Granddaughter bitten by other kid

My first thought would be that I had a sensible daughter in law. And that you’re a bit daft.

As an ex nursery and infant teacher I have seen this many many times. It is usually sorted out between parents and the school. Quite amicably in most cases. I have never seen or heard a grandparent involved. Although unpleasant a child biting another child is not unusual in the very young.
However if a ‘kid’ bit a child a visit ti the GP for an anti tetanus might be advisable.

It’s the parents that should sort it out not a grandparent, I’d keep out of it, I wouldn’t involve myself. Sadly children do bite and not always just toddlers. Hopefully it gets sorted and doesn’t happen again.

Our granddaughter lives with but is now nearly 16. Quite frankly how much bullying and incidents happen shocks me . We have been involved with her school a few times over bullying and she even had to change schools due to it . But I am also shocked at how many parents bully there children and treat them like they own them and the lack of support for the children

A work colleague was called to the nursery where her 18 month old daughter attended. Evidently her little girl had inflicted a bite on the hand of another child. A really big issue was made of this, and colleague and her husband had to sign a declaration confirming that their daughter had bitten a child, and this was filed away on her record. We were all rather taken aback at the seemingly 'over the top' way this very natural behaviour was dealt with, and both parents were mortified.

Cossy

Soz fat fingers (wish this site allowed edits!) That should read “bite, pinch or punch” / nothing to do with “lunch” 😂😂😂

Cossy you can ‘edit’ - just use the Preview button below your comments, before you post proper, then you can spot anything that has gone wrong and edit your post first…THEN and only then post your message!

I remember my daughter who was in the Cambridge University women’s rugby team , being very badly bitten on the arm while in the scrum, by one of the opposing team. It became very infected and she was hospitalised for a while as her arm swelled up alarmingly. It took a few weeks to conquer the infection and the doctors told her that a human bite carries far more bugs than an animal bite. I admit to feeling somewhat frosty towards the biter, who was actually a friend of hers!

My DGD, aged 11, was bitten recently by an autistic boy in her class. The teacher dealt with it and the boy’s mum (DD’s friend) was mortified and apologised. DGD was initially upset but then as the boy was a friend she accepted that frustration caused the bite. DGS (ADHD) spat at another boy, DS totally mortified rang the boy’s dad to apologise and it was all over and done with. I wish this child’s mum had apologised, that would sure have defused the situation.
These things happen and I honestly don’t think it would have been my place to do anything …

Children bite! But they’re only allowed one,…just like dogs! Let the parents deal …. and the child survived didn’t she? ! What fuss.

It is up to the parents to sort this out. I know that my daughter would be all over it; she has a three year old who is, unfortunately, a biter-but only at home atm. I would certainly say something to HER if she wasn’t as this kind of behaviour is obviously unacceptable.

ElaineI

DGS2 friend is a biter. He is 5 and at nursery but is autistic. DGD bit her brother when she was 2 but never again. Children do this and 5 is very young. My only issue with biting is that in adults, broken skin from a bite means antibiotics, tetanus and possibly other vaccinations (I don't mean if a child bites you but an adult). Had to deal with this occasionally when nursing.

DS was at a SN school and in the sixth form when a known biter bit him. During a class in whichbtjere were 6 students and 3 staff emembers....
Fortunately his skin was not broken but additionally the correct NHS guidelines for a human bite were not followed by their "qualified" first aider. (Clean under warm running tap water, using soap if skin os not broken).

To top it all ds was removed from tje room for first aid and while I collected him. The perpetrator was allowed to stay and while I was told there were "consequences", DS felt that it was him being punished and not the biter!

Human bites require antibiotics if they break the skin. Lots of small children bite though and it should be dealt with delicately.

I'm sorry that so many of the grans on here feel it necessary to tell you that your grandchild being bitten is none of your business OP. Naturally if you're a close and loving grandmother, the thought of anything, or anyone harming your grandchild is going to be upsetting. Personally I can totally understand you being hopping mad about it, I would be too.

As for those that have told the OP that it's none of her business, not to get involved, etc., I don't think for one moment that she is planning on going to the school, or approaching the parents herself, merely hoping to support her child and grandchild. So no need for the snide comments, it's upsetting and unnecessary.

The only biter I’ve ever encountered was DGD1 (17 now) who did this as a toddler. I saw her bite her paternal GM who just dismissed it as “she’s just playing”. Her parents took little notice. Her chief victim was DD2 who was 12 when she was born (there is 20 years age difference between DD’s). DD2 yelled at DGD1 at a family do for biting her and then got promptly shouted at by DD1 et al. We were fuming but at least DGD1 is mortified now.

I broke a boys nose when I was in secondary school. He had been bullying my friends and I for weeks (kicking and punching) before I lashed out in self defence. When his patents tried to make trouble 8 other children reported that they too had been systematically bullied by this older (much bigger) boy and his friends. We never saw him again so I assume he was excluded.

I wonder how a school would handle that now?

I wouldn’t have a clue if one of my DGC had been bitten, we live a long way away, so I wouldn’t react to most of what happens to them because I don’t know what’s going on!

I wonder why you feel so strongly about it?

Soz fat fingers (wish this site allowed edits!) That should read “bite, pinch or punch” / nothing to do with “lunch” 😂😂😂

My son, now 38, was bitten at pre-school and so hard it marked his chest through two tops. School dealt with it very well and the father phoned and apologised. It’s not acceptable to bite, lunch or lunch but small children do learn to control themselves in most instances and whilst not a pleasant situation it’s not a huge big deal - it happens

I was surprised that the OP was so upset and surprised. This sort of thing is not nice but happens with young children, and surely happened with her own children were little.

I would talk seriously to your daughter, and help and support her. You can share your feelings (tactfully) But you can't deal with this yourself.

Not make a big deal out of it? If my child had been bitten the school and the biter’s parents would have known about it, and I would advise my child not to play with the biter. Such behaviour is primitive and totally unacceptable.

if mums make a big deal out of it then the child who has bitten could get totally isolated, frozen to death by other kids and it could get worse. Mum should help her child to understand. Instead of becoming frozen out and it getting even worse for the one who bit. I would not involve the school. just my opinion. Not unless the problem get much worse than an isolated incident on its own.

My daughter was bitten by a SENS pupil, broken skin and had to have a series of injections.

However if skin not broken, then no treatment required.

Children DO bite. All sorts of reasons, I can remember nearly fifty years ago being so embarrassed when a child at nursery school was bitten by my son and the teeth marks were clear to be seen despite the one who was bitten wearing a coat and a jumper.

The biter needs to be told and understand that this is not acceptable behavior, but do think the OP is being very OTT about this sort of quite normal behavior of young children. As has been said the girls are probably best of friends now and as the Mums are friends, nothing further really needs to be done - especially no business of g.parents.

Children in schools do bite some older ones with frustration.
Your dd should tell the school who should have a policy for dealing with such incidents.
If your child is the bitter then it needs to be explained repeatedly that it is not the thing to do.
If the skin is broken I would expect the school to inform me and then I could choose to take my child to the Dr's for whatever shots are needed.
Adults bite and people working in A&E and paramedics have to be very careful.

Tetanus is life threatening I think whereas most other viruses that can be passed on that way don't have a cure all approach so you'd have to wait to see how the wound heals or if any symptoms occur.

I think disinfecting the wound is probably enough in most cases to prevent infection with broken skin but if it was a deep bite, doctor's would be best to have it properly cleaned, same if it was a deep bite or scratch from a pet, I think sometimes antibiotics are given for that