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I thought it would be easier to find a nursery with a no outdoor shoes policy !!

381 replies

Noshoesnursery · 03/10/2024 14:25

Every one so far that I’ve looked at they all wear outdoor shoes inside meaning the carpets and rugs are not clean ? I thought they would be outdoor shoes off at the door for children and staff and just clean indoor shoes inside ?

is it really that unusual ? It’s a deal breaker for me but I need to find one !!

OP posts:
yeesh · 03/10/2024 14:25

Lol

Singleandproud · 03/10/2024 14:26

How is your child going to build up an immune system? Nursery and schools are all filthy, no matter how well they are cleaned.

Iused · 03/10/2024 14:27

Hilarious, can you imagine trying to get 20 x 2 year olds to change footwear every time they go in and out.

Bit of dirt is very good for our immune system btw

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Elderberrier · 03/10/2024 14:27

Our nursery had inside shoes or slippers, a council nursery. Also not a big deal to me but sounds like it to you so just keep asking I guess!

Chewbecca · 03/10/2024 14:27

It's a daft deal breaker. There are so many more important factors in choosing a nursery.

Crunchymum · 03/10/2024 14:28

They actually trialed this when the preschool (attached to main school) was done up a few years back. It lasted about a week before they realised they spent 75% of the day helping little children taking off and putting on shoes.

Iused · 03/10/2024 14:28

Ps you won't find one so I'd save your energy and if you did what are the chances of it being anywhere near where you live? I'm guessing a forest school wouldn't be for you ?!

InTheRainOnATrain · 03/10/2024 14:28

Outside of the baby room, which I would expect to be no outdoor shoes because of crawling, I’ve never heard of a no shoe policy and over the years we’ve used 5 nurseries in 2 countries. It would be a lot of the work for the staff wouldn’t it, especially if it’s somewhere where they have free flow to the garden? Kids wear shoes to school and so long as we’re talking about walkers not crawlers then I don’t see why it would be an issue.

MillshakePickle · 03/10/2024 14:29

My baby has a no show policy in his nursery. Only in the baby room though. We still send out door shoes for outdoor play. The baby room is for 2 and unders.

Very strict no shoe policy in affect, when parents pick up we have to take shoes off before entering the rooms

pjani · 03/10/2024 14:29

My husband is completely revolted about the idea of shoes inside so I do get this.

But I think it's completely impractical for a nursery, because getting shoes on and off children is a complete pain in the arse.

Think about the screaming tantrums I've had getting shoes on my kids over the years I would not want to do that with every child every time they want to go outside, and then also inside, and then outside again.

You may want to consider a nanny, or nanny share, or possibly a childminder with a smaller group of children who also feels the same way about shoes inside.

MillshakePickle · 03/10/2024 14:29

MillshakePickle · 03/10/2024 14:29

My baby has a no show policy in his nursery. Only in the baby room though. We still send out door shoes for outdoor play. The baby room is for 2 and unders.

Very strict no shoe policy in affect, when parents pick up we have to take shoes off before entering the rooms

And we're in a London commuter area. They do exist

AuraBora · 03/10/2024 14:29

Chewbecca · 03/10/2024 14:27

It's a daft deal breaker. There are so many more important factors in choosing a nursery.

This!

Noshoesnursery · 03/10/2024 14:30

Singleandproud · 03/10/2024 14:26

How is your child going to build up an immune system? Nursery and schools are all filthy, no matter how well they are cleaned.

With vaccinations and a normal level of unavoidable germs ? But filthy floors where babies and toddlers crawl around just isn’t ok to me ?

OP posts:
SnapdragonToadflax · 03/10/2024 14:30

Our nursery was free-flow to the garden, which was lovely - my son spent most of his time grubbing around in the dirt with sticks and riding trikes through puddles. It would be rather inconvenient to keep changing shoes 🙄

ETA - the baby room was no shoes. But only for the babies, once they're toddling they're outside.

sprigatito · 03/10/2024 14:30

You're going to need to unclench, unless you plan on home educating, never using public transport or the NHS...the world is full of germs, and your child will be covered in them like everyone else. You can't have him/her laminated, so you may as well just let him/her start building up an immune system.

MinervaMcGonagallsCat · 03/10/2024 14:31

That's quite a special deal breaker. You will struggle.

Perhaps you'd be better with a childminder.

Codlingmoths · 03/10/2024 14:31

Iused · 03/10/2024 14:27

Hilarious, can you imagine trying to get 20 x 2 year olds to change footwear every time they go in and out.

Bit of dirt is very good for our immune system btw

I feel like I have to put shoes on my 2 year old 20x before I get out the door, so maybe I’m really well qualified for childcare working?

CabbagesAndCeilingWax · 03/10/2024 14:31

There's loads of nurseries and even schools that insist children wear slippers indoors. Unfortunately all the ones I know of are in France!

Noshoesnursery · 03/10/2024 14:31

Surely it’s not hard at the door to have shoes off and into slippers / clean nursery shoes at the same time as hanging up coats and bags ? They often have wellies to change into for outdoor play so why not change into clean indoor footwear on the way in ? I’m just shocked it’s not more common ?

OP posts:
DillyDeclutter · 03/10/2024 14:31

Interested to see if you find one but I suspect you'll need a childminder instead.

LemonyCoughSyrup · 03/10/2024 14:31

The shoes will be the least of your worry 😫when it comes to germ

I think you will find it hard to find a nursery that does this with shoes

When you go to work do they ask you to swap shoes at the door? It’s not typical in the UK

My kids did have wellies for when it was really wet or wintry and used to change shoes then, but only then

AuraBora · 03/10/2024 14:32

Unfortunately you may find the same with school. I was a bit surprised when I found out when my daughter started in Reception - esp as they all sit close on carpet.
I guess the logistics of getting 30 odd kids to take shoes on and off (altho since they are all vecro it shouldn't be that hard!).
I never thought about it with nursery I have to admit..

viques · 03/10/2024 14:32

Noshoesnursery · 03/10/2024 14:25

Every one so far that I’ve looked at they all wear outdoor shoes inside meaning the carpets and rugs are not clean ? I thought they would be outdoor shoes off at the door for children and staff and just clean indoor shoes inside ?

is it really that unusual ? It’s a deal breaker for me but I need to find one !!

Funnily enough this was something I fought (and won ) my dds nursery over many years ago, but in reverse. I objected to her wearing the grim little second, third, fourth hand slippers they made them change into instead of her proper, fitted, expensive Clarks shoes! They spent most of the day inside since the leader of their room had had a row with the leader of the other room and refused to share the outside space ( another story).

Singleandproud · 03/10/2024 14:33

@Noshoesnursery presumably you go to places like the library your children are allowed to crawl around on - or a soft play place which may well be shoes off but has been pee'd, pooed and vomited over, tots wiping their snotty noses on their hands and then the apparatus or climbed slide ladders etc at the park putting their hands where others shoes have been.

Justploddingonandon · 03/10/2024 14:34

How old is your child? The nurseries my children went to (2 as we moved) had no shoes in the baby room, after that it was free flow in and outdoors. Thought this was pretty standard. Form what I remember of the toddler/pre-school stage putting shoes on one child (who half the time was adamant they could do it themselves, and the other half of the time refused) took forever, you'd spend all day doing it for 20!