My Daughter Was Bitten at Daycare - What to Do Next?

I'm sorry that has happened to you. Wow. through the shirt and skin and bleeding, if you ask me that's a BAD BITE. I realize that some kids are biters (usually the ones that get frustrated and can't communicate... speech delayed or no sign language). I'd be horrified. I would struggle too. I would think that i have the right to keep my child safe. You never know if the kid has hepititis (sp?) and they don't have to tell you... makes me paranoid too. I guess you can ask if she be put in a different class room. I'd want to know what the consequences are for biting in their facility. realistically though, its a stage in childhood that many kids go through and you can't do much. just hope some other kid bites them back. ha (i know, i'll get some horrified responses to mine)

Okay, I'm a daycare provider and if this happened here I would definately advise you to take her to your doctor. While we have had biting incidents here in the past luckily right now we have no biters. It's taken a lot of perseverance. We had a child come here from a center and that was his only form of defense he felt. Needless to say we pretty much tailed this kid for a while to ensure it didn't happen here. But, of course it did. I believe it happened about 3 times over a 9 month period. It's been several months now, so far so good, but his parents had been told for the safety of the other children he would have to find alternate care if it happened again. Luckily nothing ever broke skin, or he would have been removed immediately, and we adore this smart little boy. It's just that he got bitten so many times at his previous center, he thought it was normal. I have a book I receieved @ a seminar several years back called,"BITING." It's a real good book if you're interested. If the center does not remove this child or he/she isn't put on warning you may consider changing her provider for her own safety. Hope this helps. Please kiss her for me ;(.

I am sorry to hear that your daughter was bitten but requiring/ expecting that this other baby be removed because she has bitten before seems quite harsh. It's a child and some children just bite. While the teachers can try to curb the behavior, it takes time and it is just one of those things that happens too quick. It also is going to happen whether it's a daycare or an in-home daycare. I get that you are upset and I get that you are worried, but take a step back. You need to care for your daughter's wound but that's about all you can do...outside of homeschooling her and keeping her away from all other kids.

Fortunately, my children have never been biters but they have bitten and so I get what it feels like to have your only child bitten. Making someone cry and expecting that the child be banned from the school is a harsh indictment. If you are scared about the child's health care and living conditions, then that is one reason to want this child banned but if it's because this child has bitten your daughter twice in 35 days, well, I would say that it's a miracle that it hasn't happened more often.

I would encourage you to call your doctor though if you are concerned about risk of infection, etc. Other than that, enjoy the ride of daycare. It really is good for the kids.

Hope this helps.
N.

It's so hard on both ends. As a daycare teacher you can't be everywhere all the time and things just happen fast. On the other hand you have a right to place your child in an environment where he/she is safe.

Hopefully the daycare center has handled the parent of the biter. If it's the same child biting then I'd hope they have asked him to leave. They should also be doing things to ensure that that biters are being watched.

I would take your child to the doctor just because it could get infected and you want a record of what happened as well. We had a biter once and the parent didn't really do anything about it and dismissed at as a "phase." He bit another child on the arm and drew blood and the kid who got bitten's parents threatened to sue the biter's parents. We calmed them both down but it really woke up the parent of the biter that it was a real problem. I'm not saying sue the biter by any means, just that you can talk to the daycare center and make sure appropriate action is being taken.

Also, talk to the daycare center about what your daughter did as well. Most of the time biters do it out of frustration, perhaps your daughter had done something she shouldn't have. I'm not saying biting is ever right, but not provoking another child is something your daughter also needs to learn. She can learn some small control over the situation by not playing with children who are "mean" and minding her manners and sharing. (Usually 2-year old fights are about sharing).

Hope your poor baby girl is OK! And I hope she heals fast!