Biting at Daycare

[laurack]

So Matilda has been in the toddler room lately. She LOVES it. So much more fun for her than the infant room.

Yesterday I picked her up and they said she had gotten bitten by one of her little friends. OK cool, it happens right. I mean nobody can watch them every second.

But then today I get a call saying she got bitten again, on the other arm! 

Is this a lot of biting?! other people with kids in the toddler room, or MOOKs who HAVE toddlers. Do toddlers bite each other a lot? I guess it's better that I'm not the parent with the biting kid who has to be told all the time their kid keeps biting the others.

But, anyway. I'm not totally ragey but I must say two days in a row getting bitten did make me  ^o)

[TrudyCampbell]

Well, I know that I have a toddler who bites me ALL THE TIME. So I'm sure she would bite other kids if she went to daycare. I have no advice but would love it if someone gave me some!

[rubber pants]

DD got bit a couple of times so far. Each time she was bitten, it was DD's fault.

First time - She put her hands into her friends mouth at lunch time to check out what he was eating. Figures.

Second time - wouldnt share a toy and the kid bit her finger. This isnt really her fault but it was prevoked.

As long as there is no blood, or the skin isnt broken, I'd just chalk it up to normal toddler behavior, even though it sucks to have your child be hurt.

[Faevantastic]

Was it by the same kid?

[Deleted]

It happens. A lot. I was a Toddler Room teacher for 4 years. Some kids are biters, and will attempt to bite kids ALL.DAY.LONG. So after trying everything, and even shadowing a kid (meaning, a separate teacher JUST to follow the kid around), it still happens. I am so glad I don't have to be the bearer of bad news anymore by telling the parent their kid got bite for the five millionth time. Some parents understand, and some freak out. But honestly, I guarantee her teachers are trying so hard to keep that kid from biting, but it still happens. Maybe Matilda is getting bit more because she is really friendly and plays with that child and 'gets in their business'. Which is like 99% of toddlers. I guess there is no advice. But just know how the teachers feel too - it sucks feeling like the parents think you're doing a worthless job when there is only so much you can do. ETA: Not saying YOU feel this way, but some parents do, and it sucks.

[sunshineluv]

We have only had one incidence, but I agree, as long as there isn't broken skin or bruising, I would chalk it up to toddler behavior. If the trend continues, I would want to know what plan they are taking with the biter.

[laurack]

Jun 25, 2013 13:56:42 GMT -5 Faevantastic said:

Was it by the same kid?

I don't know. I didn't ask who bit her as they seemed to be purposefully not saying so I assume they don't like to share that info in case I form an insane vendetta against that kid and their parents, follow them home and throw eggs at their house?

[Deleted]

Jun 25, 2013 14:01:31 GMT -5 laurack said:

Jun 25, 2013 13:56:42 GMT -5 Faevantastic said:

Was it by the same kid?

I don't know. I didn't ask who bit her as they seemed to be purposefully not saying so I assume they don't like to share that info in case I form an insane vendetta against that kid and their parents, follow them home and throw eggs at their house?

I dont know about your center, but we were not allowed to say. We could say if it was the same child, just not who the child was. It was a privacy thing

[laurack]

Jun 25, 2013 13:55:48 GMT -5 TrudyCampbell said:

Well, I know that I have a toddler who bites me ALL THE TIME. So I'm sure she would bite other kids if she went to daycare. I have no advice but would love it if someone gave me some!

Yes I feel sorry for the parent OF this kid to go and pick them up every day dreading the report of them biting another kid!

My MIL was over last night and being super judgy about the bite and how some parents just don't do stuff right (because when my nephew bit her one time she said no no and was firm ^o)). I was like... ummm yeah It's SUPER GREAT when you have a kid who DOESN'T bite!  

Now Matilda is a hair puller. It's not a big deal now that she is in the toddler room I guess they move too quickly perhaps. But in the infant room every day they would tell us, she is going to the babies and pulling their hair!! They can't move away so are defenseless!

[katie]

Lillian hasn't gotten bitten yet in the toddler room but before we transitioned over it was one of the main things that they talked to us about for the room. I would be annoyed with it 2 days in a row. L got knocked in the head by the rocking chair twice in one week in the other room. I was like WTF?

