Bite & Scratch Marks

Citymom135

My daughter came home from daycare a week ago with a bite mark on her arm that I did not notice until the evening.  When I asked about it the next day, they said nothing happened that made them think she was hurt but she did have some issues sharing with another kid so maybe that's when it happened.  No big deal, no skin broken.  Well last night when I was getting her undressed for her bath, I noticed on her lower back what is either a bite mark or a pinch mark, some skin scratched away.  I asked this morning and they said she didn't get bit ? that is for sure that but maybe she just ran into something or hurt herself?

Do I need to be concerned?  I know now that she is walking she will be falling and come home with some bumps and bruises but these seem like things she couldn't do to herself.  Is this just normal part of daycare life?

Clynnpollock

Personally, I would be concerned that they don't have a clear answer about what happened either time. To me, that wouldn't be acceptable, yes kids are kids and biting/scratching etc. is going to happen, but if properly supervised there will generally be some sort of indication that something has happened to injure one child and while details may not be clear after the fact or it may not have been noticed at the moment it happened, when questioned there should be some recollection of something that could have been the cause.

The only time DS ever came home with a mark of any kind that wasn't noted for me with an incident report, I pointed it out to the director the next day (it was a bite mark near his shoulder blade that was still visible the next day - clearly an issue). By that afternoon, I had an explanation for it - there was a point in the day where DS cried out, and there was another child near him, but there didn't seem to be anything wrong so they let it go. I've never seen another mark that concerned me and wasn't clearly explained with an incident report again. It took that one incident for his teachers to know that they needed to pay more attention to DS when he cried out - that may be the only indication he gave that someone had hurt him. 

litzo27

Two marks would not raise a red flag for me. I find bruises and scratches on my kids which mysteriously appeared while I was watching them. Just part of having lively toddlers. Persistent bites would bother me because it would indicate that there is a biter in the room and the teachers should certainly be aware of that and attempt to shadow, etc.

litzo27

EllaHella:

Estwd2:

litzo27:

Two marks would not raise a red flag for me. I find bruises and scratches on my kids which mysteriously appeared while I was watching them. Just part of having lively toddlers. Persistent bites would bother me because it would indicate that there is a biter in the room and the teachers should certainly be aware of that and attempt to shadow, etc.

Exactly this. I wouldn't be concerned yet. My kid can injure herself sitting quietly on the couch.

It's unacceptable that you didn't notice that. 

I should totally report myself. And find a suitable replacement. 

thedash

I've actually had my DCP point out scratches and small bruises on DS after a weekend and I couldn't give her an explanation for how they happened! I usually just blame rough-housing with the dogs. :-p