Can you be sued as the organisers of a toddler group?

[onjix]

I go to a very new baby & toddler group in the area. The organisers are trying very hard to run it professionally and I think they are doing a great job. Recently, though, we had a very upsetting incident where a toddler bit a baby on the cheek. The toddler was one of twins and the mother of the baby also had a toddler herself to watch so both carers were watching two children - which goes some way to explaining why the biting happened before someone could stop it. I am sure this sort of thing is very common with groups but we are now questioning what is 'the right' set up to have in terms of health and safety procedures. Sadly, we are also worried about being liable for injuries like this, or if one of the organisers administers first aid etc, is she open to being sued? I wondered if anyone on mumsnet had already looked into this and could offer any advice? Are there any good practice tips people can give? The baby is now fine ? just bruises!

I,ve got know advice sorry. But just to say that this has happened at evey mums and toodlers i have been to on numerous occasions. My son has been bit, and hit back. My friends child bit someone. It's just really normal. Sorry i can't be of more help

Our baby group has a bit on the newsletter saying that there is noone qualified in first aid on the premises so you must take extra care in watching your child - don't know whether this counts as a disclaimer? Biting and hitting incidents are so common at toddler groups (well they are at ours anyway and its usually dd2 doing the scratching and hitting) that I would have thought people realise that its par for the course - don't know the legal ramifications other than I'd better get myself a good lawyer

I would say it is really common for biting/hitting and in my book, if a parent decided to sue another parent or the organisers of the group for a child biting their child, well the world has gone mad and we may as well all stay in our houses and never go out.

Dd had her first 'fight' the other day when a boy of about 2.5 shoved her off the train set he wanted so she poked him in the eye. Bless.

Message withdrawn

Am I the only one who thinks it is quite sad that we are talking about cover for toddler groups? Compensation has gone mad

Oliveoil, yes you are right. Love the story of your daughter's fight. Sounds like a girl who will be able to handle herself

Like her mum

Thanks for replies. I have looked at the Care for the Family website which describes the book and also talks of a quarterly newsletter for people who run toddler groups & a conference that is about to happen. I am sure this will answer most of our questions, so thanks. I also do not like the idea that people could sue for something as inevitable as children fighting, but the other side of the coin is that there are some badly run groups that need a kick. Another group in our area has not cleaned their ball pool for 10 years. That's 3000 balls covered in a decade of wee, sick, poo...

olive iol I couldn't agree more, this awful 'compensation culture'is just an excuse for people to make a fast buck.It is pathetic.If it continues there will soon be no toddler groups, no school trips, no nothing.....happy days.I blame the Americans!