Mother says she's outraged after daycare center gave her a note saying her nine-month-old is "aggressive"

GRAND RAPIDS (WITI) — A mother says she's outraged after a daycare center gave her a note accusing her nine-month-old baby of being “aggressive.”

According to Babble, a Disney-owned parenting website, the note said the baby was “playing roughly and aggressively with the other babies.”

The baby was apparently told, “t’s not OK to hurt her friends,” but the girl was “smiling" and continuing to do so.

The note also accused the nine-month-old of enjoying herself while other babies seemed upset.

Dr. Adelle Cadieux, a psychologist at a children’s hospital, told Babble, “Kids go through that stage where they just want to see cause and effect: ‘If I do this, this happens.' They’re learning. They get excited about the learning aspect as opposed to recognizing, ‘Oh what I’m doing is wrong.'”

Dr. Cadieux said that research shows that it’s normal for babies to begin behaving aggressively between the ages of six to eight months, when they wish to express themselves but can’t yet do so through language. Sometimes you can prevent aggressive behavior in babies by looking for patterns and determining what may be causing them to hit, bite, etc. Is he hungry? Tired? Both? Whether you’re a parent or daycare aide, preemptively addressing such issues means you could soon find yourself with a less aggressive baby on your hands.

Can’t prevent the behavior? Try redirecting your mischievous baby, Dr. Cadieux told Babble -- adding that what isn’t productive is a vague declaration that a baby is playing “roughly and aggressively.” If a baby’s behavior is truly alarming, the best way for a daycare provider to address it is by expressing concern through an actual conversation with the parent, Dr. Cadieux said.