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Original poster

AIBU to worry about small broken leaves in nursery baby sensory play?

64 replies

Tintinuviel · 01/07/2026 19:24

First tine parent, here. I've been viewing nurseries for my baby, and im still trying to get an idea for what is normal healthy play versus what is unsafe.

I recently viewed a nursery that I liked in many ways, but one thing gave me pause:

When I was in their baby room they had a small water tub for play and a sand tub. The water tub was filled with opaque water, and various toys. However both tubs contained multiple (many) loose plant and tree leaves. Lots of the leaves were broken up into a small chokable size.

To me this seems inappropriate for a room with teething babies who explore by sticking things in theor mouths. Wet leaves can be pretty sticky and hard to get off. And the water being cloudy whilst it's full of small chokeable objects concerned me as that means stuff don't really know what's in there in terns of small leaves that can be swallowed.

I'm not convinced nursery staff can supervise play close enough to make small leaves ok. But I don't know if I'm overreacting.

if this was a room for children over 3, I wouldn't worry as older children are obviously less likely to put random crap in their mouth

I haven't fed back with the nursery yet. Would I be unreasonable if I fed back my concerns over the leaves? Is this normal play equipment for a baby room?

OP posts:
Original poster
Tintinuviel · 02/07/2026 00:55

paleyellowbrick · 01/07/2026 22:18

Also leaving tubs of water in an area accessible to babies and very young toddlers is very concerning. They should be emptied once the activity is over and refilled again if needed.

Thank you for letting me know. In retrospect I don't know why it wasn't emptied after use.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tintinuviel · 02/07/2026 00:54

That's the thing, there were more than a dozen planted in the sand or lying in the water so it looked deliberate, but nobody was using or supervising it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tintinuviel · 02/07/2026 00:51

UnintentionalArcher · 01/07/2026 22:29

That was my thought! Much more dangerous than the leaves, I think. It gave me secondhand panic thinking of a pool of water like that near toddlers - unless it was safely fenced off, but then I assume the leaves wouldn’t be an issue either.

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It was in the main baby room, though there were no babies or adults around it when I passed through.

If it had been fenced off like the outsude areas were, I think that's different.

OP posts:
peebles32 · 01/07/2026 22:35

water must always be fully supervised even the smallest amount! I would be wary of leaves too like that. We have a duty of care to safeguard children and not suitable for babies at all!

peebles32 · 01/07/2026 22:33

Nursery manager here and I would expect that activity to be fully supervised

UnintentionalArcher · 01/07/2026 22:29

paleyellowbrick · 01/07/2026 22:18

Also leaving tubs of water in an area accessible to babies and very young toddlers is very concerning. They should be emptied once the activity is over and refilled again if needed.

That was my thought! Much more dangerous than the leaves, I think. It gave me secondhand panic thinking of a pool of water like that near toddlers - unless it was safely fenced off, but then I assume the leaves wouldn’t be an issue either.

paleyellowbrick · 01/07/2026 22:18

Also leaving tubs of water in an area accessible to babies and very young toddlers is very concerning. They should be emptied once the activity is over and refilled again if needed.

Viviennemary · 01/07/2026 22:16

Tintinuviel · 01/07/2026 20:19

Yeah really leaves - mostly tree leaves from outside but also some assorted farly thin plant leaves i think.

I doubt it, nobody was playing with them, they were haphazardly chucked in the tub and there was nobody around that area. If they'd been passing them around a table that would have been different.

Yeah that might be an idea- I did like the staff, just wondering how and whether to raise this with them.

