What would you do in this situation?

[ChrizJen]

We had a little incident at daycare, and I'd like your feedback on what, if anything, you would do.

DD2 has the same identical winter coat that another little girl in her class has. Both coats are clearly marked with names on the tags, but the other little girl (who usually gets picked up before DD) sometimes still takes DD's coat home. So we often pick DD up to find that she has to wear the other little girl's coat home.
Soooo...one day last week, I get there to pick her up, and there's a note addressed to me attached to her cubby explaining that DD snagged her coat out on the playground, and that there is a rip in the arm of it. It's right on the seam, so I was just going to sew it up. No biggie.
But then I get there the next day, and the teacher explains to me that there was a mixup, and the coat that was torn was the OTHER girl's coat. My DD was wearing it, but it belonged to the other little girl. The teacher took full responsibility for the incident, stating that she should have checked to make sure that the girls were wearing the right coats before they went outside.
So now I feel guilty though. DD was evidently wearing the coat when it was torn. So am I now responsible for buying a new coat? Then my other question is, what if the coat was torn before my DD even wore it? These are 2-year-olds. How do we know that the coat was torn while DD was wearing it???

Anyway, if this makes any sense to you, what would you expect to have to do in this situation?

Thanks!

 

[nutterbutter2010]

I wouldn't do anything. Its not your fault these teachers can't read a name inside a coat for goodness sakes. And as you said, these are 2 year olds, and the coat could have been ripped a week ago without anyone knowing it.

 

[natenapril]

Maybe just talk to the parents about the mix up and go from there. No need to worry endlessly. Maybe they feel it's no big deal as well.

 

[EthansMom]

Personally, I would offer the other parents a reasonably amount to replace the coat.

 

[holycow]

I would look at it this way. Either the child care providers or the other parent isn't paying attention when they put on the coats.

I would just make sure my DD has her coat and go from there unless they approach you on it. Chances are they won't.

If they do I would offer to sew it.

They are 2 it isn't going to last forever they will out grow it in a few months anyway.

 

[mamamary]

I wouldn't do anything. Its not your fault these teachers can't read a name inside a coat for goodness sakes. And as you said, these are 2 year olds, and the coat could have been ripped a week ago without anyone knowing it.

I agree.

 

[shrubber]

Your child ripped the coat of another childs.
Accident? Of course.
But you are responsible. Not the 2 yr old and not the teacher.
Tell the other parents how sorry you are and ask how you might amends.

 

[jillyb]

I wouldn't do anything. Its not your fault these teachers can't read a name inside a coat for goodness sakes. And as you said, these are 2 year olds, and the coat could have been ripped a week ago without anyone knowing it.

This

 

[belle&sebastiansmom]

I think after all the hassle and frustration, my kid would be getting a new coat. No more mix ups. (Hey, you could give the other child your kids old coat. Seems the parents want to take it home all the time anyway.)

I probably wouldn't offer to pay for a coat for the other child. It was the daycare teachers lack of attentiveness. I understand you feel bad, and responsible, but you did nothing wrong.

 

[Disney Doll]

I wouldn't do anything. If the other mother complains, I'd offer to stitch it up, like you were going to do when you thought it was your DD's coat.

 

[kafitty]

I wouldn't do anything. If the other mother complains, I'd offer to stitch it up, like you were going to do when you thought it was your DD's coat.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

You could give your dd's coat to her and then buy your dd a different coat ending the switching coat nonsense.
That would drive me crazy.

 

[RadioNate]

I think after all the hassle and frustration, my kid would be getting a new coat. No more mix ups. (Hey, you could give the other child your kids old coat. Seems the parents want to take it home all the time anyway.)

I probably wouldn't offer to pay for a coat for the other child. It was the daycare teachers lack of attentiveness. I understand you feel bad, and responsible, but you did nothing wrong.

Well the OP's child DID rip the other's child's coat. So I'd offer to reimburse or fix the tear yourself.

But, yeah, I'd buy my DD a different coat so they stop mixing them op. The other child can have the undamaged one since she seems to wear it all the time anyway.

Kids coats are 50% off at Old Navy. I just got my DD a cute one for $14.

 

[nutterbutter2010]

Your child ripped the coat of another childs.
Accident? Of course.
But you are responsible. Not the 2 yr old and not the teacher.
Tell the other parents how sorry you are and ask how you might amends.

Seriously? So, by your account, if your in a store with your children, and the worker of the store says to your 2 year old, "Here sweetie, play with this plastic ball." while your not looking, and it turns out that it was a $2000 antique glass ball and your child drops it and breaks it, your responcible for the $2000? Not me!!!

 

[shrubber]

Seriously? So, by your account, if your in a store with your children, and the worker of the store says to your 2 year old, "Here sweetie, play with this plastic ball." while your not looking, and it turns out that it was a $2000 antique glass ball and your child drops it and breaks it, your responcible for the $2000? Not me!!!

I'm sorry, what you wrote makes no sense to me?

 

[JessicaR]

I would go out and get a new jacket that is unique so this doesn't happen anymore.

I guess I would have a conversation with the other mom to see if she would like me to have the jacket repaired. I know if the other child didn't take your daughters coat in the first place it wouldn't have been your daughters fault that it tore. I would still offer.

 

[cheerful chickadee]

Honestly I'd give my DD's matching coat to the other little girl and buy my DD a new coat, this way you make amends for the rip in the coat (although I don't think it's all your responsibility) and your DD gets a new coat which will end the coat mix-up

 

[DizBelle]

Buying a new coat would only work if there are no other kids at the daycare with the same (now new) coat and if you can get the other parents to promise that they won't buy the same coat for their kids.

OP is not responsible. The daycare is. They put the wrong coat on the child.

 

[wvjules]

Why does the OP need to make amends? The teachers screwed up the coats. And prior to that the other child's mother screwed up the coats. OP and her DD did nothing wrong.

 

[shrubber]

Why does the OP need to make amends? The teachers screwed up the coats. And prior to that the other child's mother screwed up the coats. OP and her DD did nothing wrong.

Yes the DD did something wrong, she tore someone elses coat ( an accident to be sure )
How is anyone else here to blame? The OP should apologize for the accident and offer to make amends.
I doubt the other girls parents would make a big deal of it anyways.
Is a daycare teacher responsible for all of the little darlings things?
If a two year olds mitten goes missing, for instance, I would hardly blame the teacher.