Nursery put Henna on my child.

[Pencilcase123]

When my DH picked up our DD (4) from nursery one of the staff said she had drawn DDs initials in Henna on Dds hand because Dd insisted. DH did not complain.

I am baffled as to why the nursery would have Henna out in the first place. It is brown Henna and I don’t think it is particularly dangerous but I am quite miffed that nursery staff thought it was ok to give my 4 year old a temporary tattoo. Would you complain about this?

I wouldn't be happy. There was a family event at my DC school where henna was used. Parents all there so gave permission. Kids and parents had it on for ages afterwards as it would not come off.

I didn't let my DD have it and was extremely glad I didn't.

I have also seen horrible burns from henna.

It's not comparable to face paints or temporary tattoos.

What an odd thing to have happen, surely someone didn't rock into work with henna for all the kids without planning it? It just seems unnecessary and a bit thoughtless. My cousin has a perfect butterfly shaped scar on her ankle after a henna reaction, maybe that was black henna, but who knows what kind random nursery worker decided to bring in with them? We have to sign permission forms for so much, seems an odd judgment to have made that this would just be fine for all the kids without asking 🤔
I try not to be that parent and I really try not to complain knowing that minders will just have to make decisions in the moment about plenty of things, and I trust that they try to make those the best they can. But this is very much not "just one of those things"!

Call the cops

I personally wouldn't bat an eyelid as I have friends who are henna artists and I'm an artist myself. However I can totally understand why others would think they crossed a line.

I wouldn't be happy about this, kid could have had a reaction. Plus at that age a brown pen would have done just as well.
Henna can last over a month.
My friend does henna at festivals. She has to have public liability insurance.

Also, I've seen and interacted with lots of people celebrating eid today, not noticed any henna and didnt know it was anything to do with eid and would always associate it more with weddings.
How much exactly does this nursery know about eid. They could have done something more fitting and or appropriate for little children.

DD has very sensitive skin. I still can't imagine getting worked up about this, if it is brown henna? Probably they looked up whether or not it was safe, found it was, and used it. Ok, maybe it'd be ideal if they'd checked, but IME lots of things nursery claim are washable prove quite permanent! I'd rather this than the wonky felt-tip 'eyeliner' we got the other week.

If your child does get a serious reaction of course alert them and maybe make a fuss, but otherwise, I'd say children coming home with unexpected semi-permanent marks is par for the course.

This happened in my dc school years ago celebrating eid, however liquid eyeliner was used instead of actual henna.

Henna doesn’t last a month unless you don’t wash. It washes off in a couple of days a week max. If it’s the natural henna that stains orange it is safe.

@Pencilcase123 is your child allergic to henna or other skin based stuff? If not, then what is the problem?

Do they have your daughter’s allergy info on file and maybe they checked it before applying the henna?

Why was your husband not bothered but you are?

They know that my Dd had an allergic reaction when she was 2 that required an ambulance but we never found out what caused it.The doctors thought it might have been from eating a plant. (We were at a garden party).

We had no idea if she was allergic to Henna and neither did they.

My DH mentioned it to me immediately as something odd. He wanted to know if it was ok and I wasn’t sure so I posted here.

As background dh is from the Middle East and I used to teach there. They absolutely should have asked your permission first. Many people develop allergies to henna because of what gets added.

I would complain about the risk of allergies, yes. Felt tip pen would have been fine, but not henna.

I’m Indian and am allergic to everything except natural henna (the green stuff that turns yellow not brown) — but that stuff costs money and isn’t usually even available outside South Asia.

Most henna cones that come from India / Pakistan / Bangladesh are so full of chemicals they might as well be using hair-dye. I’d be furious if they risked my child without my permission. Don’t take this lying down.

@Pencilcase123 okay, so there is a risk of reaction then. That wasn’t mentioned initially and a lot of people were speculating. That helps us posters who were more laid back about it understand why you were so upset.

DS has just discovered stick on tattoos . DH bought him a sheet of lobster tattoos which are now all over him (not on his face thank goodness)

I wouldn't care.

Dd and I had out hands painted when we were on holiday in the UAE. It looked beautiful. It took 11 days to come off for all those who are worried it will last for weeks.

olive oil and salt rub.leave for 10
bicarb solution
tooth paste and leave for 10 solution.
lemon juice

My DD has been hospitalised with allergic reactions, even reacted to nettle rash at one point, my DS (SEN) at 4 would want to wash face paint off after 5 minutes and if any was left could get distraught.

To those who have never had allergies or DC with them or SEN, you can take risks. The rest of us would like a choice!

OP I would have a quiet 1-1 word with a manager without DC around and say that in future you would like to be asked about things like this in advance. Other parents are likely to say the same thing.

I'm really surprised because many schools won't even give plasters in case the child has an allergic reaction.

people have been scarred for life from henna

BLACK HENNA. BLACK.
Not brown or yellow henna. Black henna contains chemicals that are often found in hair dye and is not true henna.

I couldn't find the energy to get riled up about this but my DD loves henna. I could understand if your child has sensitive skin. You said she has an allergy that may have been due to eating a plant - that isn't an allergy because nothing can be proven or identified, it's not happened since and could well have been the result of ingesting a dangerous plant

That said, even verbal permission would go a long way for something that doesn't wash straight off, like pen or paint.

@Omzlas - wrong. I have permanent scarring from brown henna. Only green henna (that turns yellow) is the natural stuff.

Report staff and complain to manager of nursery or ofsted if neccessary. I've worked in a nursery and our policies and procedures were always to get written consent for different things especially where allergies and/or sensitive skin are concerned! Same goes for food. If we was unable to gain written consent, a quick call to the child's parent and as long as we'd got the verbal consent it was fine.
For example: face paint, nail varnish, breadsticks dipped in choc and sprinkles to be eaten for pudding alongside fruit for 5th nov (breadstick represented sparklers)