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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect to be able to leave dry skin cream at school for my daughters hands?

127 replies

BollyGood · 12/03/2013 10:18

I don't usually post in here but am so surprised by school this morning. My daughters hands sometimes get very sore and dry in the winter,I use Oilatum cream for her to soothe it. The soap at school really irritates her poor hands too. Usually she has a little tin of Vaseline lip balm to put on it in her book bag but this week as its been so cold the Vaseline didn't help.

Instead of hiding the oilatum in her bag,I took it to the office with her name and class on asked if her hands were cracking and painful could she come and put her cream on, she can do it herself. Same as with the sun cream policy. But no apparently not. It has to be prescribed cream with the child's prescription sticker on it. We have had it prescribed and do for the baby but I buy it when haven't had time or been able to get a docs appointment and it lasts forever. Dd's soreness is seasonal so sometimes she only needs to out the cream on for a few days and we do not need to bother the doctor. Haven't had a bottle with her name on for ages.

I have now had to ring for an appointment which I couldn't get but the receptionist kindly offered to see if she could get another presciption for dd with her name on even though we have just had a big bottle for the baby and do not need it. I know schools have policies but honestly what's the difference between a day or two of hand cream to stop a little one feeling distressed and sore and sun cream which is not prescribed? I didn't need to call the docs or make an extra trip for cream I don't need and dd could not have anything on her hands today as they wouldn't let me leave the cream nor would the school let her stay in at playtime( she does wear thick gloves but still seems to happen)so when her hands are sore no-one can help her.

I have even got the lovely teaching assistant in trouble who helped her put Vaseline on yesterday as I said dd was so upset it was hurting and she couldn't manage, the secretary said ' oh we have Vaseline in school do we?' So now the helper will be asked why she helped my child who shouldn't have had Vaseline. I feel terrible! I will not have this problem again as will pick up the new bottle tomorrow, but seriously WIBU? Has the world of school gone mad??? You don't always need a prescription for something do you? And if I signed a form which said I am happy for my daughter to use her cream surely that's ok? If she had a reaction it would be my responsibility and she still could react even if it was prescribed. I know it isn't the secretary's fault and I did ask to see the head or deputy head but they are both out today and tomorrow. Massive post over cream sorry! When dd1 was at primary school 16 years ago life was so much easier for these things. Go on tell me I am naive and should have known better...

OP posts:
Original poster
BollyGood · 12/03/2013 14:10

I am worried about the TA who helped dd yesterday, she left such a lovely note in her book bag and may now be in trouble. I didn't even realise they were not allowed to help, such a sorry state of affairs really. It was the way the secretary said ' we don't have Vaseline in school do we? And asked me again who put it on, I didn't say her name again. I wish I hadn't mentioned the TA it was innocently said as I was explaining how sore dd's hands were and she had nothing at school apart from Vaseline. It comes on so suddenly at times, I expect the soap exacerbates it. The TA just helped put a bit on for her. Ah what a simple thing but now we have to go to the doctors which is a trek from school as I don't drive, waste an NHS appointment and money for cream we don't need and someone may be told off for helping!! All over sore hands Sad

OP posts:
IneedAsockamnesty · 12/03/2013 14:11

Maman,

Thats probably because they are effectively just sweets with no medical benefit at all.

fluffyraggies · 12/03/2013 14:12

No difference as far as i can see. Sun cream/hand cream.

Being bolshy and bureaucratic only drives parents to find their own way to do things - ie hiding stuff in bags. It's such a shame. It's so unnecessary.

Having a class of kids in your care all day 5 days a week is much much more than just teaching. There's lots and lots of little extra things they need from time to time, to make their day a good/happy/healthy one. That goes for any age tbh, not just primary.

Original poster
BollyGood · 12/03/2013 14:14

Maman, she could just pop to medical and put it on as and when needed or at a set time if easier for school. That's what usually happens. As far as sun cream goes they all keep it in their bags during summer! Probably got more chemicals and what not in it than dds oilatum.

OP posts:
Original poster
BollyGood · 12/03/2013 14:15

There is probably more than 200 bottles of the stuff in the cloakroom from May onwards. What difference would one bottle of hand cream make.

OP posts:
Original poster
BollyGood · 12/03/2013 14:17

Yes fluffy, when I helped out each week I was asked to do so many little things from tying shoelaces to fixing hairbands in. Many of the children are still so little.

OP posts:
mamandeouisti · 12/03/2013 14:34

Sockreturningpixie Shock

In normal circumstances I'd probably agree with you Grin ...but I had to have these in desperation when stern French pharmacist refused to suggest anything else when I had revolting sore throat whilst still BFing. I don't care if it seems to anyone else that they don't work. They do for me and everyone else I have ever recommended them to since.

Bolly,

Hope you find workable solution and that your DD feels better soon.

Original poster
BollyGood · 12/03/2013 14:52

Thanks everyone for your views I have decided IANBU and am going to suggest to the head they write a policy for winter, as they have for summer, stating children who need to use hand cream prescriptive or otherwise may do so if parents sign a consent form as per the sun cream thing. Most wont need too but we walk come rain snow or shine and dd is exposed all winter so whats the difference with summer weather? She also has to use the schools cheap and nasty soap. So that's that!!! Grin

OP posts:
BlackholesAndRevelations · 12/03/2013 14:58

Haven't got time to read whole thread (sorry) but to the poster who said it wasn't a TEACHING assistant's job to help out with cream: yes, it kind of is, as a six year old is still very young and we are in loco parentis and a huge part of our job is tending to their needs as well as teaching them. Lip balm etc is a bugbear of mine if it's just in kids pocket to be applied willy nilly, but not if it's put away and only used at appropriate times. Op- YANBU!

