How to handle accident at daycare when my child is injured?

I would say, that if you have no other issues with this daycare, then do not switch him to another one. It does not sound negligent on their part because a kid throwing a toy is not something you can just prevent every time. Did his injury even require medical treatment? One of your rights is to have it documented, kept in his file at day care and a copy for yourself in case it does become a pattern.

Your child may not be able to verbalize what happens to him there, but at 20 months, you should be able to pick up on whether or not he hates it or is scared. Since this is your only child, count yourself lucky this is the only 'major injury' you have had so far because there are SOOO very many more to come. Some while he is in your care, some while he is in the care of others. Kids get hurt and that is just the way it is. Luckily it wasn't more serious, but you cannot just uproot your child every time he gets a boo boo. Seriously. Let him stay there and have some consistency and understand, he is gonna get hurt again. And again. and again....You certainly do not want to over react and become that 'mother' every one at the daycare dreads. You know what I mean? Trust me, by your third child, you'll look back on this and blow it off alot easier than you can now.

accidents happen...I worked in a daycare and children can throw things and you can be looking right at them so just because a little boy threw something doesn't mean the teacher was sitting around talking and not paying attention...you can't blame the daycare...it's kids being kids

sorry your little boy got the bad end of the accident, hope it heals quickly

I don't really think it was the day care's fault that a kid threw a toy across the room and it hit your son. Its not as if thats really a preventable incident , if another kid bites yours the day care would talk to the parents of the child that bit and tell them that if it happens too many more times they must remove him from that center or they would help the parents to find solution for discipline in that instance. which is prob what happen in the case of the child that threw the toy. I would ensue that they day care had spoken with the other child's parents to make sure it didn't happen again. it doesn't sound like you child was deliberately attacked that it was accidental. its entirely possible that that child has a problem with throwing things its not unheard of at your sons age group.

T.,
Hey I think I know what your asking about. Granted I do agree with the other parents, accidents will happen, I am a mother of 3 and trust me you have to watch the girls just as much as the boys. On the other hand you would want to know if the parents have had problems with this child for things of this nature and maybe see if your child can be switched maybe to another class. It is very nice that they offered to pay the medical bills but to point the daycare is responsible for this because they are the ones that took this other child into their facility ( I would try to find out if this is the first time this has hapened with that particular child also) and they were suppose to be watching the children. After all that is what I am assuming you are paying the cost of daycare for. If they can't watch the kids and this sort of stuff is normal for them then they need to hire more teachers to help with the kids or they need to be reported. As for your sons face - you have every right to be upset. Whats gonna happen if your son has a bad scar from this "accident". You never stated on how bad the gash was- did he need stiches? Who is going to be responsible for that? You are entrustng your sons well being to the daycare and you should expect them to watch him and all the other children (its their job). If he were home with you and did it well then thats something you will have to live with but I don't think you should just sit back and say no biggy about this. I know what its like to have to put your kids in daycare, I am now lucky enough to be a stay at home mom, but I have had to deal with daycares and if you don't stay on top of things with them sometimes things do get over looked. Like I said, I am a mother of 3 so I know its impossible to watch the kids every second but at the same time you protect your child from harm and isn't that what your paying them for, to watch your child as you would and protect them when your are not their to do so yourself?
Good luck!

Like the other response, I am unsure what you mean by "your rights".

It is your right to sit down with the daycare director and go over what action was taken with the other child. Was an incident report written up, was the incident recorded for future reference in case something of this nature happens again.

I agree it is wonderful they offered to pay medical bills. But it is important for you as a parent to decide, and only you know, how has the daycare performed prior to this episode.

Do you like the teachers, other staff, environment. Do they take appropriate and fair action when these incidents occur? Did they have a caring and concerned attitude about the incident?

I would agree that certian incidents that happen in daycare can happen at home or with siblings for that matter. Sometimes as parents, the not knowing how it occurred because we were not there is the worst part. But you have to take all information into account and base this on your previous thoughts and experiences with the daycare.

If it is an ongoing problem it may be a red flag to start looking for another facility. If it is an isolated incident, no need to worry. Little boys get a lot of bumps, bruises and other inuries from 20 months to four years old so prepare yourself.

Hello T.. I remember you had a problem with biting issues there as well. The way it sounds to me....GET A NEW CHILD CARE PROVIDER!!!!! It really sounds to me that children are not supervised enough. Yes, have them pay for the doctors bills, but on the other hand you need to get him out of there! At his age they don't know how to express their feelings with words. Who knows what your child is going through every day. Good Luck with everything!!!

Not to be rude, but it sounds like a daycare deal, part of the "joys" of raising a child. My son has come home from daycare numerous times with not-so-pretty marks, bruises, and cuts on his face, primarily from when he was learning to walk and would fall into something. He was bit a few weeks ago and had a nasty bruise, but it was something we had to say, "Okay" about and move on, especially since it was a random bite, from his best buddy. If the daycare is offering to pay medical bills, that's really decent of them. As far as "rights" I don't know what you're asking for. Kids play & get hurt all the time, regardless of a daycare setting or in the home. My son's first black eye was because he threw a fit and fell face first into one of his trucks, while standing in between my husband & I. Just because it occured in my grandmother's house, didn't make her responsible. Again, for the daycare to step up, is really admirable.

I think you should take this in stride, acknowledge the fact that since your son is in daycare, things are bound to happen. Who knows, maybe someday your son is going to be the one to throw a toy across the room and someone will be in his line of fire, either an intentional throw or an accidental toss. Would you want that parent to turn around and take action against you? I really am sorry your little boy is hurt, trust me, I hate to walk in to pick my son up and see that he's fallen into something or been bit (that just happened the once) but I know that accidents happen. Especially with raising a little boy!

I hope you keep your head about you and that your little boy's "owie" heals fast!

Change daycares immediately.If they cannot watch these kids to the point that they cant prevent your child from getting injuries like that, then they dont even need to be operating.Sounds to me like it's a bunch of women that just sit around and do their own thing allday and only pay attention after something has happpened.Have them pay the doctor bill and if you have to miss a day of work to take your son to the doctor, they should also pay for that,b/c it was from the result of them not doing their job.Either way, I wouldnt even let my kid go back there period.If you need a few days to find another daycare,ask someone u know or a family member to watch him for those days until u can find a new one...and most def. do not get a referral for them.I am curious what daycare this is though?

Personally if it was me, I wouldnt be comfortable letting either of my kids be taken care of at a place that has that many faults,resulting is the injury of my son.I would pick one that had a stricked rule about kicking kids out that had alot of issues with other kids hurting mine.I don't blame the kids but I blame the parents for not putting forth extra effort in teaching their kids right from wrong and enforcing it.I'm thankful I get to stay home with my children.But for these women to be doing their job, they certainly have alot of "accidents".