Struggling with daycare issues? What do you think i should do? Am i just being a crazy mom?

Question

My son was in a daycare i loved but i moved and had to move him to another one which i was very satisfied with until now. He has been bitten 3 times by the same kid.He did not break the skin, but this kid bites other kids also.He was pushed by another child outside on the playground and he fell back and busted the back of his head open, luckily he did not need stiches, and the ant problem on the playground. I know accidents are going to happen and i am not the type of mom to raise hell about her child getting hurt, but my concern is the supervision in the class. Child teacher ratio is 7 to1 and many days when i drop and pick him up there are about 12 to1 in the classroom.I have talked to the director many times and she explains that it is like that only until 8am then 4pm because they stagger their staff schedules.She assures me that there is enough supervision through out the day.Should i just chill, or move my son again. I don't want to move him but i want him to be safe at school.

Answer 1

Contact the licensing department in your state immediately. Let them know what is going on with the daycare and staff ratio. They don't have to take your name, just let them know you are afraid of retaliation. The daycare has child/adult ratios they must meet and they must meet them all hours of business, not just during normal hours. This goes for state licensing as well as the requirements for their liability insurance. I know this because I sell insurance for this type of business. I can tell you that they are very likely to have an accident that will really harm a child during these peak hours with few on staff. More children are at daycare before and after school hours, so the daycare needs to plan for that.
I would suggest if you present this information to the director and they don't care then you answer your own question. Perhaps you can learn from your experience and actually interview a few daycare directors and find out what their practices are for peak hours when finding another daycare. Remember you are the mother so trust your instincts. They are a business and stay in business by serving customers, so if you aren't happy move your child.

Answer 2

I am 21 and worked at 2 daycares since i was 16! Their ratios do not sound right. 12 kids to 1 staff !! If he is a toddler, the ratio i am familiar with is 6 children to 1 staff member. it could be different where you live, but i think that is ridiculous. yes, children are going to get hurt and the director should be doing something about the teachers' schedules because that is not fair to the teacher or the children. the parents of the biter should be talked to, especially if the child does not stop after awhile. some children do go through a biting stage and the teachers and director should be taking steps to make sure it is stopped. Anyway, good luck. my husband and i are expecting our first child in March of 2008, but i would be a little concerned and upset that all of this was going on. Good Luck!!

Answer 3

Child staff ratios are in place for a reason. There should NEVER be a time when that ratio is not being met. The director does not have the right to alter the state required ratio to suit her payroll needs. If you are concerned of his safety there is absolutely nothing to prevent you from popping in on the daycare during the day to see for yourself what is going on. Yes, accisents happen and it can be VERY difficult to be fast enought to prevent a bite. However, if you are seeing lack of staff/child ratio when you drop off or pick up, there is a greater chance that is how it remains throughout the day. Stop in unannounced to see what is going on, if you are not satisfied with what you see then you can start to think about moving him.
Good Luck, I know this can be stressful. But remember...actions speak louder than words. If the director is telling you one thing and you are seeing another it's time to report them to the state and move on.

Answer 4

I'd look for another center with better scheduling and supervision. Those ratios are not legal in my state. If it happened here, I'd report it. I know that probably sounds mean, but I think about the parents who drop their child off before I get there and have no idea this is going on.
My child has been bitten by another child several times, but that is really to be expected at a certain age. When he IS bitten, inquire about what was happening BEFORE the bite. If you get vague answers, you know they weren't watching your son.
My son has bitten another child. This child has a habit of laying on top of the other children and he won't let them up. Several kids have bitten this same child. My son and the other children have all bitten "in self defense" to get the child up (before the teacher could get the child off). The school has spoken with the parents to no avail. (The teacher thinks he must be watching wrestling.) BUT, the teachers are aware of the situation and watch out to keep him off my son and the others.
Good luck and best wishes.