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It sounds quite unhygenic. I think I would give this nursery a miss. Presumably the leaves and plant parts are not meant to be in the water.

lola243 · 01/07/2026 22:15

Honeyhonayboo · 01/07/2026 22:03

A flat leaf being the same rough size as a grape isn’t a choking hazard, it’s the shape of a grape that makes it a choking hazard. A piece of leaf cannot block a child’s airways

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Leaves absolutely can block airways. My son choked on a rose leaf at 6 months. Flat objects can form a seal on the airway and partially block it resulting in loss of oxygen extremely quickly.

lola243 · 01/07/2026 22:13

Definitely mention it to nursery, they may be really accommodating with it. Very similar story to you - DS went to a lovely nursery at 9 months and at one of his taster days I noticed loads of dead leaves on the floor outside where all the children were crawling and exploring. I mentioned it at the time and said DS was one who put every little thing in his mouth (at 6 months he had also had a terrible choking incident at home on a rose leaf) so please could they be mindful. The next day at drop off they had removed all the leaves, they probably just hadn’t thought about it as he was going to be one of the youngest. So don’t let it put you off completely until you mention it

Santasbigredbobblehat · 01/07/2026 22:11

I work in EYFS and would hazard a guess that someone has ‘made a potion’ and then it’s been left waiting to be sorted-similar to the example above about the sea themed tray with rice in. I cleaned out some metal bowls today that were full of sand and mulched petals that had been sitting on a table outside. Maybe make another visit and see what you see that time. It’s fine if it’s not for you.

paleyellowbrick · 01/07/2026 22:07

What you have described in a room for babies would concern me too.

Honeyhonayboo · 01/07/2026 22:03

Tintinuviel · 01/07/2026 22:00

I thought the bits of leaf were bigger and hence more of a worry as they seened similar in size to things like grapes etc that I've heard to worry about.

I think if they were actively supervising play with them and I'd seen it, I would probably have been worried, but it had all been left like that after whatever play had happened and I wasn't sure if this was a normal thing for baby rooms.

But i take your point that it's normal to expose them to nature. Maybe by cobcern is more about supervision.

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A flat leaf being the same rough size as a grape isn’t a choking hazard, it’s the shape of a grape that makes it a choking hazard. A piece of leaf cannot block a child’s airways

Original poster
Tintinuviel · 01/07/2026 22:00

POTC · 01/07/2026 21:33

It's play with natural materials, actively encouraged by powers that be. The bits of leaf are similar to the shredded lettuce that you mentioned you felt acceptable I imagine? They'll be replaced daily along with the water.

I thought the bits of leaf were bigger and hence more of a worry as they seened similar in size to things like grapes etc that I've heard to worry about.

I think if they were actively supervising play with them and I'd seen it, I would probably have been worried, but it had all been left like that after whatever play had happened and I wasn't sure if this was a normal thing for baby rooms.

But i take your point that it's normal to expose them to nature. Maybe by cobcern is more about supervision.

OP posts:
Dontlletmedownbruce · 01/07/2026 21:59

Honestly this wouldn't bother me. I work in this area (not Uk) and we are constantly being told to use natural materials as much as possible, but then, natural things aren't as easy to clean as shiny plastic things and are not always made perfectly. It sounds to me like someone was playing with a dry leaf sensory box and others were playing with water play and a bright spark came and tipped one into the other and they hadn't the chance to clean it all out yet! I'm in an older group but the other day at the wrong moment you would have seen our sea themed water tray with sea shells and some plastic fish had lots of rice floating around. It sat there for a few hours before I has the chance to empty the whole thing out

Original poster
Tintinuviel · 01/07/2026 21:44

Thank you, it's actually been helpful to hear people who aren't bothered by tge same thing.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tintinuviel · 01/07/2026 21:37

NuffSaidSam · 01/07/2026 21:11

I think the chances of a child choking on a piece of leaf is extremely small, because little bits of leaf are going to be essentially food sized, not airway sized (like marbles, Lego pieces, screws, grapes etc). But adding leaves to both water and sand play is such an odd thing to do. I'd be more concerned that they have the sand and water play inside tbh. Surely the floor is really slippery?! My bigger concern would be a toddler going backwards and smashing their head on the floor.

But, as I say, it's not for you. Nowhere that you feel you need to raise safety questions before your child has even started is the right place to leave your child.

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Thank you.

