Toddler caused grandma to fall

[user1487365954]

We were shopping and my 2 year old boy was briefly alone with his grandma whilst I went to the toilets. She is used to minding him. He ran towards the escalator and she ran to stop him, missed her footing and fell. I returned and my toddler is stood beside her stunned and silent with medics.

She has dislocated and broke her arm aswell as other injuries.

My lo has extremely limited language but understands quite well.

I have been stern with him about the importance of not running off as it can cause accidents.

How would you deal with the toddler and any ideas how to make it up to his grandma?

65 is no age at all!

I hope your Mum gets better soon OP. My MIL once was shopping with two year old DD and I. We were waiting for the lift up to the carpark of a shopping centre and when it came, MIL had been holding DD's hand.

A lot of people rushed out of the lift and DD pulled away from MIL and ran inside the lift.

Then MIL STOOD BACK to allow a load of other pushy people to get in trapping DD at the back...I was a little way behind as I'd thought I'd wait for the next one if it was too crowded.

I had to barge inside as MIL was about to just dozily let the doors shut.

She felt terrible afterwards...her good manners had allowed her to lose DD for a moment.

What I'm getting at is even at just 65, some people don't think quickly. As someone else said, reigns for DS if Grandma has him.

I agree that you shouldn’t punish toddler. But you can use this as a learning experience for him - explain to him that this is why he shouldn’t run off - people worry about him and want to keep him safe and because they love him they will risk themselves to protect him, which isn’t really fair in them. Also he could have run across a road and DGM could have been hit by a car.

I also agree with involving him in looking after DGM. Perhaps he could help you to bake her a nice cake? Or choose some flowers for her? And generally make a fuss of her.

I think this experience can have some positive outcomes.

*on them not in them!

Oh dear!

Accidents happen, and this was an accident, no one’s fault.

Does his DGM live alone? With an arm in plaster she is going to find life v tricky,

First get her a Limbo cast cover so that she can shower.

It is really hard to do things like put on your bra, and tights one handed.

Opening jars, straining veg, loads of simple tasks become very hard. Does she usually drive herself about? She won’t be able to.

And once the plaster comes off it will take another few weeks to regain movement, doing physio.

So, she will need loads of practical help.

The toddler won't understand that his actions caused her to fall so talking to him about him or punishing him would be a waste of time. It would only confuse him. It wasn't anyone's fault, as he's only 2 year old.

Your two year old won’t understand and it’s a bit crazy to think of ways for him to make it up to her. He hasn’t done anything wrong and won’t understand, he’s 2.

Goodness, I thought you were going to say she was about 80, I was picturing a frail little old lady! But whether she was 65 or 85, you can't blame a toddler for that sort of accident, it was just bad luck. Hope she's on the mend soon

Pillows ...for mentioning the practicalities for 'grandma'...thank you...I am a grandma, now on my own and I would really struggle with these injuries.

I have the 'discussion' over reins/buggy etc frequently with my daughters...they think I fuss too much but I know with my OA that I would find it difficult to catch/restrain/keep safe in that situation. I'm not trying to lecture them or tell them how to parent...just trying to keep my grandchildren and myself safe.

Toddler will soon forget this...and will probably run again given the chance...it's the nature of the beast 😁

Yes, very easy to underestimate how difficult an arm in plaster can be:
Dealing with purse on and off buses (see previous comment about driving)
Shopping: carrying, holding things.
Cooking: hard to stir or flip things if you can’t steady the pan with the other hand
The plaster covered half my hand and two fingers: I couldn’t dry my hair with a hairdryer except into a bed head style

It gets very frustrating, wearing and demoralising.

So focus on practical ways to support her.

I hope she recovers quickly but it was an accident and your OP is wrong because your toddler did not cause grandma to fall.

It's just one of those things op. I think your little one will be less likely to run off now to be honest.