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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:
Dearohdeer · 25/05/2017 10:39

Can you look for a childminder? I used to work in nurseries and this just never would have happened. Babies would've only been out for short periods of time, kept in the shade most of the time, been covered in sun cream and wearing a hat. They really sound terribly neglectful. YADNBU.

Sassypants82 · 25/05/2017 10:45

My DS and all the kids get their sunblock on before going out in the garden in creche. They all wear hats too. I'd be really angry in your shoes & would make a complaint.

Morphene · 25/05/2017 10:48

yanbu or and you are not being over protective. definitely complain.

DorkMaiden · 25/05/2017 10:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CrohnicallyPregnant · 25/05/2017 10:54

@therealpootroll we're not talking about school though! This is a baby.

He is likely to have access to outside for longer and later in the day than a school child (so putting sun cream on before nursery might not last long enough). He might not have been in and out of a pool, but might have done messy/sensory play, or got dinner down himself and need a thorough wash so reducing effectiveness of sun cream.

Absolutely you should apply suncream before nursery if you know it's going to be hot, but I don't think it's reasonable to expect it to last all day like it might for a school child.

Besides, school ratios are typically 2 adults in a class of 30. Nursery ratio for a 1 year old is 1 to 3. Sun protection in this weather is basic care, same importance as feeding and changing nappies!

drspouse · 25/05/2017 10:57

In schools the teachers won't apply it. This depends on the school - my DS is in Reception and we apply in the morning but it's obviously not going to last all day for most children (even if you put on Once it is not that good all day). They will reapply (supervised rather than directly done for all children I think) and if you forget and tell them you have forgotten they will do it (but not for every child obviously).

It's the lack of a hat that worries me most. If a baby won't keep a hat on, you need to put them in the shade. You as a parent can apply all day sunscreen in the morning but you can't hover over them with a hat all day.

I would speak to all the staff in his room at nursery individually, and to the manager, and ask the manager if there is anyone other than ABC in the room who needs to be made aware.

Tell them you have applied in the morning but expect it to be reapplied and point out the lack of a hat, ask them what time they will be reapplying it.

If it ever happens again look for a childminder. And complain to Ofsted, after telling the manager you'll be complaining.

RB68 · 25/05/2017 10:58

sorry but once you hit April my view is sun cream every day - am a ginger and daughter is too - its a fact of life its your responsibility as a parent to ensure they go in with it on - we all have 24/7 access to weather forecasts and even without should be prepared. the P20 is good stuff and I have used that it lasts long enough for school and nursery s not sticky and yucky although stinks when first goes on and its far easier to do when they are naked before dressing - maybe with a top up creme in bag for noses and shoulders etc. Again loose fitting clothes and hats - although we had a prob with hats too

RB68 · 25/05/2017 10:59

but yes it was neglectful to not have applied it and exposed them.

Notalotterywinner · 25/05/2017 11:00

My DC got surnburnt at Nursery last year, it was April and cloudy, I complained, I got a written apology and they have changed the policy on suncream.

I will put sun cream, factor 50 on in the morning now and remind at drop off to top up throughout the day.

Allthewaves · 25/05/2017 11:03

I used to send mine to nursery in a top with long sleeves that had spf protection and combat trousers as he hated suncream. Might be worth thinking about if nursery isn't great

specialsubject · 25/05/2017 11:06

FFS, it is four weeks to peak UV, unless it is pissing with rain and solid cloud people will get burnt. This is an infant of 1 and it should not be in direct sunlight. It should also be wearing a hat, long sleeves and long trousers.

if the nursery aren't competent to supervise this, find somewhere else.

Wolfiefan · 25/05/2017 11:06

You are not being overprotective. Repeatedly burning as a young child is a major risk factor in skin cancer. You're not being precious. Complain.

doubleshotespresso · 25/05/2017 11:09

OP Really sorry to read this-your poor boy!

Think this is really unacceptable for a child so young... i would be seeing the manager most definitely. I would also be looking for alternatives to this nursery as well- getting such basics is really so very wrong.

Love and gentle cuddles for your DS OP.

WomblingThree · 25/05/2017 11:13

My initial reaction was to have a shit fit, but then I realised you hadn't actually put any cream on him before you left him. I imagine they thought you were giving them the cream to just top him up. Why on earth would you not put cream in him if you thought it was going to be sunny enough that you sent it in with him.

You need to take some responsibility for this, and start putting cream on every day.

ChicRock · 25/05/2017 11:14

Even if nurseries are a bit thin on the ground in your area... I don't understand why you keep taking your child back there after several incidents that are quite concerning?

Blomme · 25/05/2017 11:18

They should be able to apply cream at the nursery, there should be a 3 to 1 staff ratio at that age.
My son's nursery apply in the morning before going outside and again in the afternoon before outside play. I was doing it first thing as well so 3 times a day but much more preferably than getting burnt! It's really not that hard and you should complain.

TheCuriousOwl · 25/05/2017 11:28

Sun cream once a day wouldn't work on me so why would it work on a one year old? I get burnt putting the washing out though so maybe a bit oversensitive about it. But yea I'd complain.

eelbecomingforyou · 25/05/2017 11:30

The staff can't put on nappies properly? You can't get much more basic than that. I'd move him. And complain about the burning. Unforgivable.

arbrighton · 25/05/2017 11:32

You might not have many nurseries close to you but I really think you need to move him.

The password part of OP is even more concerning. That says they can't follow safeguarding correctly

It might be less convenient but convenience is not an excuse for continuing to use a poor care provider.

arbrighton · 25/05/2017 11:33

I.e.

How many times will you 'have a word with the ladies' before enough is enough

LittleMissCrappy · 25/05/2017 11:37

You really should put sun cream on your child before dropping off. And be careful which clothes you put on him. Did he not have a hat? Of course the nursery have a responsibility but you can look at the weather forecast too.

TheRealPooTroll · 25/05/2017 11:46

Reception kids at our school are allowed free flow outside all day. They aren't even allowed to bring sunscreen in. Parents are told to apply it in the morning ad provide a hat. There's never been a problem - even with the red/fair haired and skinned children.

Sionella · 25/05/2017 12:24

YANBU, poor little baby. I would cover him in it and put him in cool, long sleeves tops as well.

We have been told to send DD with a hat, sunglasses and sunblock. Which is fine but she simply pulls the first two off. Is there a secret to getting a toddler to continue to wear a hat and glasses??

NeedMoreSleepOrSugar · 25/05/2017 12:39

I'd be really shocked at this and, given the background of poor communication and safeguarding, would move nursery.

Dd used to come home from nursery with so much lotion slathered on that she looked like a snowman, and nursery has a massive box of "spare" hats and long sleeve tshirts just in case a child didn't have one for some reason (or in dds case, decides the spares are more interesting than her own hat, so wears the spares on rotation, even when I buy her identical ones... Hmm)

were the other children also burned?

Mulledwine1 · 25/05/2017 13:08

I always think it's weird that you have to sign to say that your child can have sunscreen applied.

Surely it's negligence NOT to apply it!

The forms should not say "can we apply sunscreen", they should say " we will apply susncreen unless you tick here to let us know your child has an allergy". The emphasis needs to be the other way round.

I have heard that in Australia they get the kids to apply it to each other. Is that true - and if so, maybe it's something we should do here.

But one year old babies should not be in the sun anyway, they should be in the shade. I would be speaking to the nursery.

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