Accident reports

[Irons]

It might be a little too early to be concerned but I was just wondering about this. My DD who is 10 months old just started nursery 2 days a week. First day I had to sign an accident report because she fell over in the garden while pushing a walker and bumped her head. Had a clear bruise on her forehead. I wasn't concerned because I expect there will be accidents. But then second day I get another accident report to sign for scratches on her wrist, but they don't know how it happened, they just noticed them there once she had woken from her nap.

How common are accident reports at nursery? Should I have a word with them? My DD is the youngest baby in the baby room so my worries are that they are not watching her as much as they should be considering her age.

have you asked how she got the scratches,or maybe shes done them herself when shes been asleep

Irons - i had to sign them on a daily basis for dd2! - Just keep an eye on it but I wouldn't worry unduly.

My DS is in the "accident book" every week. Sometimes I think it's red-tape overload - they have to report every little thing. Sometimes they'll say "he bumped his head on the bookcase" and I'll peer at him and think "eh? where?". Other times, yes, he's a clumsy 2yr old and has run into something/someone or last week he was so keen to be first onto the carpet for a biscuit, he overshot it, headbutted the wall and bit his tongue (rather badly, but it healed in a couple of days). But then, I find also find it reassuring that they do keep a record of it all, even the little trivial things, it shows that they are keeping an eye on him (like the scratches on your DD's wrist - she might have done that sleeping, but they still wanted to bring it to your attention).

ilovesprouts - yes thanks, I did ask and they did suggest that she might have done it in her sleep. Not something she's ever done at home and I always keep her nails short so my thoughts were that it might have been another child or another accident in the garden.

sundew - thanks - I certainly will be keeping an eye on them. I hope I don't have them on a daily basis though because I might have to speak to them then.

Sparklyjules - thank you. What you say makes a lot of sense and I hadn't thought of it like that. They obviously are keeping and eye on her or they wouldn't have noticed the scratches.

Irons

It depends a lot on what your chikld is like at home. DD1 is very althetic and girly and had few acident reports. DD2 is a bit of a tom boy and has always been into everything even at home and is always full of bumos and bruises (so nothing out of the ordinary to get lots of accident reports).

If it is unusual for your dd then you do need to keep an eye onthings - but they could just be anultra cautious nursery with regard to this kind of thing.

sundew - my DD doesn't stop! She's on the move all day long. The only time she sits still is when she's drinking her bottle, we're reading a story or for the first 5 minutes of Waybaloo. They did ask me if I wanted her to go in a pushchair when they're out in the garden and I said no, that would just be torture for her! She loves get up and moving about. So you're probably right, she's gonna be a bit of a tomboy perhaps - like her mummy I guess.

I would go with Sundew and think about what your daughter is like with you at home and out and about. We're talking about a 10 month old here - is she pulling herself up?

good idea to think about how she is at home first.

Out of interest, in general do nurseries ask you to sign the accident book on arrival BEFORE you have seen your child or AFTER you have seen your child. I ask because at a nursery my child went too, it was always BEFORE and I often felt the report played down what actually happened. So curious on other people's experiences.

in my nursery I see dc first and usually already know that I will have to sign an accident form

Yep she pulls herself up and wants to start walking. She's a qualified cruiser and makes her way around anything. She is also very tall which is what makes me worry that they may "view" her as older. I even got a comment in a joking way that she is a messy eater. Well of course she is, she's 10 months old.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I do feel better about going back next week. Its a lovely school and she seems very happy and content, even in her first week.

If she's only just started, then it will probably be a combination of the staff not knowing her well enough yet to know what she's capable of, and also your DD not being completely familiar with the surroundings yet so maybe getting little bumps more often as she explores.

Also, with the best will in the world, with three little ones to every adult and other things like nappy changes, bottles, clearing up spills to be doing, it's impossible to watch every child all the time.

I work in a nursery (baby room) and the amount of form filling and paperwork is out of this world. We have to be cautious and do accident forms for every knock, scratch and bump, even if you can't see it. Unfortunately sometimes we see an injury and don't know how it happened, treat it (cold compress) and write it down. I would love to be able to give 1:1 care to my key children but Ofsted says 1:3 and as Missus says it's impossible to watch every child all of the time. Also agree that since she's new the staff are still getting to know her (and you) and she's still getting to know her environment.

Olivia if it has been a bad accident and there is a very obvious bruise/bump we try to forewarn the parent before they come into the room just so that they're prepared. If the staff are playing it down I think it's more of a case of not wanting to alarm you rather than not being that bothered?

Kerching - I did notice a lot of paperwork going on. I feel for you. When I pick her up I get a run down of what she ate, when she pooped, slept etc etc. It's great for me because I see what she's been up to all day but it must be a nightmare for you guys having to take care of the little ones and record everything. But hey, I guess thats part of the job.

Irons - you're right - it is part of the job.

But heh, we're talking about a 10 month old here. That's what I meant in my earlier post. Surely she should be watched the whole time? Especially as she is the youngest.

I look after two or three children per day (I'm a childminder by the way) and to be truthful there has never been a time when they have had an accident and I didn't know how it was caused.

I would definitely have a word with nursery as I, as a parent also, wouldn't be at ease with this.

Scarfmaker, I work in a nursery and it is simply not possible to watch every child every minute of the day.
The ratio is 1 adult for every 3 babies. You cannot watch 3 babies, not when they are all playing, exploring and moving about.
There are times when a member of staff may need to leave the room. To do nappies, to prepare bottles and food, fill in daily diaries, or accident forms or any of the endless paperwork that needs to be done, or maybe just to go to the toilet.
Please do not fool yourselves that children will get the same care that they would get at home in a 1 baby and 1 adult situation. It simply cannot happen.
I'm not saying that babies and children are neglected at nurseries, they do get cared for. It's just not the same as being at home, and could never be.

Hi

just to echo what the others have said about your LO wont be watched every minute of every day.

But just in case this makes you feel guilty (oh no I am at work so my baby is not getting as much attention) also remember that, when you have more than one child at home you are in the same situation. What I mean is, my DD2 had so many more bumps and bruises from copying her sister and generally not being 100% watched (as this is impossible with more than one, or even with one)and this IS ok, in fact its part of life when you are not a first born!

Its hard enough going to work and leaving your first born without any more guilt