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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Sunburnt at nursery

86 replies

MiniMummy576 · 25/05/2017 08:53

Yesterday my 1 year old son got sunburnt whilst at nursery. I sent him with a hat and 50+ sunblock. They only put sunblock on his face so he got burnt on his arms, legs and the little exposed swirl on top of his head. Communication isn't the greatest with the different ladies that work in the 'baby room' - we've had incidents like they didn't know what our password was but let DS be taken out just by his birthday and I had to repeatedly tell them for about 3 weeks that they were doing his nappies wrong and giving him nappy rash (long story). Whilst I understand that accidents happen, it's pretty clear that they didn't even attempt to protect him properly. I'll have a word with the ladies when I take him back but, given how long it took for the message to get through about the nappy rash, I don't want him to be repeatedly burnt while the message filters through. I once got second degree burns on my arms because a teacher held a lesson outside, so I'm a little paranoid about the sun.
ABIU to have a word with the manager? Or am I being a bit melodramatic?

OP posts:
BarbarianMum · 25/05/2017 08:58

No that's definitely having a strong word with the manager territory. It needs to be recorded in their incident book and staff spoken to. Sounds like he wasn't even wearing a hat ffs! Allowing a child to become badly sunburnt can actually be a police matter, so they should treat this very seriously.
As you are not happywith them in several ways, have you thought of changing nursery.

Screwinthetuna · 25/05/2017 09:10

YANBU. I would never freak out if my primary school aged child came home a little red-the teacher has 30 children to care for at playtime and can't know that a certain child is sitting directly in the sun behind a piece of aparatus, etc. Always seems OTT and a bit 'helicopter parent' when parents go in to school, guns blazing, because their 10 year old couldn't feel that his/her skin was burning and move out the sun.
However, a 1 year old can in no way fend for themselves and should never be burned. I'd worry he was being left to sit in the sun and ignored. Speak to the manger.

lalalalyra · 25/05/2017 09:14

A 1-year-old should never get sunburn at nursery. I'd be speaking to the manager.

Justdontgetitatall · 25/05/2017 09:16

That's Neglect! If you cannot communicate with the staff properly, then you need to change nurseries and get them reported!!!

Coastalcommand · 25/05/2017 09:18

I'd make a complaint to the manager. You are not being unreasonable. Sending gentle hugs to your little one.

harderandharder2breathe · 25/05/2017 09:41

Yadnbu

He's not a school child who can ask for help or move out of the sun, he's a baby who needs the adults caring for him to protect him.

MuncheysMummy · 25/05/2017 09:43

I would be absolutely LIVID and would be going straight in this morning and insisting to speak to the manager now and informing her that you are making an official complaint. It's neglect pure and simple they are being paid to look after him and have failed at basic care!

MuncheysMummy · 25/05/2017 09:44

And I say this as mum to an 11month old DS!

Heirhelp · 25/05/2017 09:45

I would make a complaint and change nurseries. If they can't do the bare minimum of keeping him safe it is not suitable for him to be there.

My one year old came home all sticky yesterday with sun cream. She kept taking her hat off so they had to put it all over her head.

delilahbucket · 25/05/2017 09:48

While you are dealing with the matter can you cover your child in suncream before you drop them off so at least he has something.
Aside from lodging a full complaint I would be looking at other nurseries asap.

Dianneabbottsmathsteacher · 25/05/2017 09:49

Jesus Christ I I speak as a cm for years and that's just awful. Really neglectful. I was super super careful with the suncream ans hats abs morbidly careful over the sun

I would move any child of mine to be honest. That's just basic safeguarding care.

Killdora · 25/05/2017 09:51

They've neglected your son...and you are going to leave him with them again?

What's wrong with you?

ChasedByBees · 25/05/2017 09:54

Yes that it is neglect. I would complain to the manager at least and escalate as high as possible.

MissCookiee · 25/05/2017 09:54

If that were me I'd be going mad at the nursery staff. Maybe it would give you piece of mind if you put sunblock on him before you send him into nursery. That's what I do with mine but then again I don't know how long your Ds is at nursery for? Mines just for the morning so I know they'll stay protected if I put sunblock on them before hand

Hmmalittlefishy · 25/05/2017 09:58

That is awful. It was hot yesterday so no excuse. I would definitely speak to the manager and ask to see the sun safety policy and ensure all staff are aware of it.
Is there another nursery you could use! It sounds like you have a lot of issues
Fwiw ds got burnt whilst in nursery but it was a cloudy day and happened during the afternoon. I phoned the manager and calmly explained and she got it sorted and it never happened again and info about sun cream and hats went out to all parents as a consequence.

Yura · 25/05/2017 10:15

I would be absolutely livid. Contacting ofsted and the council, nursery manager and general management if it's a chain is in order. A one year old should not be in the sun for that long!

TheRealPooTroll · 25/05/2017 10:20

Put suncream on before drop off if it's a hot day.

Heirhelp · 25/05/2017 10:21

If the child is there all day putting sun cream on before nursery will not be enough to protect them.

Jackiebrambles · 25/05/2017 10:22

That is awful. You need to talk to the manager and if you aren't happy with the response then move him.

Did you apply sunscreen yourself before taking him?

At my nursery you are supposed to apply yourself before you take them in and then they reapply through the day.

I wonder if other kids/babies got burnt if they weren't doing arms/legs etc? It's awful!!

welshweasel · 25/05/2017 10:29

Put p20 or similar on them before they go to nursery. Ideally dress them in loose long sleeved clothing to minimise exposure.

Not condoning the Nursery's poor care in any way but this is the minimum you should be doing before sending them in.

Original poster
MiniMummy576 · 25/05/2017 10:29

Thanks all - I think it's because I get asked 'is this your first child?' so often by 'professionals' I've started to wonder whether I am actually being overprotective.
Unfortunately I live in an area where nurseries are a bit thin on the ground and I don't drive to work, so this is the only one that we can get to and both get to work.
I might try slathering him with the 'once' sun protection (although I know they aren't perfect) in the morning. I think they tend to take him out in the afternoon - that's where he's been the last couple of days when DH's gone in to get him. He was in the sandpit the first day, so I'd assumed that's why his legs were a bit pink.
But I'll definitely have a word with the manager this afternoon.

OP posts:
TheRealPooTroll · 25/05/2017 10:30

My ds has almost white blond hair and blue eyes and very fair skin. I put factor 50 on him before school and send him with a hat and he's never been burned.

TheRealPooTroll · 25/05/2017 10:34

In schools the teachers won't apply it. A teacher and a Ta having to cream 30 kids would mean playtime would be over. And even if they get the kids to apply it they don't put it all over - just too much on selected body parts generally. I've never seen a child at my kids school sunburnt so I'm not sure why applying once in the morning isn't seen to be sufficient. They're not on holiday in and out of the pool.

Foggymist · 25/05/2017 10:35

My 2 year old got sunburnt at creche yesterday too. It was warm but dull all day and still when I brought him to creche, the sun came out at about 3, I collected him at 6. I didn't have suncream on him (as it hadn't been sunny and we hadn't been outside much) but factor 50 was in his bag as it always is. We realised after we got home out of the sun that his forehead was a bit pink, this morning his arms are absolutely bright red Angry So annoyed, if they decide to bring them outside when it gets sunny and there is suncream right there in his bag you'd think they'd use it. Will be speaking to the manager about it tomorrow.

kel1493 · 25/05/2017 10:39

That is unacceptable. You have provided adequate sun protection, and they have clearly failed to use it sufficiently. I would be having a word with the manager, and possibly saying I wish to make a formal complaint. Also you say you've had other issues in the past, I would consider changing nurseries.