I run a nursery and in the past, I've faced situations where parents have asked that male members of staff refrain from carrying out intimate care for their children or change them from wet/dirty clothes. I've always said that we have safeguarding policies in place that means that all staff members aren't left on their own with children, the toilets are in the middle of the nursery which means that the staff members are visible when they're assisting children etc to protect all the children from all teachers and that we can't accommodate specifying certain members of staff not being able to do certain things because of their sex or any other reason. I've never had anyone decide to withdraw their child because of this, although they'd obviously be within their rights to find somewhere else if they weren't happy.
Over the past 10 years, at various settings, we've always had at least one man in the team and I think having men in the workforce is valuable for the children. However, have I been handling this right? I wouldn't expect an adult woman not to be able to choose the sex of their intimate care provider so am I wrong to deny parents the chance to exercise this choice on behalf of their children?
I don't think I am but am doubting myself.