Answer 5

If you have any doubts then you need to act. Do some research about child to teacher ratios in your state. I have a child developement degree and there is never a 12 to 1 ratio in daycare that is legal!
If your director is cutting corners with legal issues then where else is she cutting corners? Talk to the other moms in your child's age range and see if there are any other concerns and then take action if there are.
At least ask the director if she can schedule a meeting with this ither child's mother and calmly talk about how to get this child's behavior under control. You MUST be the proactive one since the director seems to not understand her liability here........... if all else fails follow your heart and go elsewhere.

Answer 6

I know from exeperience, if you are not happy with the current situation switch day cares. You have brought the point up to the director and she gave you a very programed answer which tells me she is not going to change anything. Plus there is no way a 12-1 ratio is going to be allowed by state law in a pre-school and is just not acceptable. If you stay you are just going to butting heads with the director and are going to get labeled as an over protective parent.

Good Luck, it is always hard to find a good daycare

Answer 7

I have 3 in daycare right now and personally you should follow your gut, the daycare my girls goes to also has an ant problem and they fail to mention to me that my 7 mth old twins were each bitten, one was bitten several times on the wrist. I am pretty ticked about especially with how much it costs. Although correct me if Im wrong but I thought after so many incidents with one kid they would basically suspend him from going if he continues to be problematic. I would again explain to the director again what your concerns are and if she cant see the problem then I would take him somewhere else.

Answer 8

I am both a mom and a licensed child care provider in my home. In our state (Michigan) our adult to child ration in a home child care setting is 6:1 for children 30 months and older. Regardless of staff schedules, the adult:child ratio should always be met. Your first step may be to secure a copy of the child care licensing rules and regulations of your state. Each state sets their own. You can probably find a copy on-line or contact your local office of Department of Human Services. If a child care home or center is not being compliant to the rules, a report should be made. Since you have spoken to the director "many times" and you still feel uneasy about the circumstances at your son's child care, you may feel better at least checking out other child care options for your son. Sometimes when you have to leave a child care setting that you absolutely love, all others pale in comparison. If you check out some other child care options and find another more suitable then moving him will be better for both of you. You will worry less when you are at work which will give you less stress and make you a more efficient employee. When it comes to our children and their safety, moms can be crazy and should be.

Answer 9

MOVE YOUR SON! My mother had me placed in what she thought was an excellent daycare' before and after school, but the people who ran it didn't like me because I was far more intelligent than the other kids, so I was made to 'sit on a hard bench' in a small hallway while the other kids got to play or watch cartoons, and I was BADLY BEATEN with the very sharp and pointy 'pods' from a horse chestnut plant. At first my mother thought I was 'exaggerating' to get attention ... but the marks on my back, and the fact that I was not in my coat but was told to 'stand in one place outdoors' while the other kids were kept inside on a snowy day told her that I was NOT EXAGGERATING. Your son is 'being abused' by 'neglect' and that needs to 'stop' for whatever the reason. Keep looking for a 'really good daycare' with the 'teacher to child' ratio of about 3 kids to 1 adult AT ALL TIMES except on walks ... if they use a 'rope' with loops that go around the child's wrist, they can have a ration of 5-7 per adult ... but ONLY then. And ALL KIDS must be 'treated equally' and those who 'bite' need to be 'separated and told not to bite' ... or push, shove, etc. If you 'stand up' for your son now, he'll be a 'much better adult' when he's grown up.

Answer 10

Go with your gut. There is something not right about this. If it is a staffing issue they need to correct it, not come up with clever excuses. 12 to 1 is TOO MUCH, IMO 7 to 1 is too much. Picture yourself having 7 toddlers to look after. If he is getting bitten and hurt often then they are not paying enough attention. i would move him ASAP before he gets hurt worse or something terrible happens. You cant go back in time and although we always think that bad things happen to those nameless people on the evening news, you don't want to become that person. Switch daycare providers until you are comfortable that your son is taken care of and safe. He is your most valuable possession, you have to be as careful with him as you can.