Biting and other injuries in toddler room at nursery Post Reply

[Lulubear]

I wondered how common biting and other (minor) injuries occur in local nurseries? My daughter has recently moved up to the toddler room at her nursery and I have really noticed a difference in how much she is getting injured and bitten! At the moment it seems like every other time I pick her up there has been an injury of some sort and quite often this has been a bite! I wondered if this is the norm in all the local nurseries for toddlers as I am starting to wonder if I should be considering moving her to a different nursery or considering alternative childcare. Can anyone share their experiences to help me decide? Thank you.

[gail0810]

Unfortunately biting is quite common amongst toddlers and a phase they normally grow out of as they become able to express their emotions through language and in other different ways. Your nursery should have a policy of dealing with biting incidents, normally involving shadowing the 'biter' and removing them from a situation, hopefully in time. However having had a biter myself I know how extremely difficult it can be to prevent even if all these things are done and you are monitoring a child closely. My son would be happily playing and very well behaved and the next split second had gone and bitten another child (often his sister).

If you are concerned talk to your nursery and they can explain their procedures to reassure you what steps they are taking to deal with it.

[Lulubear]

Thank you Gail for your response. How long did it take to change your son's biting habit?

I have talked to the nursery manager already but, as you say, it can be difficult to resolve. Hence wondering whether to soldier on or think about making a change!

[Bodders1]

I can honestly say that neither of my children were ever bitten in their 4.5 years (between them) at nursery nor have ever bitten themselves. Having said that I am aware I have been lucky as I know it is fairly common amongst toddlers - I recall my little sister biting me on a few occasions! But, it does sound a little worrying that it is happening on such a regular basis ie something every time you pick her up. My gut feeling is this is not "normal" and the nursery should be taking some serious steps to address this. Is it one child in particular who is biting her? If so I would want to understand what the nursery is doing specifically to help avoid future biting incidents and are they working with the child's parents? I hope things improve soon.

[NYE31]

Arrange a meeting with the Nursery Manager, this isn't on, yes some toddlers do bite but as the other posters have said, the nursery should be taking steps to contain this.

[Lulubear]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I did meet with the nursery manager and she did tell me what steps they are taking. I was aware of one serial biter but it seems they have several children biting. The problem is it is hard to control despite their best efforts and there's always the risk that children copy the behaviour so it spreads. You may cure one biter only to find others have started! I know its a tough problem for a nursery. The frequency is my main concern in case it has an effect on my daughter's happiness in nursery or turns her into a biter! There's also the other minor injuries occurring which makes me wonder if supervision is a bit of a problem or stress levels are getting too high.

Not sure it would be any better in any other nursery though.

[soph]

Hi - I think this is unusual. My daughter has been at nursery for 2 years and has never once been bitten.. Perhaps we have been lucky but I suspect not as I have never heard of anyone's child being frequently bitten at nursery - usually just very occasionally !

[Lovingsleep]

In 2 years neither of my children have been bitten or injured by other children other than accidentally. It sounds like the nursery carers in that room have lost control. If it's affecting your daughter I would move her or at least look around. They adapt to new places really quickly. Good luck.

[Antolucia]

Biting happens at all nurseries.....you have to take a balanced view. Staff should be vigilant but it only takes 1 second. A no-bite nursery is one that isnt logging biting with parents or is seriously impeding free /interactive play.

What counts is how they deal with it. From the other side......My child went through a phase of being a biter (first child/bad sharer/naps too short at nursery/frustrated early communicator) . we were called into discuss reasons for & ways of addressing including symmetry with nursery/home methods.

This was fed back to the 'bitten' parents no- names basis. On occassion when my child was bitten i then saw the other side. These were all relatively short phases.

[Lulubear]

Thank you everyone. Plenty to consider! I will see how things go for a bit longer before deciding what to do!