Protecting my face when playing with children or my nice and nephew

[jordanking]

Hello,

When i'm playing with my children, one thing i'm extremely cautious of is protecting my face so that I don't get hit in the face with any toys.

I'm worried about my child accidentally hitting me in the eye with a toy and blinding me, or even just poking me in the eye. (I know the probability of going blind is not high, but even so that's not something I would ever want to risk)

So whenever my child is playing with my hair or my nose or anything, i've usually got my eyes closed as you know how sudden and erratic children's movements can be.

For example, the other day I had my child on top of me, and I kind of had my hands 6 inches away from my face to protect my face, and it's lucky I did because my other child came over and was very excited and threw a rock hard toy that would have hit my directly in the face had I not had my hands covering it.

I was wondering, firstly whether any parents out there take precautions like this?

And secondly whether you have any tips for protecting yourself, as it can take the fun out of things if i'm always on alert for being hit in the face when they're playing close to my face.

I couldn't find a single result on google about parents protecting their face in the event of toys or their child accidentally

thank you

I had a corneal abrasion which then ulcerated and it was really, really horrible but I still don't give it a second thought when I play with my children - obviously if they were jabbing at my eyes I'd turn my head but it's not a possibility I dwell on. I have suffered from intrusive thoughts on other matters, though, and it sounds to me that this is clearly what the OP is describing

Do you think all parents are blind?

I think that you are experience some level of anxiety and would benefit from CBT or similar to explore this.

Honestly, most parents or relatives of young children who are playing with them are focussed on protecting their small, vulnerable charges.

For you as an adult to feel that you are the vulnerable one suggests that you could do with some support to explore these feelings.

I don't do this but I do kind of get it - when my son was a baby, he was sat on top of me in bed facing away from me (I was lying down) and he threw himself backwards - cue a broken nose for me 🙃 but I have to admit it hasn't changed how I act around him!

My daughter suggests stealing a pair of safety goggles from the school science lab. I suggest therapy. What happened to make so paranoid about this?

I’ve had a few burst lips from my own DC head butting me as babies, unintentionally whipping their heads back. We were laughing tonight as I refuse to sit with DS on a plane now as 3 years ago we got me on the eye with a tray table and gave me a black eye.

Im also a SEN teacher I work with children aged 6-8 severe and complex needs, right now I have a scar on my face from a scratch, several bite marks and a whole whole of bruises. I’ve also had the hair ripped so hard from my head my scalp has bled. That’s entirely my choice though I love my job but it is hard knowing that everyday you are going to work to probably get hurt, a lot of the time you are trying to stop them hurting themselves or each other. DH gets annoyed sometimes especially in Summer when I’m covered in bruises and going out that someone might think he has been hurting me (I have been asked on several occasions).

Accidents do happens though OP I bang myself off furniture and have had done silly accidents from falling or tripping. I would say playing with babies and children is no more dangerous than life in general.

I find they mostly lamp each other so the best thing to do is stay out of the crossfire.

I kinda get it Op

you see on here people talking about how their kids will play with their face or their hair or their boobs or whatever, the woman doesn’t really like it but the kids screams if they try to stop them so they just tolerate it

there was even a post once on here about a woman who was getting infections in her gums cos her toddler liked to put his hands in her mouth and pick at her gums

I have never allowed this kind of thing. I don’t give a fuck if my kid doesn’t like it and throws a tantrum. It’s my face, my body, I have boundaries that no one crosses not even my child

All those suggesting Op needs therapy etc are sooooo wrong!!

look at the above !!

a broken nose!

op does right to be cautious and protect herself

I know that goes against the mummy martyrs on here that feel you shouldn’t put yourself first or prioritise yourself in any way shape or form!

But like fuck would I want a broken nose!!

Can't say its something that worries me to be honest. If I have my son in my arms, I'll normally tuck my hair behind my shoulders to try minimise chances of him grabbing it. Beyond that I don't take any real protective measures.

Speaking of eye injuries and blindness, I once hit myself in the eye with a champagne cork and went blind in that eye for 2 days! That cork was travelling at a far higher velocity than any child could throw it though!

Can't believe this is a real post!

@WhenIgrowolder

why?!

kids do pull and nip and scratch and throw their head back

what’s wrong with trying to pre empt that and protect your face

I don’t want any marks or injuries especially to my face! Who does?! And I don’t care who’s done it, whether it’s my kid or not doesn’t make it any better!!

No one's denying that it's possible to be injured by a child, just that it's not common and so it's not proportionate to be on constant vigilance against it. OP herself says it's interfering with her ability to actually enjoy time with her children - that's sad, and it's not normal. I don't let my children pull my hair and things like that either, but that's not the same as constantly shielding my face. In the case of the woman who had her nose broken, which you seem to think proves the OP is being reasonable, what would you have her do - never hold the baby again? It was a freak accident. They happen, and not just when you're interacting with children.

@Hardbackwriter

yeah by all means hold the baby again but just be careful for yourself, dont let them get right up in your face

as I say you see posts on here like that woman with the gum infection cos she her kid liked to pick her gums and she hated it but just let him carry on as he would scream if she tried and stopped him -

I just think WHY?! Don’t pander to your kid!!

Yeah, I wouldn't allow that either (both of mine liked to put their hands in my mouth as babies and I didn't allow it because I didn't like it), and I don't think many people would. It's pretty irrelevant to the OP, though, which isn't about allowing the children to hurt her, it's about her every interaction with them being dominated by the fear they might hurt her. I do let my children get 'right up in my face' - we kiss, rub noses, etc - and I think it would be sad to not have playful interactions with your children because you're constantly risk-assessing it. I think it's clear it's gone too far if OP says it is affecting her enjoyment of her children.

Safety goggles.. Worn until the youngest dc is 18 obviously..
Can't believe you haven't thought about it op..

Wrap your head in cotton wool🤷‍♀️

Some seriously sarcastic replies on here. No wonder people don't speak up about what's troubling them when this is the response they get.

It's never occurred to me to do this.

I did this when my DC were little. I was warned about earrings getting pulled and tearing earlobes so I also didn't wear dangly earrings for ages until my DC were older. My DC also went through hair pulling stage so I wore my long hair up and out of the way.
My toddler once leaned back sharply and suddenly, hitting me on my cheek. I was worried I knocked some teeth out but luckily all seems fine. I had a bruise, though.
I think it's sensible to be aware of potential injury but not to let it put you off from spending time with your children or playing with them.

Maybe those worried about their faces are better looking than the rest of us?! My looks could possibly be improved if anything by a hard object to the face.

I used to worry about my toes when I was childminding and they used to whizz around with their toy prams or on ride on toys - it's surprisingly painful having a toddler ride over your toe!

Yes, sorry it was a spur of the moment response, sorry op.

@LuckySantangelo35 apologies if I am wrong but just suspicious as op's first post and last paragraph about can't find a single response when googling made me think it was a p-ss take about parenting. But if I am wrong , please come back and tell me op !

@Coughee

i know it’s not the done thing on mumsnet to care about your appearance and attractiveness when you become a mum, you should put your kids first and focus on them and them only….

But I do care still about what I look like and don’t want to have to go around with a bust lip, or knocked out teeth, or bruises on my cheeks, or a wonky broken nose, or my hair ripped out. No way!