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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

how often do nurseries change nappies??

81 replies

workinggally · 22/05/2011 12:51

I am thinking of sending my ds to a nursery, haven't visited them yet but I am thinking about what questions I need to ask. I have heard that some have set times for changing babies. If there are 3 babies to a staff member what happens to other babies at this time?

Also I have typically changed my ds's nappy everytime it is wet at all if I have noticed it so not sure how he will cope if he is only changed at set times. Would I be able to ask he is changed more often if there are only set changing times?

OP posts:
Original poster
workinggally · 22/05/2011 12:55

it may sound crazy but this really is a make or break issue on whether I return to work.

OP posts:
Grabaspoon · 22/05/2011 12:57

As a nursery nurse we would change them at 9ish - 12ish - 2ish - 4ish unless they seemed wet or dirty.

ThePFJ · 22/05/2011 12:58

This is something I really want to know about too!

If I can't train my DS to 'confident potty user' in time for nursery... I am thinking to put him in nappies and ask if they change them, and then pack him off with a spare nappy and nappy bags/wipes etc. in a little rucksack?

Grabaspoon · 22/05/2011 12:59

Bearing in mind the children came 8-6

stickytoffeepud · 22/05/2011 12:59

not as often as a parent would, obviously

they have lots of kids to look after, yours will just be one in the crowd :(

caughtinanet · 22/05/2011 13:00

It does sound totally crazy tbh - I remember when my DCs were at nursery they changed the nappies way more often than I did at home which annoyed me as it seemed such a waste of nappies.

Its a perfectly valid question to ask when you got to look round but if ts a dealbreaker it sounds like maybe you don't need to go back

Believeitornot · 22/05/2011 13:00

Why is it the make or break issue?

FabbyChic · 22/05/2011 13:00

My sons went to a nursery whereby they potty trained at 2 years 3 months!

RitaMorgan · 22/05/2011 13:05

DS's nursery do them around 3 hourly, but more often if they're dirty and they always put them down for a nap in a clean nappy - DS is in the baby room though were they nap whenever they want rather than to a schedule.

In terms of what happens to the other babies - in a room with 3 staff and 9 babies, 1 staff member takes a baby out to change and the other 8 stay in the room with the other 2 staff. Is that what you mean?

caughtinanet · 22/05/2011 13:07

ThePFJ - I'd be very surprised if a nursery had any objection to you sending nappies - children learn to use a toilet at very different ages and I'd be pretty sure your child won't be the only one. I wouldn't worry at all about that.

Grabaspoon · 22/05/2011 13:07

Stickytoffee they're not 1 of a crowd they are still appreciated and "loved" for being them!

Do you know how long it takes to change 12 1 year old's nappies including interaction/washing hands in between etc Grin

bubblecoral · 22/05/2011 13:08

You really dont need to change a nappy the minute it gets wet. Different for poo obviously. Every three hours sounds about right, and that is fine.

RitaMorgan · 22/05/2011 13:08

I disagree stickytoffeepud - I think my ds probably gets changed more often at nursery than at home! He goes 9am-1pm, I change him at 8.30am and they change him before his nap at around 10am and then after lunch at 12.30pm (if he hasn't pooed in the meantime).

hocuspontas · 22/05/2011 13:08

Blimey - 3 hourly AND when they need it. No wonder we have a landfill problem!

gallicgirl · 22/05/2011 13:09

I've visited a couple of nurseries recently and they both said they follow what you do at home although I didn't ask specifically about nappy changing. They did say they were used to spills and accidents and recognised that toilet training is part of their job.

strandedbear · 22/05/2011 13:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RitaMorgan · 22/05/2011 13:10

Mine is in reusables so no landfill Grin

Grabaspoon · 22/05/2011 13:11

Oh and the whole 3 babies to each member of staff doesn't mean that the children are always cared for by that member of staff ie Mary and her 3 babies play in the soft play, Julie and her 3 babies have snack, Laura changes 1 of her babies nappies and ignores the rest!

It just means there has to be 1 adult for every 3 under 2's in the room. All the nursery nurse will care/look after the children. Can you imagine if it was the other way babies would be ignored whilst their adult went for lunch or what if their nursery nurse called in sick/was on holiday! Grin The keyperson just has to do all the paperwork related to your child :)

When 1 member of staff is doing nappies the 2 other staff members will be playing/interacting with the remaining babies.

hocuspontas · 22/05/2011 13:12

Rita - thank goodness for parents like you!

10 times a day is outrageous and so wasteful! Shock

Original poster
workinggally · 22/05/2011 13:14

Thanks for replies - I'm really concerned he might be wet and expecting to be changed and be ignored if he hadn't gone the required number of hrs. Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
workinggally · 22/05/2011 13:15

Sometimes I get through 10 nappies a day with ds.

OP posts:
strandedbear · 22/05/2011 13:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RitaMorgan · 22/05/2011 13:17

Is he in disposables workinggally? They don't even feel wet! 10 disposables a day every time they wee is ridiculous.

Spagbolagain · 22/05/2011 13:18

Ours changes about every 3-4hours, and extra if they have pooed obviously. They use my combination of washables and biodegradable nappies.

So essentially they do as I would do at home.

And they are not one of a crowd, they are one of a group of 3 with the or key worker, which would be the same as if you had 3 young children at home (as lots of people do). Except that when they go off to do nappies, there are other nursery staff around to take over, something you don't have the luxury of at home.

ThePFJ · 22/05/2011 13:18

caughtinanet - Thank you I feel loads better.. I have been worrying about this issue.