If you work in pre-school childcare, what are your bugbears in children/parents?

[GlitteryGreen]

Just out of interest really as my 13mo little girl started nursery recently. She's usually breastfed to sleep and cosleeps at night, both of which I had to put on her entry forms, so I was concerned the nursery would find her a nightmare to get down.

Just wondering if there's anything you see in children that start which makes you think arghh nooo?!

I wonder this, as I’m worried my DS’s nursery roll their eyes to the ceiling when they see me

I don't work in nursery, but I see loads of parents following the children in without being invited and setting their lunch bag, coat up etc.
Not sure how long they stay but I drop and run.

Haha same, when I had to fill in that form I was like oh god 🙈 They're going to be dreading having her!

Does your child settle without being fed to sleep? Because if not then that's not fair on the nursery staff.

Nothing like sleep habits. It irks me when children don't have what they need for the day ie, waterproofs, wellies, spare clothes, appropriate outdoor clothing. We often spend a couple of hours a day outside and from this time of year it can be pretty cold. I think parents who walk from the car to the office often don't appreciate the need for a good coat.

Clothing etc not named!!

Don’t be silly. Children are adaptable and easily adjust when in the care of others.

I fed to sleep for two years. Never had an issue with anyone else putting her to sleep.

@Rolypolyup She does for others, but not for me. And not as quickly as when she's fed.

Ah yeah, I can imagine clothing would be a pain, especially if parents get arsey about unlabelled stuff being lost.

Honestly @GlitteryGreen don't worry, babies adapt. There is so much going on to occupy them they are shattered by nap time, cuddling them to sleep works eventually
Nobody is going to dread having her
My peeve for older children, being told their clothes were dirty (play dirty not soiled) when they went home - yep that's because they had fun learning

Label

Their

Clothes!

Clothing is the big one. Pack a bag with plenty of changes of clothes, named and if they are potty training then pack twice as much! We have spares of course, but it’s hard to get them back - much easier if little Betty has 10 pairs of pants and we only need 5. As opposed to Betty only having 3 pairs and we need 5+!
Also, don’t put them in lovely outfits which you’ll be upset if they cover in dreaded red paint. Small children get paint everywhere, we don’t use aprons because they rarely fit well and get in the way, plus they still manage to get the paint in the places the apron doesn’t cover. Just buy cheapy secondhand clothes, simple leggings/joggers and tops.

Some children easily adapt. Many don't.

I can teach and encourage children to sleep by themselves and am almost always successful but when a child is already getting to know me, the environment, the new routine etc, it can make everything trickier for a while.

Nursery workers aren't magic, despite reading that often, they just have a higher tolerance for settling children and more practice! Doesn't make it easy for the workers or the children.

Yes!!! This a million times over. We LOVE parents who label everything and they are held in high esteem!

Label clothes
don’t send toys in with them
only clothes that can get dirty and lots of spares
be on time to collect!
don’t hang around at drop off
if there’s a no nut policy - don’t send Nutella sandwiches!
probably all very specific to my setting but these are things that really wind me up!

My friend works in a nursery and the only thing she ever complains about is parents turning up late. It's like people don't realise there is an actual human being having to spend their evening there when they should be finished work and home.

Oh god I think I am the parent who never provides appropriate clothes D:

It's not that we don't have them/don't think they are necessary. It is just with all the changing of the seasons things get muddled and they come home by accident and then with shared drop offs etc we lose track of what is at nursery and what is at home.

I have doubles of basically everything but they still end up with 2 things in one place and none at the other.

However I do keep coming to pick up DS3 and he is wearing another child's shoes! I have no idea whose shoes they are and what that child is wearing!

Question. Is an all in one snow suit annoying for a baby as opposed to a normam coat.
It feels annoying when I send him in it but I continue to do it 😂

I don’t work in a nursery but I’ll have a few guesses….

Label everything, have spare clothes, don’t be late at collection, don’t secretly give a poorly child calpol and send her to nursery, warm clothes in winter, suncream in summer.

Pull ups
Clothes that don't have the poppers for changing nappies
Shoes with laces (why just why??)
Non swift handover of the child when the child is upset. It just makes it harder to prolong drop off. I guarantee within no time at all, your child has settled when they see their friends and start to get on with their day.

Why are pull ups a problem? I’m intrigued

Re laces - I agree and it weirds me out when young kids can actually do them themselves

Because when you are changing several children (especially when they aren't wearing trousers with the popper legs) it's a faff to take the full trouser off & wrestle little feet back in to their clothes. With nappies you can just pull them slightly down and put a new nappy on x

Oh also I'd like to add dungarees to the list (although they are okay with popper legs!)

I would also like to know this!!

Personally I don't mind snow suits as little ones rarely keep a blanket on in the buggy & it's so easy for them to get cold especially when it's wet too. Try to get one that's relatively easy to put on though. I like the ones that zip all the way down the leg rather than just half way.