Understanding Toddler Daycare Injuries and How They Happen

Why Do Toddlers Face Injury Risks at Daycare Centers?

Naturally curious and energetic, toddlers are at a fun stage of life. However, as they become more active, the likelihood of their getting hurt at a daycare center also increases. Since they are still developing their motor skills and coordination, and can be a bit wobbly, it’s not uncommon for small trips and slips to happen along the way, according to A thru Z Pediatrics.

Toddlers are learning to explore, too. They want to climb, touch, and investigate anything within their reach. As they develop awareness of their surroundings and figure out what is safe and unsafe, they can sometimes put themselves in dangerous situations without realizing it. That is why daycare centers operating in compliance with Texas childcare laws, also known as the minimum standards, is so important for child safety.

What Are Common Toddler Injuries at Daycare Centers?

After more than 10 years of advocating for Texas families dealing with serious daycare accidents, our lawyers have seen it all. To help you protect your little one, we’ve compiled a list of the most frequent toddler daycare injuries we encounter.

These injuries include:

1. Falls

Falls are one of the most common toddler injuries in daycare centers and can happen in the blink of an eye. Toddlers can get hurt by falling from highchairs, changing tables, or playground equipment. Falls can cause broken bones, head injuries, or bruises.

That’s why an appropriate child-to-caregiver ratio is essential for preventing injuries, such as falls, in daycare centers. With proper classroom ratios, caregivers can keep close eyes and ears on toddlers and quickly intervene if something is wrong. This includes spotting toddlers on the playground, which is an easy way to prevent fall injuries at daycare centers.

2. Biting Incidents

Toddlers struggle when they experience many emotions and don’t know how to properly express them. They may bite a classmate when they feel frustrated, are teething, or simply want attention.

These incidents are easily preventable in toddler classrooms when caregivers closely supervise children. If another child bites your toddler at a daycare center, read this article to learn about the steps you can take to hold the daycare center accountable. 

3. Choking 

Toddlers are still learning to chew and swallow their food properly, so they can choke on food or small toys if they’re not closely watched. That’s why meal and snack times cause an increased choking risk.

When a toddler chokes on something, their airway gets blocked. This can cause serious damage to their brain and throat. With proper supervision by caregivers, the risk of choking in daycare centers can be significantly reduced.

4. Wandering Incidents 

Toddlers wandering off is one of the scariest things that can happen at a daycare center, and it truly only takes a split second. Whether they slip out of a fence opening on the playground or wander away from the group on a field trip, an unsupervised toddler can quickly find themselves facing serious dangers like traffic, water hazards, or encounters with strangers.

The best way to prevent a child from slipping away is simple: close visual and auditory proximity of caregivers. When there are enough caregivers in a toddler classroom, they can keep track of every little one they are responsible for. This allows caregivers to consistently conduct frequent face-to-name checks and closely monitor the daycare center’s premises by checking for broken fences on the playground. These proactive checks help ensure a wandering incident never happens in the first place.

How Can Daycare Centers Reduce the Risk of Toddler Injuries?

Aside from complying with classroom ratios and proper supervision practices outlined in the minimum standards, a well-maintained daycare center can make a big difference in keeping toddlers safe.

To prevent toddler injuries, daycare centers should focus on:

• Clean spaces. While regularly mopping floors and wiping down play areas helps maintain a clean environment for children, wet surfaces can also lead to slips and falls. Keeping kids away from areas that are drying is key to ensuring safe spaces for children.  
• Equipment inspections and repairs. Checking for loose screws or broken playground structures, fixing any unsafe equipment, and making sure classroom furniture is anchored properly helps prevent injuries like falls.
• Secure storage of dangerous items. Cleaning supplies, choking hazards, and sharp objects should be stored properly to prevent toddlers from gaining access to them. Bottle warmer cords should also be kept out of reach from little hands. 

How Do I Know If My Toddler’s Injury Is Caused by Daycare Negligence?

Some daycare center injuries may be a sign of negligence from caregivers. Nearly all toddler injuries are preventable with proper caregiver supervision. Falls, biting incidents, and choking injuries can be prevented when attentive caregivers recognize dangerous situations and intervene quickly. As we mentioned earlier, the correct child-to-caregiver ratio in daycare centers is necessary to ensure that caregivers supervise toddlers properly.

If your child has been injured at a daycare center, it is most likely a result of a lack of supervision. This means that the daycare center has been negligent and breached its duty of care—and you have the right to take legal action to hold them accountable.  

How Can The Button Law Firm Help Me If My Toddler Was injured?

If you think that your toddler’s injury is a result of negligent safety practices at a daycare center anywhere in Texas, contact our experienced daycare injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm. We are dedicated to holding daycare centers in Texas accountable for unsafe conditions and any failures that led to your child being seriously injured. We work on contingency, meaning we don’t charge you or collect any upfront fees to get started on your case. Contact us for a free case evaluation by calling us at 214-699-4409 or emailing us at intake@buttonlawfirm.com.