hurt at day care-- a preventable accident-- help!

Heather R · March 2009

DH called me at 8 am at work-- "Jack was playing on the mat by the door and someone opened the door into him. He has a big goose egg. They have ice on him, but he's ok." We had my laid off FIL go check on him, who confirmed that he is ok but with a big bruised bump.

My reactions are: 1) the mat is next to the door, out of door smacking range-- so Jack was clearly NOT playing on it, and next to the door is probably not a suitable place for it anyway 2) sounds to me like Jack was playing BEHIND the door which indicates he was either unsupervised or simply allowed to be there-- not appropriate and 3) isn't there a way of preventing this from happening-- plastic windows at the bottom of the door (not just top), or SOMETHING?

Any ideas what I should say? I have several hours before I leave to go. I'm very upset.

eowynmn · March 2009

seriously? Kids get hurt at daycare. It was an accident. They get mobile and move around. Let it go.

Heather R · March 2009

Someone opened a door into my infant son's head, Eowyn. I doubt you'd be ok with that happening, albeit accidentally.

annabelle.27 · March 2009

I wouldn't worry about it. These things happen sometimes.

thomas&lynn · March 2009

Even a sign on the door asking whomever enters to open the door slowly in case there is a kiddo-gone-errant nearby would help!!! In my house always open our bed- and bathroom doors very slowly at first to see if Alaina is possible standing up against it. It's common sense in my book.

eowynmn · March 2009

actually I would be ok

because it was an ACCIDENT

at daycare yesterday my son was trying to pull op on the couch and he lost his balance and fell back and hit his head on the exersaucer. He survived, and daycare will maybe think to move the exersaucer...or just sometimes kids get more mobile and are bound to get bumps and bruises.

lmdbww · March 2009

While it was an accident, perhaps you can just suggest they move the playmat to another area or something to avoid this in the future.

Karma1969 · March 2009

Just ask them what they can do in the future to prevent it from happening again.

anna7602 · March 2009

thomas&lynn:
Even a sign on the door asking whomever enters to open the door slowly in case there is a kiddo-gone-errant nearby would help!!! In my house always open our bed- and bathroom doors very slowly at first to see if Alaina is possible standing up against it. It's common sense in my book.

Ditto this. I certainly wouldn't initiate a lawsuit because accidents do happen, but maybe they need a reminder posted by the door. It wouldn't hurt anything to have one.

LuckySunshineBaby · March 2009

I understand your upset. I see both sides of the story (worked in a daycare for many years). I would be proactive and ask if you could bring in a sign for the door. Just mention that your LO may not learn the first time

and that could help prevent it from happening again. I'm not sure about the plastic on the bottom of the door thing (little too far), however I like the pp suggestion of a sign. I understand that your LO was hurt and that you are upset because, like most accidents, it could have been prevented. I think being proactive and positive is the best approach.

soon2bMrsFitz · March 2009

I have to say that I get an accident report weekly from DS's daycare. He is moving around more and loses his balance and falls. Or bangs his head... or falls and bites his lip. Are some of them preventable? Yes, I am sure, but he is not receiving one on one attention. As far as the door goes, the door into the infant room at DS's daycare is only a half door so that you can see what is on the other side before you open it. Maybe you could suggest that to them

*blondiem* · March 2009

It must be a cold day in hell, because I actually agree with LOTR. Maybe not her delivery, but her point. )

Accidents happen. And with a daycare center, or in home daycare center it is impossible for the caregivers to be watching YOUR child all the time. There are other kids there too. JMO. He will be okay. Boys are resilient. Shoot, kids in general are!

mrobertson20 · March 2009

I would ask who was with him and where they were and what they saw. Use their responses to make sure they were paying attention and it was truly an accident that couldn't have been prevented. Sometimes things like this happen. It could have happened in your home. I would ask them what can be done to prevent it from happening again also even if it includes moving the mat that you don't think he was actually on. I would also consider taking him out if something like this happens again making you think they just aren't capable of watching him or something but I would give them another chance first.

Brina Bean · March 2009

Our daycare has half doors so that anyone walking through the halls can see into a room at any time. That being said, I opened the half door to my son's room without peeking in first...and he was behind the door playing. Of course, I always open the door slowly because I am conscious of babies crawling around on the floor. Im sorry this happened to your little one, but seeing as how I almost did it to my own son, I can see how it could happen accidentally.

Tess12 · March 2009

They should have a sign on the door reminding people to open it slowly in case of a baby in the way. Maybe you could nicely suggest that to them.

Other than that, I agree with LOTR. Accidents happen and getting so upset is just a waste of energy.

suh5969 · March 2009

Ok, at our daycare they half half doors so they can look over before opening. Also, in the infant room they have a gate before the door so this doesn't happen. Would that work? The infants are always hanging around the gate waiting to break out, but then they have the extra door to contend with. Just a thought.

cotner · March 2009

It's posts like these that make me realize how big of a dork I am. My thought is that code should require the door open out. Doors in a public building should always open in the direction of egress.

I'd let DC know your concerns, but I'm not sure if there is much you can do beyond that. I hope your DS is okay.

Temp174496125006552 · March 2009

Karma1969:

Just ask them what they can do in the future to prevent it from happening again.

I agree with this. Let them tell you what they're going to do to make sure it doesn't happen to him (or anyone else) again. And yes, I realize it was an accident, but IMO, it was a preventable one. If Ben had a big goose egg on his head, I'd be upset too.

afwells · March 2009

cotner:
It's posts like these that make me realize how big of a dork I am. My thought is that code should require the door open out. Doors in a public building should always open in the direction of egress.

