Nursery neglecting DC?

[Wishbub]

I'm a FTM so just hoping to get some opinions with this post. My DC (aged 2) goes to nursery full time and generally its going OK, but they do come home with nappy rash at least once a week. Its getting me down because it feels like they aren't taking care of my child. The nursery is an expensive one as well- so it feels like I'm shelling out a lot of money and they aren't looking after my child.
Is this normal for a nursery setting? We've been using them for the last 9 months- before that DC was with a childminder and we never had this issue.

I wouldn’t expect that and I’d be thinking of changing nursery if they aren’t taking notice. They’re either not changing him enough or not putting cream on surely? Which are fairly basic things.

I'd say not normal. Mine had it a couple of times each and I think it was if they had done a poo outside and the staff didnt smell it and it was shortly after a routine change. Everyone can make a mistake and get it occasionally but if its regular then they are not having routine changes often enough or not being checked for poos often enough and I would say something

...kids get nappy rash. I change my DD every couple of hours and she gets nappy rash.

Have you actually spoken to them about it? Asked if they've noticed? At 2, I'd probably only be changing a nappy every 4 or 5 hours, if they need to do it more often, tell them!

Do you supply nappy cream? Most nurseries don't apply it unless you supply it.

There are also many reasons for nappy rash including teething which is more frequent than when they are smaller (child dependent). They could be reacting to the brand/wipes (my son does so he goes to nursery with cloth nappies and a certain brand of wipes I know he doesn't react to).

I think your first step is to speak to the nursery and just ask the question. Waleda nappy cream is expensive but brilliant and will usually clear it up in a day.

Ask for a copy of the nappy changing log to see how often being changed.

Not normal no and they should change more often when you raise as a concern.

DD gets nappy rash in the blink of an eye (we jokingly say it's "hereditary" as apparently I suffered awfully as a toddler). It can go from absolutely fine to raw and bleeding in record time.

We provide creams that work for her and nursery use them after she's done a poo. We use the same nappies and wipes in nursery and at home

We use a thin layer of caneston nappy rash cream and a thin layer of bepanthen on top and it's been working fantastically. We'd tried all sorts before including metanium.

How often do they change DC? We have a daily log of every nappy change and, frankly, they change my DS more frequently than I do sometimes. They also log when they've applied cream. Do they share that kind of info with you?

Have you raised it with them and perhaps asked them to check more often? I wouldn't necessarily see one incident of nappy rash a week as a sign of neglect. Sometimes poos can be quite acidic for all sorts of different reasons and they can cause nappy rash almost instantly. My ds gets nappy rash quite easily sometimes. It's not because he isn't being changed regularly. It's just sometimes it's really difficult to prevent, especially if they have sensitive skin, no matter how quickly they are changed. I would just raise it with them and ask them to check him more frequently and supply a barrier cream they can use.

kids get nappy rash. I change my DD every couple of hours and she gets nappy rash

I presume the OP knows by now whether or not her child has delicate skin.

Are they using their own wipes? They will be keeping a log of nappy changes so if you’re concerned speak to them about it. They won’t know it’s an issue for them unless you tell them.

Now that your child is two it might be an idea to toilet train. It would solve the issue fairly quickly!

The nursery is an expensive one as well- so it feels like I'm shelling out a lot of money and they aren't looking after my child.

Are you implying that it would be OK for a cheaper nursery to give a lower quality of care?

Nappy changing should be pretty standard. You need to tell us more; have you spoken to them about it? Have you supplied any nappy cream? Do you send in your own nappies?

Do you send in cream?

Nursery usually change all babies at a set time unless they have done more than a wee! Just ask them to factor in at least two more nappy changes.

Yanbu, you know your child... and if your child isnt the type to get nappy rashes then it is a concern. Both of my children NEVER get Nappy rashes so i would know that something was wrong if they came back with one. My son has to have hid nappy changed a minimum of every hour - 2 max and i did tell his nursery this, it looks like they listen so i would be having a talk to the nursery.

We had this problem when my DD started nursery, up until lockdown. I spoke to the workers in her room about it several times, but it didn't really help long term. Her nappy frequently leaked, which indicated it wasn't being changed quickly enough. I think it was partly as she doesn't really make a fuss about having a dirty nappy, and she was fairly independent, so not always sitting on or with the workers, hence them not noticing. I then spoke with the manager and we came up with a plan, which was essentially more frequent checking, and cream at every change. This helped massively, the staff were great. Post lockdown, this hasn't been an issue and she is back to normal changing routine without the additional checks.
So I'd recommend speaking to the manager about it, try not to blame anyone, and see how they respond. If that doesn't help then you may be better off looking elsewhere.

I wouldn’t be happy at all. My DD was in childcare for a year and a half and didn’t get nappy rash once. Every week when it isn’t happening at home clearly shows they need to be checking more.

What’s on the daily log? Does your DD have a book with notes in? Mention it and provide a cream OP. I’m sure this can be easily sorted.

I nursery i spent some time at (now unsurprisingly shut down with the owner being charged with child neglect and abuse for incidents spanning over 30 years) they never used to wipe the children, would just whip the nappy off if only a wee and just stick another one on. Just another possibility of whats happening maybe.

My DS was extremely prone to horrible nappy rash. The normal routine at nursery was not great for him so I had to supply my own wipes (we sent in nappies but they just used their own wipes) and cream and they were happy to use that and do an extra change a day, as well as if he pooed obviously. That really helped, but to be honest it only went away once he was potty trained

Do they use a different type of nappy/wipe than you do at home? That could cause irritation.
Do you use a cream? If so, did you give nursery one to use (and make them aware it's in the bag).

What else are they missing in relation to his care if this is going on? Id be very unhappy about it and consider moving dc.

It can sometimes be a reaction to the wipes or nappies you use. I use reusables but whenever I’ve tried disposables my DC got a rash straight away. The chemicals in some disposables can react with their skin. Likewise wipes if you use fragranced ones.

Suppose you need to ask the nursery why your DC seems to be getting nappy rash all of a sudden. Request a nappy change log to double check it’s often enough. My 2 year old only needs changing 4-5 times a day really but never has nappy rash so unless they’re leaving yours in a poo for an extended period or they’re leaving them more than 4 hours without a change, I can’t see how they’re causing the nappy rash really.

I think using the word neglect before having even spoken to them is a bit harsh OP (also shocked that it's been going on 9 months and you've not mentioned it?), it could simply be down to him having a reaction to a different cream/wipe they're using. You need to mention it to them, and if it's not the cream/wipes then request for him to be changed more or checked more. Obviously if it then still goes on then it's a much bigger issue that needs to be dealt with.

Could also be something they eat at nursery that they don't eat at home. For instance, one of my dc couldn't eat kiwi without getting an awful rash from the acidic poo.

Is there anything unusual in their diet before the nappy rash appears? Maybe the day before - could be at home or at nursery?

Yes this also. My DS couldn’t eat red grapes as a toddler as it gave him horrible nappy rash. He’s fine with them now.