See, that thought wouldn't have occurred to me because I'm only just learning what to look for and what's normal!

The advice I got from friends on what to look out for has been mixed, and postpartum has been...complicated.

You're right.

I really want to pick a nice safe place without being a nightmare first time parent but it's hard to know where to start. 😥

OP posts:
POTC · 01/07/2026 21:33

It's play with natural materials, actively encouraged by powers that be. The bits of leaf are similar to the shredded lettuce that you mentioned you felt acceptable I imagine? They'll be replaced daily along with the water.

Original poster
Tintinuviel · 01/07/2026 21:25

MsSquiz · 01/07/2026 20:24

Does the nursery not have an outdoor area for out door play?
my youngest previously went to a forest nursery where they were outside in all weathers from age 6 months. I do think you’re overreacting here, of course staff can supervise the water/sans pit area

also, you’re wrong if you think a 3 year old won’t put random things in their mouth!

They do, I actually liked their outdoor area!

You're right about the 3 year olds but I'm hoping to mellow and have more experience by then. Thank you for being honest, even if you think I'm over reacting!

OP posts:
Happytaytos · 01/07/2026 21:16

This wouldn't have bothered me. But I am lax and think a lot of parenting rules are rubbish.

But you either trust them or you don't.

NuffSaidSam · 01/07/2026 21:11

Tintinuviel · 01/07/2026 21:07

Yeah exactly. That's what I mean. There was at least a dozen, and lots of bite sized pieces that had broken off.

It was present to a degree in all the classrooms, but I wasn't concerned about it in the rooms for older kids. I just don't know how concerned to be about it in a room with infants and very young toddlers.

I think you're probably right.

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I think the chances of a child choking on a piece of leaf is extremely small, because little bits of leaf are going to be essentially food sized, not airway sized (like marbles, Lego pieces, screws, grapes etc). But adding leaves to both water and sand play is such an odd thing to do. I'd be more concerned that they have the sand and water play inside tbh. Surely the floor is really slippery?! My bigger concern would be a toddler going backwards and smashing their head on the floor.

But, as I say, it's not for you. Nowhere that you feel you need to raise safety questions before your child has even started is the right place to leave your child.

Original poster
Tintinuviel · 01/07/2026 21:09

Thank you, I've read what I can about what questions to ask etc but you can't substitute experience!

I don't have any local recommendations for nurseries from people I know, either which makes it hard.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tintinuviel · 01/07/2026 21:08

Thank you, that's really fair. And actually its helpful to hear from people it doesn't bother.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tintinuviel · 01/07/2026 21:07

NuffSaidSam · 01/07/2026 20:29

Are you saying that the water and sand play is inside and they've deliberately put leaves in it?! That seems very odd. Is it perhaps usually outside and they'd brought it in due to rain/extreme heat?

But ultimately, if you have to 'raise something' with them before your child has even started this is 100% not the nursery for you.

Edited

Yeah exactly. That's what I mean. There was at least a dozen, and lots of bite sized pieces that had broken off.

It was present to a degree in all the classrooms, but I wasn't concerned about it in the rooms for older kids. I just don't know how concerned to be about it in a room with infants and very young toddlers.

I think you're probably right.

OP posts:
Crumpetring · 01/07/2026 21:02

Tintinuviel · 01/07/2026 20:58

I have to admit i don't know anyone who's used one, so i might have to do some research!

Part of my issue here is trying to calibrate what IS an issue that should concern me as a new parent, and what is normal.

I'm starting to realise some of my friends who have advised me were rather picky (no shame, obviously we all are in some ways) in ways perhaps most people aren't, so the advice I've received on nurseries and what to look for has been limited.

That's why I was hoping to see what people say here.

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I think it can be really hard to go with a childminder if you don’t have any recommendations from people you know to go off. Especially first time around when you don’t really know what you’re looking at either.

So far as really wanting to like a nursery but then not I think this fairly normal, sometimes you just need to go with your gut.