviour that aganist a non biter would just be a normal interaction.

Sounds like your dd is a normal happy little girl and is making friends and mixing well. Would be a shame to remove her from a setting that she is happy in (and in most cases the biting bothers the parents more than the kids - aside from any inital tears that obviously occur when they are bitten they seem to move on very quickly. My dd is still friends with a boy who bit her a few times when they were tots in nursery.

By all means have a meeting and find out what the score is and the exact circumstances of the bites so the nursery know you aren't happy and step up their policing of the biters.

Oblomov · 16/11/2009 21:25

I disagree with dibbler. I do think being bitten is a big issue.
I know it happens. I have sympathy for those that have 'bitters'. Maybe it bothers the parents more than it bothers the actual child being bitten. Not sure. Ds ( now at school !!)was bitten alot at nursery. Twice he had big a big black bruise on his cheek that you could see the individual 12 teeth.
Bothered me ALOT, I have to tell you.

OP, go and talk to the nursery again. If for nothing else to let them know how concerned you are. You have every right. I am sure they are doing their best. Maybe they could do more. Only you can tell that.

Original poster
Mummymission · 16/11/2009 22:09

Thanks for your messages. I will definatley make an appointment to express my concerns. Oblomov - how many times did your son get bitten?

OP posts:
Oblomov · 16/11/2009 22:19

8 or 10, I recall. Twice of those on the face. Think those bothered me most. ds1 didn't seem that bothered. I think It was me that was more !!

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