I agree with sunshineluv and ask about a plan of action. I know they won't tell you who it is but I would at least ask if it's the same kid and what caused them to bite her. And if it's the same kid I would ask about how they are trying to correct it.

Today was grandparents day and my mom told me one of the kids during storytime tried to bite the teacher. So they are just biting everyone!

[carawestt]

I'm with you TrudyCampbell and it's so much worse when he's teething.

[chasbride07]

DS2 was a biter. He was at a preschool and their policy was if they bite, they have to come home. It happened 2 times in one week right before I had DD so you can imagine how thrilled we were with this whole new "game."

A week or so later, he finally got better about it. While he was at school, a little girl sitting next to him started crying and one of the teachers came over and asked what happened. His response was "I did not eat her."

[mumegs]

My kid is the biter. I am trying to work with her but it happens every time she gets a tooth! I am sure she has probably bitten other kids at daycare. She also tends to bite when kids like her cousins try to hug and kiss her too much, it's like her telling them to back off and give her some room.

[Faevantastic]

When Evan got bit months ago, we got an incident report. Maybe ask for one? At least for her scrapbook!

[laurack]

they do incident reports. We get them often but before it's just been that she fell over yet again. Never anything serious but they are required to do them for everything.

these bites are pretty serious though!I mean no skin is broken but you can see all the tooth outlines!! That kids got a healthy set of gnashers that's for sure! lol

[musiclover]

Toddlers like to bite and push, it's going to happen and I don't let it bother me. If it happened every day for a week or two, then yes I would ask some quesitons.

It's the age, they are exploring.

[melis74]

I posted a month or so ago when Mia was bitten for the first time. It happened again last week(worse than the first), so a month between incidents? Back to back days would be more frustrating. They are toddlers, you can only do so much I think. Hopefully it wasn't the same kid, but if it was they should be watching him/her a little closer. I feel for ya, it's no fun when our littles get hurt. I am SOOO glad Mia isn't the one doing the biting though, I would feel horrible.

[Deleted]

Jun 25, 2013 13:58:59 GMT -5 @sprinkles said:

It happens. A lot. I was a Toddler Room teacher for 4 years. Some kids are biters, and will attempt to bite kids ALL.DAY.LONG. So after trying everything, and even shadowing a kid (meaning, a separate teacher JUST to follow the kid around), it still happens. I am so glad I don't have to be the bearer of bad news anymore by telling the parent their kid got bite for the five millionth time. Some parents understand, and some freak out. But honestly, I guarantee her teachers are trying so hard to keep that kid from biting, but it still happens. Maybe Matilda is getting bit more because she is really friendly and plays with that child and 'gets in their business'. Which is like 99% of toddlers. I guess there is no advice. But just know how the teachers feel too - it sucks feeling like the parents think you're doing a worthless job when there is only so much you can do. ETA: Not saying YOU feel this way, but some parents do, and it sucks.

Also former toddler teacher yes happens so often. Biting is a form of communicating for them. Think about how you may play with your child are you the type of parent who blows raspberries on their tummy and tickle a lot that child may be trying to do the same. Or just pissed someone is in their space

[thedahliharpa]

Jun 25, 2013 14:09:41 GMT -5 carawestt said:

I'm with you TrudyCampbell and it's so much worse when he's teething.

This.

H has never been injured by a classmate at school, though there have been several times she has hurt herself, but her school starts at 18mos. Maybe they outgrow it by then? H only ever bit me and D only bites me. It was a big concern when H started and I'm hoping to avoid it again when D starts in the fall.

Poor Matilda, I hope they can keep close tabs on chompy.

[kandrze1]

That sucks she's been bitten two days in a row. Emerson got bit last week for the first time. It didn't break the skin and her teacher said she it looked like the two were just playing. They had to write an incident report and didn't mention who bit her. I didn't ask though. 

[rxbeth]

It sucks that she was bitten 2 days in a row.

Just last week I found a bite mark on Madison's arm after she came home from school and no one had mentioned it at pick up. I was pretty pissed that they didn't tell me but I guess they didn't notice? I mentioned it the next day and they just took note of it. It didn't look like any skin was broken but it's still bruised to the day. I'm keeping an eye on it and if it keeps happening I'll have to ask them what they are doing about that child. Madison is developmentally the youngest in the room and I worry about her being the easy target.