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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think this isnt safe

24 replies

splashy · 11/12/2010 20:39

Seen a nursery today which had free flow rooms for all the children, over 2 floors, with no stairgates. The stairs were extremely steep. I was concerned about a child (age 1) who can barely walk being allowed to walk up and down stairs. Is this ok? Am I being too worried about it?

My dd is only 3 months and realise I may be being over precious, so want some opinions from people with older children.

Posted in nursery but not received much of a reply.

OP posts:

perfumeditsawonderfullife · 11/12/2010 20:41

That would terrify me. I was way over protective though so not sure how that helps you. All you can do is go with your instincts here I think.

Desiderata · 11/12/2010 20:41

Three months???

BoysAreLikeDogs · 11/12/2010 20:42

I wouldn't like that, at all

go to a lovely CM instead

Original poster

splashy · 11/12/2010 20:42

My dd is 3 months old, and would be starting age 1 to clarify.

OP posts:

saffy85 · 11/12/2010 20:44

at Desiderata. What's big deal about baby being 3 months?

YANBU OP. Would be a dealbreaker for me and I'm not the nervous pfb mummy type.

APixieInMyTea · 11/12/2010 20:44

Was the child supervised?

AuntiePickleBottom · 11/12/2010 20:44

desderata why is that a problem some people need to go to work to be able to support the baby.

back to the op, no i don't think it is safe

methsdrinker · 11/12/2010 20:46

Its a bit iffy about the stairs but more iffy to have free flow rooms for all the children. I wouldn't put my children into a nursery where older children could get at them. As under 5'a are too curious with little children. I would be more scared of toddlers trying to pick up and play with your 3 month old than the stairs. (remembering my DD1 3 years standing at the top of the stairs with DD2 3 months in her arms)Heart stopping moment!

APixieInMyTea · 11/12/2010 20:46

Sorry posted before i'd finished (again)

They can't of had any accidents there though surely as if they did I would imagine stair gates would have been the first thing to go up.

I don't actually think it would bother me too much tbh but I would have to see the layout of the nursery in person to really know the answer.

raindroprhyme · 11/12/2010 20:47

Depends what staffing ratios etc are. In reality children are not going to ever be not supervised are they. Ask to see risk assesments.
Sounds good to me as all ages mixing, hate the baby room, walking room etc.

i have no stair gates at home and everyone takes responsibility for baby's safety on the stairs. Everyone being me, DH, DS1(9), DS2(5).
The baby(10mths) is always with someone and the stairs are in a seperate hall so doors can be closed. He is very competent going up the stairs at high speed and we are now teaching him to go down on his bum. Just to highlight stairs are not necessarily a high risk hazard.

APixieInMyTea · 11/12/2010 20:49

I also prefer the idea of free flow rooms as well with different ages mixing.

I hate the whole idea of separate rooms for separate age groups. (but that's my opinion, I don't mean to offend anyone with that statement)

Original poster

splashy · 11/12/2010 20:50

This nursery takes children from age 1 to 5 to clarify. My dd would start just after her 1st birthday. They said they don't have children falling down stairs but they looked very steep. Saw 3 year old children going down them and it looked a bit iffy.

OP posts:

saffy85 · 11/12/2010 20:56

Just to point out as I wasn't ery clear before, it wouldn't be just the steep stairs so much or even lack of stairgates, it would be the free flow rooms.

At DD's nursery the toddlers often mix with the preschoolers but the under 1's are always seperated from the other 2 groups I imagine for their own safety as the preschoolers in particular are a very rowdy group. I wouldn't like the idea of my 1 year old being knocked to the ground or accidently shoved down the stairs by a bigger child.

Have you visited other nurseries yet OP?

SummerRain · 11/12/2010 20:56

I was panicy about stairs with my first two but my youngest was scrambling up and sdown the stair well before he could walk, and he walked at 10 months.....

However that was based on my judgemenet of his coordination and personality... my older son is clumsy and has no sense of danger, i still worry about him on stairs!

Like others i'd be more worried about older children playing amongst little ones... they tend to trample babies on a regular basis but if the staffing ratios were good and they're vigilant i doubt it would be much more dangerous that having the youger ones in a house with older sibling or at a childminders with older mindees.

BertieBottlesOfMulledWine · 11/12/2010 20:59

I think it sounds great. Surely if they had loads of accidents ofsted would have closed them down?

IME toddlers and preschoolers are actually pretty careful of babies (perhaps not their own siblings...) it's the adults who assume they won't be.

Original poster

splashy · 11/12/2010 21:01

saffy I have seen a few nurseries, haven't been totally happy with any of them. Always been something about them I haven't liked. Not 100% sure what I'm looking for though, its hard!

boys yes I will start looking at cms. Think that may be a better setting for a young child.

OP posts:

Desiderata · 11/12/2010 21:07

Yes, I think at three months, a CM would be a better option.

Most nursery nurses don't really like looking after such small babies. It's a huge responsibility, and the curriculum doesn't really fit their needs at that age.

Original poster

splashy · 11/12/2010 21:08

desiderata I don't think my op was clear. My dd is 3 months now but won't start nursery till she is one year old.

OP posts:

Desiderata · 11/12/2010 21:14

Soz, Splashy

I did realize that from your posts, but I was responding to others on the thread.

Good luck with whatever you chose

saffy85 · 11/12/2010 21:34

That's understandable Splashy. My DD didn't start nursery until she was 2 up until then she'd been with my mum which she loved (and still does).

If you find a suitable childminder for your DD when she needs them aged one you can always swap to a nursery setting when she's older and there's one more suitable for her. I wanted DD to go to nursery to get her used to big groups to prepare her for school.

daimbardiva · 11/12/2010 21:43

YANBU at all - my son is 18 months and really confident at going up and down stairs but accidents still happen and stair gates are a must. This nursery sounds quite alarming to me...!

DuelingFanio · 12/12/2010 01:41

Are they supervised?

Catnao · 12/12/2010 02:15

I had a fantastic childminder who looked after my son fron 4 months to four years when he started reception - she had a very child friendly house and only ever one baby at at a time and no more than three children ever. I was lucky with lovely Maureen - but did feel happuier with her than a nursery.

ChippingIn · 12/12/2010 02:59

I wouldn't mind the free-flow rooms, but I wouldn't use a nursery that was free-flow with stairs. I can't see how this meets regulations tbh

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