High-Needs Toddler

[Lexie489]

I have a fifteen-month-old dcg who has been in my care for about three months now.

She is extremely high-needs, cries all day long and only stops for about the first five minutes of meals or snacks. She is always whining, crying, and excessively aggressive with the other kids. Now she is starting to randomly attempt to bite other kids. I am always able to stop it, so thankfully no other child has been hurt, but it's to the point where if I need to turn my back, make a meal, or have my hands full with another child, I only feel comfortable putting her in an Octagon play yard.

The other kids have a great time, but they are affected by the constant noise. I have tried napping dcg in a different room on another floor altogether, but she screams so loud that she wakes the others up.

I've never dealt with biting before- any suggestions? Secondly, at what point do you decide to terminate? What process should I follow if terming? Parents are always notified in real-time when incidents happen, but should I prepare a more formal letter?

Thanks!

[Michael]

When it comes to biting, our old forum archives have a lot of posts including this one. https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6

With your question of if or when to term- that is something only you can answer. It’s your business and how much energy you want to expend or the types of clients you want to care for are solely up to you.

here are older posts on biting and termination.
https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.p...minate+-+biter

[Lexie489]

Thank you

[littlefriends]

Have you been telling the parents about everything? The crying, trying to bite, all of it? If you do term you want to be sure they’re well aware that dcg is having a lot of trouble adjusting.

I keep biters separated from any of the others at all times unless I am free to give that kid complete and total supervision. Tell mom (if she has a problem with her kid being separated) that it’s your responsibility to keep EVERYONE safe. If she doesn’t like that then she knows where the door is and can give her notice.

In my term letter I have several “reasons” listed that can be checked off and one listed is “Behavioral issues that are not being resolved in a timely manner”. Make sure you are communicating with her parents, keeping them very aware, and give them a time limit for things to improve and if they don’t you may need to term-for both you and the other kid’s sanity.

[Lexie489]

Yes, I document everything in real-time through HiMama. The only reply i get is "poor baby," from dcm. I have finally replied back with, "no, poor baby who has been bit," which is always deflected back as the other child must have done something to aggravate her daughter. I'm sure her tune would change if it was dcg being bit.

[BeeNature]

Since the parent doesn't seem concerned I would term because it's a safety issue for the whole group. I have had to term a couple times... one of the mom's was like this one and thought her daughter was provoked, and another mom actually laughed when I told her about her child biting. There were other issues going on with these children and parents as well.
Now if the parents are taking it seriously and want to work with you on addressing behavior problems then I would give them a time limit.