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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to expect a creche to change my lad's nappy?

32 replies

wreckedone · 16/02/2013 12:25

My lad is 20mo, and I've just started putting him in a creche for an hour whilst I swim once a week. I was really nervous about it, have suffered from severe PND and the thought of leaving him made me feel physically sick.Went to register him (you have to do this 24hours in advance of needing the place) and the lass commented on him looking older than he is, as he's very tall and quite chatty. He went to the creche, no problem, happy as Larry to go off and play, but when I picked him up, I could smell him the moment they opened the door! I changed him before we got in the car to go home and he'd obviously been sat in it for a while-very red and sore. He makes a HUGE fuss of pooing-pulls faces, grunts etc, and as I mentioned, I could smell him as soon as I walked in-there was only him and a tiny baby there, so they can't have failed to notice, surely? AIBU to expect them to have noticed and changed him before I got there?

OP posts:
WilsonFrickett · 16/02/2013 12:34

I could be wrong but I think some drop off creches don't actually do nappy changes. I think you need to check with them before dropping him off again. And it could have happened just as you walked in the door, I suppose? But generally, no YANBU.

Original poster
wreckedone · 16/02/2013 12:36

I suppose I should've checked, but I'd be shocked if they didn't 'do' nappies-they have babies from 4 weeks old for upto 2 hours-I wouldn't leave a 4 week old in poo for 2 hours!! It could have happened just as I walked in, but he's very rarely sore and he was red raw, which is why I thought it had been sitting awhile.

OP posts:
Lastofthepodpeople · 16/02/2013 19:26

I know some don't do it. It's due to some sort of rules regards their staffing or some such. However there is no excuse for leaving a child sitting in poo. I've left DS at the gym creche while in the pool and they've sent someone to get me out when he's pooed. YADNBU

goodygumdrops · 16/02/2013 19:29

They dont change nappies at the creche at my gym either. No idea why but they do at least tell us.

UpUpDown · 16/02/2013 19:33

the creche at our gym dont do nappy changes. But they come and find the parent to change the nappy, if the child has pooed.

I think its a fair enough policy; children only there for an hour or 2.

In the creche Ive used, it is just a room at the leisure centre...they dont have any nappy changing facilities anyway. they would have to take child out of the [locked] room to the disabled toilet to change a nappy. i think staff ratios probably dont allow for the possibility that a member of staff could be constantly out of the room changing nappies. Also, security issue, as the room opens into a public area, so the door is best kept locked

like i say, i think its a fair policy

MrsKeithRichards · 16/02/2013 19:33

Our gym creche doesn't either but they do tell you that and will put a call out for you if needed

UpUpDown · 16/02/2013 19:35

is it written in the paper work?

they should come and get you, if your child poos

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 16/02/2013 19:40

My gym creche don't change nappies. They would go and find the parent straight away though to ask them to change the child. Ask them next time to let you know as soon as he does a number 2. Maybe this time he just did it just before you came back?

sausagesandwich34 · 16/02/2013 19:44

I've never known a crèche change nappies

Not unusual for them not to call either if they need a change but I'm sure they would if you asked :)

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 16/02/2013 19:54

What's the point of looking after children if your not going to actually look after them though? I don't know how crèches work but I wouldnt happy to have my dd left in poo! Surely nappies fall under basic care.

honeytea · 16/02/2013 20:09

I would have thought it took just as long to go and find the parent as it would to change a nappy. I think it probably has more to do with them needed health and safety approved changing facilities.

UpUpDown · 16/02/2013 20:09

caffeine the kids are only in a gym creche for an hour or 2 hours at a time...no need for a routine nappy change in that time

honeytea · 16/02/2013 20:10

But don't let it put you off leaving him just make sure they know to come and find you next time :)

SquinkiesRule · 16/02/2013 20:20

Our gym don't change nappies but will call you back in to do it, then you can carry on exercising.

JerryLeadbetter · 16/02/2013 20:25

My gym creche does change nappies, but perhaps check their 'poo policy' next time you leave him- if not, then ask that they come and get you. Generally YANBU- i'd expect any child care provision to change an obviously dirty nappy, even if they don't do 'routine' nappy changes, but I guess all vary.

edwinbear · 16/02/2013 20:45

My gym creche changes nappies, the last one I used didn't. I seem to remember it was something to do with a lack of hand washing facilities available for the staff afterwards, but I could be wrong, it was a while ago. I would have expected them to call you back though once they were aware.

MikeOxardAndWellard · 16/02/2013 21:45

Why didn't you say 'he clearly needs a change, why haven't you changed him?' as soon as you got there and smelt him? That would have been my first question, and then 'where are your changing facilities so I can change him myself right now?'.

Original poster
wreckedone · 17/02/2013 12:14

Mike I didn't because he didn't want to leave and was crying and I just wanted to get him away from the room and in the car home for dinner. Creches where they don't have changing facilities, what do they do for little ones who need the loo?

OP posts:
MidniteScribbler · 17/02/2013 12:30

My gym doesn't do nappy changes, and that's because there are no fully qualified child care workers to manage the facility so they are not allowed to say that they offer care. It's a supervised "play room". It's not designed as proper child care, just as a place for kids to be entertained while the parent works out. When you drop your child off, they give you a pager that works within the centre, and they'll page you if your child needs to be changed, or is upset or hurt.

mrsjay · 17/02/2013 12:35

it is a child protection issue really I worked ina creche decades ago and we never changed nappies either (or clothes) unless it was soaked through, I am sure if there was a problem they would have asked for you over the tannoy you are not gone long really try and not worry about it,

minibmw2010 · 17/02/2013 12:46

I'm amazed at the crèches that don't do changes. Are they ofsted rated? My gym one does, I'd be so upset if DS had to sit in a dirty nappy for 2 hours. Sad

mrsjay · 17/02/2013 12:48

a creche isnt a child care provider like a nursery is though they are mostly run by play workers,

Phineyj · 17/02/2013 13:41

YANBU -- read your post yesterday and started to worry about the creche at my gym as I'm about to start using it for DD, 8 weeks old. They looked at me like I was mad and said 'of course we change nappies'! They are Ofsted registered and it's a Virgin gym, if that helps.

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 17/02/2013 13:50

What I don't understand is that assuming they r working along side children they would have back ground checks done?

And given that my six yr old can change a nappy I'd assume a "training " line to be a load of rubbish.

At very least they should have come to get you. There is no
Excuse IMO for leaving a child sat in poo it's disgusting. And a health hazzard.

mrsjay · 17/02/2013 13:52

I agree they shouldnt have left a baby in a nappy it is vile and it is neglectful they should have noticed and called for the babies mum to come and change