Biting at daycare

knottie3c0525a8a3c64eaa

So my son has been bitten 3 times at daycare in the past 3 months and it is starting to bother me. I typed an email to the Director at the daycare but I am wondering if I am overreacting. Can you read it and tell me your thoughts or any suggestions? 

 

Hi ---,

--- has been bitten 3 times since he moved to the young toddler room (2 times in the last 3 weeks).One of the times (second) he was bitten pretty hard and this last time doesn't seem there was a struggle or anything - he was reading a book when a friend bit him in the arm. He has teeth marks on his forearm. 

While I understand biting is a normal toddler behavior, this is starting to concern me. I was wondering if other children are also being bit and if this is the case, what is (facility name) doing to address the situation. 

Thank you for your help. I am available to speak on the phone at  (Cell) or  (office). 

 

Mom.

 

Any thoughts? 

Veittobe

I think you should absolutely say something!  I like that your email is calm and direct to the point.  It certainly should be addressed.  You are right, biting is often seen in the toddler rooms but there should also be a plan of action in place for when that does happen.  And you have every right to know what that plan is and that it is being followed through.

 

jessicaleigh13

Just posting a someone who works at a daycare in a young toddler room. Biting happens and sometimes it happens often, especially if there is one child who is a problem biter. As a teacher I do everything I can do prevent biting but sometimes you catch a situation too late. If your son is being bit I can assure you other children in his classroom are also being bit as well. Right now in my classroom we have one problem biter who is biting every day sometime multiple times a day. We have  one teacher try to stay with her all day but with 8 kids and two teachers that isn't always possible.. I bet the teachers in your child's classroom are just as frustrated if not more frustrated than you are and are working to fix the problem. We hate when children get bit just as much as parents do but at this age it can't always be prevented. 

badkittyct

jessicaleigh13:

Just posting a someone who works at a daycare in a young toddler room. Biting happens and sometimes it happens often, especially if there is one child who is a problem biter. As a teacher I do everything I can do prevent biting but sometimes you catch a situation too late. If your son is being bit I can assure you other children in his classroom are also being bit as well. Right now in my classroom we have one problem biter who is biting every day sometime multiple times a day. We have  one teacher try to stay with her all day but with 8 kids and two teachers that isn't always possible.. I bet the teachers in your child's classroom are just as frustrated if not more frustrated than you are and are working to fix the problem. We hate when children get bit just as much as parents do but at this age it can't always be prevented. 

This. I worked at a daycare at one time and was with the older toddler room. My facility was way over ratio and I tended to have 6-9 children in my care on a given day. Biting can and will happen - sometimes over a toy, sometimes just because children that age are not great at verbal communication just yet. The teachers don't sit around picking their noses all day and it is frustrating to the teachers when this happens because we know we will hear about it from the parents. All it takes is 2 seconds to turn around to put a toy away and a kid can be bitten. 

AsOctoberFalls

3 times in 3 months doesn't seem bad at all to me.  3 times in a week would be excessive.

Red_Dahlia

AsOctoberFalls:

3 times in 3 months doesn't seem bad at all to me.  3 times in a week would be excessive.

This. It is a phase, they grow out of it. Do they also send a report home if your LO was the one biting? I was alarmed when my DD was bit as well, but then there were a few times when she was the biter and I felt bad being on the other end.  

AllieMag24

I think your email is totally appropriate. I understand that biting happens but it's frustrating when your kid comes home with bite marks. My child care center wants to hear from us if we're unhappy about something and I think this qualifies.