Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

CM CLUB:mindee's & personal cleanliness?..my predicament!

37 replies

StrawberryFULLMoonOWOWOWWWWWWW · 09/10/2006 10:35

not going into detail personally!

what would you do if a mindee comes sometimes ok, sometimes very grubby(clothes) and in all the time theyve come never had clean finger nails>..thick black dirt under them and constantly hands in mouth?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Original poster
StrawberryFULLMoonOWOWOWWWWWWW · 11/10/2006 20:41

yes, child does have problem skin (excema)and has special creams but is constantly scratching at it with dirty finger nails and mum said she hasnt used creams on her for ages but skin in creases(arms, knee's) is very very sore

OP posts:
gothicmama · 11/10/2006 20:26

Strawberry fullmoon - I think there may be a clue in one of your posts you say mindee has dry skin/excema maybe teh mother doesn't want to irritate by washing to often although duirty naikls would make it worse perhaps suggest oilatum or someghing say itwas in a mag you were reading

Twoandabump · 11/10/2006 20:17

Yes, it was me that said that my son can smell like an old man.

I think that you have indeed missed the point that we are trying to help rather than anythign else, and by asking other cm's we are seeing what other people deal with as well.

The thing that I found funny was that as a cm working on your own, you just don't know whether it is normal or not. Not laughing at the child, but just at the topic. Good old British humuor in adverse situations and all that stuff.

Original poster
StrawberryFULLMoonOWOWOWWWWWWW · 11/10/2006 19:34

thyere not being laughed at someone commented her son smells like an old man at the end of the day, but we are not laughing..i have a genuine problem with the hygiene of a mindee and was asking advice, most other posters have suggested that their children too also smell a bit, trying to prevent me from being overly concerned.
this isnt a childish convesation, this is a group of cm's trying to come up with a so,lution to ensure parents keep their own children clean and not leave it to cm's

OP posts:
busybusymum · 11/10/2006 18:33

I think it is a case of different standards I look after children who arent taught to wash their hands after using the toilet! Now I find this unacceptable but I have had this now with several families!

I also help at a childrens club and am constantly being told by children that they dont wash at home. Last term we did a project on cleanliness and it was surprising to see how many children didnt have a clue about washing their hands.

HappyMumof2 · 11/10/2006 18:15

Message withdrawn

Original poster
StrawberryFULLMoonOWOWOWWWWWWW · 11/10/2006 18:07

happymumof", we arn't laughing at them?, were trying to fathom out what to do?!

OP posts:
Glassofslime · 11/10/2006 16:21

I think you all sound like lovely cm's, very careing. At first I thought you were being a bit ott, but having read the whole thread I really would say something to the parent. Esp in the case of the single Dad, it would be much better coming from someone understanding who cares about his child then school or god forbid social services in the future. Also you know how cruel children can be, when these lo's get to school they will be teased, every class in my day had a 'fleebag' and it would be awful to be that person. It would be difficult ,but a well meaning gentle word would be appropriate.

LoveMyGirls · 11/10/2006 13:39

i undertsand what you're saying hmo2 and i personally don't do all of those things you mentioned but if imo a child was "grubby" i would do my best to remedy the situation without causing the parents any embarrassment, i think thats what dmo/ smoon are trying to do. i know in dmo's situation the father is a single dad and i think he just hasn't noticed/ not used to doing all the things we mothers "just do" so he needs and probably appreciates the help dmo gives. s/moon im not really sure of your situation, i think washing hands with a nail brush is probably sufficent.

i always make sure dd1 is bathed with hair washed every morning and dd2 has a bath at night. most of us would never dream of sending
our children out unkempt but as someone else mentioned its all about standards.

HappyMumof2 · 11/10/2006 11:07

Message withdrawn

Twoandabump · 11/10/2006 11:01

dmo, you soumnd like me lol.

I was looking at one of the mindees coats today that is covered with food and stuff, and thinking that I could stick it in when I do some washing and drying later!

I realise that kids do get dirty etc, but I would be embarassed if mine went out looking a mess!

Twoandabump · 11/10/2006 10:59

Oh I hate the smelly toilet thing lol. Although sometimes ds has it when he has a nappy on, and at the end of the day he smells like an old man!

I think that if they come first thing in the morning it is an issue, and like someone has said, maybe start writing some of the things down as it may be a neglect case.

dmo · 11/10/2006 10:58

5mth old baby comes to mine smelling of sick, no socks,no coat
went to charty shop got her a coat,socks,spare clothes to keep at mine

i wash her most days and wash the car seat, bankets,clothes,pram every other day (dont think dad notices) makes me feel better

Original poster
StrawberryFULLMoonOWOWOWWWWWWW · 11/10/2006 10:57

well this is smelly feet(trainers with no socks up until this week) and smells when am helping on toileyt ie:not washed

OP posts:
Twoandabump · 11/10/2006 10:55

Laughing at the smells thing lol.

I have a 2 year old mindee that has BO!!!!

How do you get around that one??

Original poster
StrawberryFULLMoonOWOWOWWWWWWW · 11/10/2006 10:53

i just think well..its a bit much to expect your cm to wash/bath/tidy/manicure your child!as well as buying blamnkets cos their freezing when out and about!..i most definatly wouldnt! and now i know how hard working full time is.. i still wouldnt

OP posts:
dmo · 11/10/2006 10:51

i stick by bathing them and putting my own spare clothes on them

Original poster
StrawberryFULLMoonOWOWOWWWWWWW · 11/10/2006 10:46

what about smells then..like very smelly feet and dirty socks??

OP posts:
dmo · 11/10/2006 10:13

oh thats not fair (no killing children)

when i worked at nursery i checked (even though you wernt allowed) said we were playing hairdressing
nursery manager then stopped hairdressing corner

i would look but didnt know if you could

ThePrisoner · 10/10/2006 23:00

dmo - if a child starts scratching their head in my house, I would certainly start checking for nits!!

I don't think you'd be allowed to kill them (the nits, not the children) because it would probably contravene some obscure Ofsted rule though!

Twoandabump · 10/10/2006 21:09

I have to say that I agree with you on the dirty front. When ds used to go to a cm, then he had clean clothes on, and he was clean with a clean nappy etc.

I wouldn't have dreamt of sendinghim 2 hours after he got up in the same nappy, or with a top in that is dirty, but we are not all the same.

I haev cut a little girls nails as well that I cm for, but I did ask mum first as I said she was scratching. I actually did it as they were so long, they were growing outwards - yuck on an 18 month old!

Original poster
StrawberryFULLMoonOWOWOWWWWWWW · 10/10/2006 19:15

i know what you mean, i think next time her nails are very dirty and could do with a cut ill ask mum to do it and say its because she's been scratching( herself..she has very dry skin/excema).
i just cant understand how she can leave her like this?, i know not everyone bathes each night, but children get mucky fact and need a good wash down if nothing else

OP posts:
HappyMumof2 · 10/10/2006 19:09

Message withdrawn

Original poster
StrawberryFULLMoonOWOWOWWWWWWW · 10/10/2006 17:41

did i do something wrong there??
i told the mum and she just smiled and said thats fine!?

OP posts:
dmo · 10/10/2006 14:10

weldone strawberry but be careful cutting nails not sure we are allowed to do that but if mum didnt mind thats ok

btw are we allowed to look for nits? didnt think we were but local childminder does