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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Nursery staff perfume

125 replies

BananaLeaf · 18/04/2015 08:21

15mo Dd has just started nursery, one of the staff wears a perfume that really lingers in DDs hair and clothes. I am not a fan of strong scents as they give me a headache, and I find it disconcerting that she comes home with this strong scent on her. She does not smell like my DD!
WIBU to mention this to the manager?

OP posts:
Coldilox · 18/04/2015 08:22

Yes.

Mrsstarlord · 18/04/2015 08:23

Yes

CaTsMaMmA · 18/04/2015 08:23

oh please mention it, and come right back to show us the face the manager makes!

Zephyroux · 18/04/2015 08:23

Yes

BlinkAndMiss · 18/04/2015 08:24

I used to hate this when DS was a baby, I didn't used to wear strong perfume, it can't be nice for the little ones to have their faces so near it all day. I was very PFB so someone else might be along to tell you to leave it but I think YANBU and I would say something.

molyholy · 18/04/2015 08:25

Yes

fluffymouse · 18/04/2015 08:26

Yabu

You should be happy that dd is clearly getting lots of cuddles meaning that she smells of perfume.

Theas18 · 18/04/2015 08:27

Honest answer? PFB bonkers in the nicest possible way.

Take it as an indication that a member of staff , and usually the same one I holding and closely caring for your child for a significant proportion of the day for her scent to rub off like that. I wonder if the worker wears a scent " her babies" can learn and feel happy with?

Then modify your routine on collecting her so she goes straight in the bath and into clean pjs and you minimise your contact and the fact your babies " smells of nursery " and all will be fine.

Original poster
BananaLeaf · 18/04/2015 08:28

Ok happy to accept I'm U but just genuinely wondering why it would be U.

OP posts:
ElizabethHoover · 18/04/2015 08:28

No. Mention it.

WD41 · 18/04/2015 08:28

Actually OP I don't think yabu.

Why do nursery staff feel the need to drench themselves in perfume? They're looking after babies, not on a night out. Perfume can trigger a migraine in some people - how do we know whether it's giving a baby a headache or not?

I think it's quite unprofessional really in that setting.

NoraRobertsismyguiltypleasure · 18/04/2015 08:29

I used to work in a nursery and we were actually told not to wear too much perfume. It's a risk for children with asthma.
I don't think you wbu to mention it to the manager, but I guess you have to be prepared for an unhelpful response.

18yearstooold · 18/04/2015 08:30

Perhaps they are a dirty smoker and use the perfume to mask the smell Wink

keepsmiling2015 · 18/04/2015 08:30

You are. Come on!

Original poster
BananaLeaf · 18/04/2015 08:31

x post Theas Smile

OP posts:
WilburIsSomePig · 18/04/2015 08:32

I was a nursery nurse for years and never wore perfume (or make up) to work. However, I think they would deem you to be hilarious if you mention it. (And not in a good way).

Thurlow · 18/04/2015 08:34

I would imagine working in a nursery isn't the sort of job where I would drench myself in perfume, but it's their choice.

You should try a childminder - they come home smelling of the whole cm's house, perfume and washing powder and sometimes different bath products if they've got filthy - that's far more disconcerting Grin

feesh · 18/04/2015 08:36

I wouldn't be happy with this. There are loads of nasty chemicals in perfumes which I don't allow my kids to be exposed to while their systems are still developing. I only put perfume on myself after the kids have gone to bed, if we are going out for the evening.

Also one of my kids is very sensitive to sensory stuff (NT, he just gets overwhelmed sometimes) and people with loads of perfume on used to make him scream and scream as a baby.

Original poster
BananaLeaf · 18/04/2015 08:37

WD41 I don't see the need for it either, if I find it strong surely a baby would too. There is one staff member who she really hasn't taken to, maybe she's the one wearing the perfume Grin

OP posts:
AnnaFiveTowns · 18/04/2015 08:40

I don't think you're being PFB at all.

For many people, including me, strong perfume is an irritant. Even if I actually like the smell, it leaves me with a headache and feeling sick for the rest of the day.

It makes me quite angry when people stink to high heaven of perfume, much in he same way that somebody might object to have fag smoke blown in their face. I appreciate, however, that most people are oblivious to this as perfume does not trigger a reaction in the majority of cases.

Nurseries, and people working with children, should be aware of this. As a PP has said, it can trigger asthma in some cases.

If you are wearing enough perfume to make a child smell, then you are wearing far too much!

So, I don't think that yabu, and you should raise it with the manager.

NorbertDentressangle · 18/04/2015 08:40

I think you need to get used to it as it doesn't stop at nursery! When they go to friends it will happen, when they go to primary school it can happen.

DD is in year 10 at secondary school and I can tell the days where she's had Textiles as she comes home smelling of the D&T building as it also houses the Food Technology rooms (ie. Home Economics/Cookery for those of us of a certain age Wink)

Original poster
BananaLeaf · 18/04/2015 08:43

Good point re the childminder. I can see some people are on the same page as me but seems to be a minority. I'm not sure they would deem me hilarious as there an emphasis on natural substances at the nursery eg wood vs plastic. I just don't want to upset anyone, as a PP mentioned she is getting lots of cuddles.

OP posts:
AnnaFiveTowns · 18/04/2015 08:45

Wilbur, they might think it's hilarious but, for me, it would be a deal breaker and I would have to move her from that nursery if it continued. Nurseries are businesses and I'm sure they would rather have a no perfume or "light" perfume policy rather than lose clients.

wigglesrock · 18/04/2015 08:47

I used to love it when my dd1 came home smelling of perfume from either my mil or her nursery, it meant that she'd been cuddled and sat on a lap and read to.

hiddenhome · 18/04/2015 08:48

Strong perfume is a form of air pollution and utterly disgusting. It can cause headaches, nausea, exacerbate respiratory conditions and is totally unnecessary.