LadyPessaryPam · 12/03/2013 15:19

mamandeouisti were these truly homoeopathic pills or were they a 'natural' remedy? The latter can contain effective ingredients, the former contains literally bugger all apart from an alleged faint memory.

What is the name of the pills please, I am interested as DH is coughing like a good'un.

diddl · 12/03/2013 15:51

I think that it's very shortsighted of the school as surely sore hands are distracting for anyone?

Have you tried the slathering them in Vaseline at night & sleeping in cotton gloves?

Maybe enough to see her through the day with just an application of something in the morning?

But I do agree that it's worth speaking to the school or thinking about her own wipes or antibac in her bag.

badbride · 12/03/2013 17:27

In your position, I'd be inclined to copy the prescription label onto a sheet of sticky labels of my own, then amend, print and stick as required. I would be very surprised if the school office would notice the difference, I expect they will be happy as long as the "prescription label" box is ticked.

But then, I am a devious sod Grin

mamandeouisti · 12/03/2013 20:29

LadyPessaryPam they're called Homeogène 9 and are by Laborotoires Boiron. I stock up when we're in France...but you may be able to get them online. They are for sore throats though (laryngitis, pharyngitis etc.) not really for coughs. I heard someone who tried out the Vicks vaporub on the soles of her feet (with socks on top to protect bedclothes) after nights of no sleep due to coughing. Worked a dream. She slept right through. Could have been just so knackered anything would work...but worth a try!

LadyPessaryPam · 12/03/2013 22:37

Many thanks mamandeouisti, I'll try the vicks tonight on him Grin

SquinkiesRule · 13/03/2013 01:46

Our Pharmacist jut printed off a label for me when I needed to leave stuff at school for Ds, they needed a label on it and so he made me one. I didn't need more pills it was only for over the counter meds that the doctor had recommended. Ask at the Chemist if they can do that.

LadyPessaryPam · 13/03/2013 10:24

Probably a coincidence but he slept really well last night, with vicked feet in socks, bless.

mamandeouisti · 13/03/2013 12:23
Grin
MidniteScribbler · 14/03/2013 07:31

Just to give a schools perspective on why medications and creams are not to be kept in bags. Some products, particularly many supermarket or over the counter products may contain ingredients which are allergens to other students. We have a lot of students with severe allergies (we've become quite well known for allergy management, so get a lot of enrolments of students with anaphylaxis) and we need to know what products are being used. Our parents are very good at thinking about the food they send in, but people don't consider what may be contained in other products they use. Parents are asked to leave them in the office, labelled, with a permission slip regarding its use. Just another perspective on why the rules may be in place.

IneedAsockamnesty · 14/03/2013 07:42

Midnight,

The op WAS trying to hand it in to the office.

Pleaseandthankyou · 14/03/2013 07:43

A little bit of common sense and kindness would help every time in situations like this. I haven't read the whole thread but for cracked hands Neutrogena hand cream is a miracle cream. not expensive. I'm not sure if there is any reason why a child shouldn't use it. Read the back of the tube. It really works and very quickly

MidniteScribbler · 14/03/2013 07:54

Sockreturningpixie, I know, and I don't think SIBU at all. As I said, we don't require a prescription, just a permission slip from the parent. I was just offering the information to those posters saying to just put it in her bag.

Original poster
BollyGood · 14/03/2013 08:21

Hello! Quick update. I went back to school with the ofsted link someone kindly posted and asked why 300 children are allowed to keep sun cream in their bags yet not the odd hand cream. I requested they change the policy to include a winter one and they said there were not that many people interested... So if that was the case what was the problem with my dd and her cream in the first place???? I left a letter of consent and dd has her cream at last! In fact another secretary was extremely helpful and liased with the head for me. The TA doesnt seem to have had any backlash so I feel better about that. I will still keep the pointless docs appointment and give them another bottle with a sticker on for Friday but hopefully no one else will have to have the inconvenience next winter for the same simple request! I know to others this may seem a very trivial post but it was a nuisance for me and dd had to go a day with sore hands. At least the school are NBU anymore!!

OP posts:
MidniteScribbler · 14/03/2013 08:32

Glad it worked out for you OP. Reading over your posts, it looks like the original bottle may have had your other child's name on it? We wouldn't be allowed to accept anything with someone else's name on it at all. Their own name, or unlabelled only.

Softlysoftly · 14/03/2013 08:40

I'm glad it worked out, ridiculous policy DD1 has hand cream at her per school that they keep and she applies herself, no questions asked! If she needs a good bag sized version you can get double axe gel in tubes which works really well for dry skin.

What a total waste of a drs time and we wonder why people have to wait weeks for appointments!

freddiefrog · 14/03/2013 09:49

Glad it worked out

I fell foul of a similar rule at my daughters' school with a pair of those travel sickness towelling wrist bands.

DD1 gets quite sick on coaches, she's been using the bands for years and at 11 years old is perfectly capable of putting them on herself. Except the last trip they went on, they decided that I had to go in to school and put them on for her, or I needed to get a pair on prescription from the GP.

I've obviously got nothing better to do like go to work!! than go to and from school all day putting towelling wristbands on an 11 year old