I'd let DC know your concerns, but I'm not sure if there is much you can do beyond that. I hope your DS is okay.

Well, technically doors only need to open out if there are more than a certain number of people in the room (I think it's 50). If there's over 50 people in a room, you also need more than 1 door, with both doors being as far or farther apart than the measurement of the diagonal of the room. And if it's over 100 people, then you need panic hardware or a door that does not latch.

NOW, who is the dork? Big Smile

Luckystar2 · March 2009

cotner:

It's posts like these that make me realize how big of a dork I am. My thought is that code should require the door open out. Doors in a public building should always open in the direction of egress.

I was thinking that it makes much more sense for doors to open out as well. Thats how our daycare doors are like, so I never have to worry about this.

I do agree that it was an accident and I wouldn't be too upset. But I see your side that it was preventable. It seems like something they'd deal with all the time, so I'd wonder why they don't have something in place to deal with this. Like, why not a sign or why not a baby gate or a window in the door. All of our daycare doors have windows so you can look in. I think it would be next to impossible to keep a mobile baby away from the door, so I would think they should have something to prevent babies getting smacked by the door.

As others said I'd just ask if there's anything they can do in the future to prevent it.

suh5969 · March 2009

PS

You are allowed to be upset!

vanillacourage · March 2009

Meh. It happens. Kids (including my DS, probably) in his room at daycare seem to take glee in hiding behind corners, behind doors, etc.

There's a sign on the door of my son's room - "you are now entering a shoeless environment, please take off your shoes or use provided booties!". I scolded my DH the other day for wearing his shoes in and he claimed he had never seen the sign.

cotner · March 2009

afwells:
cotner:

It's posts like these that make me realize how big of a dork I am. My thought is that code should require the door open out. Doors in a public building should always open in the direction of egress.

I'd let DC know your concerns, but I'm not sure if there is much you can do beyond that. I hope your DS is okay.

Well, technically doors only need to open out if there are more than a certain number of people in the room (I think it's 50). If there's over 50 people in a room, you also need more than 1 door, with both doors being as far or farther apart than the measurement of the diagonal of the room. And if it's over 100 people, then you need panic hardware or a door that does not latch.

NOW, who is the dork?

Wow! and yes I think it is over 50 people. Are you an architect?

not.the.Momma · March 2009

you could ask them to rehang the door so that it swings out. i know it sounds major but its really not that hard to do if its a basic door. its all a matter of which way the hinges face.

afwells · March 2009

cotner:
afwells:
cotner:

It's posts like these that make me realize how big of a dork I am. My thought is that code should require the door open out. Doors in a public building should always open in the direction of egress.

I'd let DC know your concerns, but I'm not sure if there is much you can do beyond that. I hope your DS is okay.

Well, technically doors only need to open out if there are more than a certain number of people in the room (I think it's 50). If there's over 50 people in a room, you also need more than 1 door, with both doors being as far or farther apart than the measurement of the diagonal of the room. And if it's over 100 people, then you need panic hardware or a door that does not latch.

NOW, who is the dork?

Wow! and yes I think it is over 50 people. Are you an architect?

Next best thing, an interior designer! =D NOT to be confused with decorator...I have a degree and am licensed with the state. And I work with architects & do interior architecture as part of my job, and we have an in-house review unit as well. So, I know a whole ton about accessibility issues & egress. =D I'm also a smarty-pants know-it-all.

BUT, yes, to the original point at hand, I agree the door could be re-swung, as long as that doesn't interfere with any paths of egress on the other side, or create an accessibility problem. The doors to the infant room in our daycare all swing out, and probably for this exact reason. However, then the worry is, the door swings into the OTHER classrooms, so I open it carefully in fear I'll knock out a 3-year-old on my way out with my baby.

Toosdai · March 2009

You have the right to be upset but don't go all apesh!t on them, even though that is probably very tempting right now.

Heather R · March 2009

Toosdai:

You have the right to be upset but don't go all apesh!t on them, even though that is probably very tempting right now.

That I most definitely would not do! I like to remain reasonable-- by no means did I ever want to go off on them or anything. I just wanted some suggestions for how to keep the babies in the room safe, and I got them. Big Smile

HeatherAA · March 2009

I've gotten 3 accident reports from DD's school since December....oh well!!! If they placed your DC in front of the door and kept smashing him with the door, then go crazy. There's no need to get upset. Don't worry, this will be the first of many bumps, bruises, scrapes and cuts!

Pacheco825 · March 2009

I would ask all 3 of those questions. You dont pay them to let your kid get hurt!

tobeMrsSzabo · March 2009

i'm a little late to the post but I just wanted to add my two cents. my daycare's infant/toddler room has a door that opens in but it is always proped open all the way and there is a baby gate with a swinging door in the doorway. there is never an issue with being able to see what you are walking into. also I would prefer my DD be allowed to wander near the doorway vs. the only option of making sure she isn't there at all times; keeping her in the PnP or high chair. Whenever I get there to pick her up and she is in either of those two places it makes me wonder how long she was in there and what else she did during the day. I think if they are letting them roam and do some independant exploration, that is good for them but unfortunately allows for some accidents to happen, as long as it isn't serious or reoccurring I wouldn't worry too much. Of course you have every right to be a little upset and worried, I don't think anyone would fault you for that.

danandkelly · March 2009

I think you're over reacting just a bit...kids get hurt it's a fact of life...

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