UTI in toddler - nursery at fault?

[Maddylee]

My daughter is currently being treated for the 2nd UTI in 3 months. The first urine sample showed something but was inconclusive but she was still treated with antibiotics. This week she came home on evening and it was evident the nursery had not supervised her during toilet time. From the next mornings she was in pain when going to the bathroom and going every 20mins.
She’s 3 but I feel there is some part of negligence from the nursery here and I am very upset and disappointed as well as petrified this will happen again and cause some long term damage. Has anyone else had experience of this?

As soon as I read your post OP, I thought kidney reflux, just as the PP has mentioned.
My now 18 yrs old daughter suffered from the age of 3 for a good few years with UTI's. She was hospitalised a few times. It wasn't a nice procedure to have but she was catheterised and then x-rayed while they filled her bladder with radioactive dye. Both the valves leading into kidneys were leaking. This was causing urine to go back into the kidney and then she was getting infectious.
She was on low does antibiotocs for a few years, She was lucky it got better as she matured and her valves worked better, which is usual I was told by the Dr. She's an adult now without any long lasting effect from it.
So would ask the GP about this for sure.

UTIs are just one of those things, no one is to blame. Hope she is better soon.

@JustLikea

Is this another wind up thread

You wouldn't wipe your DC once they're out of nappies they do that themselves

What?

You need to focus on getting your child to wipe properly, not focus on nursery.

OP I think the reason you have got a hard time here is asking if they are 'at fault'. I would speak to nursery, say you are concerned about her wiping herself and why, and ask what they suggest. A preschool room presumably won't help directly unless asked or obviously needs to. If they know there is an issue they might be able to ask her more.

I’d look for deeper issues to be honest with the doctor.

In regards to nursery, once children are independent on the toilet they are usually able to go without supervised help unless they call for help. Some children will call if they have done a poo and we encourage them to wipe themselves first and then check they managed ok.
Speak to the nursery, explain about the frequent UTIs and if she can have a little more supervision with toileting for the moment. The staff are willing to work with parents when there is a problem, but they need to know about it. Also ask them to check she is taking a drink at snack and meal times, especially if she does long days.
I wouldn’t have thought anyone is to blame but your child seems prone to this issue so a discussion with both doctor and nursery needs to happen and a plan put in place to help her.

It’s honestly not the nursery’s “fault”

Tell them she needs help with wiping and needs to drink more

It might just be one of those things though and she might just be prone to them.

I’m sorry you’re so worried x

I wasn't thinking poor hygiene but that she might be not drinking enough and not going to the toilet enough and nursery need to keep an eye on that. DD2 got them a couple of times when she was little as she was holding onto wee - anything to not have to stop what she was doing!

She was fine then until secondary school and got them again - stress and holding onto wee as they can't go out of a lesson, then not drinking enough.

It could be wiping but the nursery need to make sure she is drinking and weeing regularly.

This is not anyone’s fault.

If you don’t think the nursery is looking after her properly, don’t send her there.

My dd was prone to uti's and ended up under specialist care for them for a while. It's not nurseries fault that she has recurring uti's but if you're concerned they're not making sure she's properly clean / wiping herself etc then you can always send her elsewhere.

If you're not letting her wipe at home then how is she going to learn to do it properly when she's away from you?

@JustLikea

Is this another wind up thread

You wouldn't wipe your DC once they're out of nappies they do that themselves

Both my children toilet-trained at 24 months. Neither could competently wipe themselves for at least another year (and DS was closer to 4); at this age they just don't have the dexterity, coordination (or long enough arms actually!). Perfectly normal to have to help preschoolers with their toileting.

@JustLikea do you have children who are past potty training age?!
All of mine have needed occasional help with wiping in the early years.
One of mine never asked for help from the nursery staff so often came home slightly dirty unfortunately.
OP does your daughter know to ask for help with wiping?

I wouldn’t leap to assume the nursery is causing the UTIs, some people are just more prone to them than others. I’ve had recurrent UTIs all my life and was put on daily long term antibiotics at 13 - I’m now 41 and they’ve really helped. I just increase the dose if I feel an infection coming on. Ask for a referral to a paediatrician if you’re concerned.

But yes they should be wiping her if she can’t do it herself. Have you asked them to do this? They may assume that because she’s out of nappies she doesn’t need any help.

@51Pegasusb

Unfortunately reflux is just one of those things that you only know when you know! My son needed an operation at 10 months and I had one aged 3. It’s a minor procedure but the stress of him constantly in an out of hospital with UTIs, urosepsis (because sometimes it strikes suddenly with 0 warning) and him being in perma discomfort for months nearly broke me.

I work in a school Nursery. Parents would need to make us aware that anytime their child has done a poo they need help with wiping/we show them how to do it. That also means the child tells us when they need help. At three your child is old enough to ask for help and needs to do this.