my toddler wacked a baby round the head today and i feel terrible....

[micegg]

Just fishing for sympathy. Went to a playgroup I regularly attend today. I was putting some toys DD had been playing with back in a box. DD was about 2 metres from me and went up to a baby lying on the floor in front of his mum. DD is normally very loving with babies and as I am pregnant with DC2 I was pleased to see her interest. I literallty turned my head to put a toy back and in that split second she kicked the baby on the head. DD has never done this before so I was shocked. I told her off, made her apologise and took her straight home instead of to the park as we had planned. I apologised to the mum as well who was really nice about it. I know these things happen (DD has been smacked quite a few times herself) but she is 2.2 and the baby was 6 months at the most. All I kept thinking was "what if she really hurt him". Probably being a bit dramatic.I then proceeded to walk home with tears streaming down my face .

I talked to DD about it when she got home and she said sorry. She also looked really upset that I was so upset. Such a horrible feeling. I know you cant control every aspect of kids but i feel about it.

Not helped by being 24 weeks pregnant I am sure!

Sympathy because I have a 2.6 year old who hits and then won't say sorry.
If it's any consolation I think you dealt with it really well.

Thanks. I am sitting here blubbing again! Definately those pesky hormones. Just keep worrying about the baby. They have such soft heads. Someone tell me to get a grip!

you dealt with it very well. It's just one of those things that toddlers, even the most angelic toddlers, do sometimes.

The baby will have forgotton all about it now, so try not to worry.

You must be awash with hormones and I'll bet you're feeling slightly nervous about the impact that No. 2 will have on your dd. All I can say is that this happens, it's what toddlers sometimes do. You made her aware that she shouldn't kick a baby, followed through with consequences (i.e. no park). I don't think there is anythig else you could have done to improve the way you dealt with it.
Babies are super-resilient IMO, and while I would have been shocked if my dd was kicked, by the time ds was born I was much more pragmatic.
Now forget about it and have a lovely rest of the day with your dd.

I'm sure my dd1 did far worse to dd2 when she was born - I remember dd1 hitting dd2 on the head with a pencil and she left a tiny dent in her soft spot but she was fine.

At our toddler and baby group this sort of thing happens all the time - sometimes to my baby! It's just one of those things - sounds like you handled it really well - don't beat yourself up about it! The only time I think it ever causes a problem is when a toddler persecutes a baby (trying to pick them up, poking them repeatedly for example) and the parent does nothing about it. That's when I end up protecting my baby or her little pals by saying very loudly 'Oh sweetheart, don't do that, I don't think the poor baby likes it' - repeat as necessary They usually step in then. But the odd whack or kick - that's just life being a baby in a toddler's world - they would be pushed to be really hurt unless a heavy implement was involved - and how many of them are lying round toddler groups Good luck with your new lo

Totally understand how you feel. Ds is 2.4 and hits and bites all children who come within grabbing distance

But is totally loving and well behaved at home. I have spent quite a lot of the last few weeks in tears myself about it.

Bless you - you handled it extremely well, and after being taken straight home for this misdemeanour your dd is very unlikely to repeat the behaviour again

Thanks everyone! I went away to read another thread and came back to all your lovely replies . DD is normally very good which shocked me more. I hate it when people dont watch their LOs at playgroup so I am always careful to do this. Still it goes to show how quick and unpredictable they are!