Aibu to think my sons nursery could wipe his face.

fashu · 2021-12-19T23:40:54+00:00

So my son recently started nursery. He's just turned 3 and does know how to blow his nose, he's just not a professional at it yet. As he's not been exposed to other children before, especially since covid he's picking up every little bug and has a runny nose practically non stop. I've taken him to the doctors and they've reassured me it's quite normal and he is healthy and well enough to attend school. Before school he's had about 3 runny noses in his life so didn't have much practice. The issue I'm having is he comes home with snot all over his face. Sometimes there is glitter and play doh smudged into his eyebrows, once he came home covered in mud and a bloody hand from falling over in the yard. AIBU to think that if they see his literally covered that they could just wipe him a bit? I know they have a lot to do but like I feel bad when he looks so dirty! I've signed the form that says like they can take him to the toilet and assist him if needed blah blah. Also, just to add the teachers are great and he loves them so much, but I just don't know if I'm meant to say to them it's OK to wipe him.

RedHelenB · 20/12/2021 00:01

They could spend all day wiping noses at nursery. I'd be surprised if they never did this or encourage him to do so.

mommal20 · 20/12/2021 00:03

YANBU it takes 2 seconds to wipe his face, poor baby. And I bet you probably pack wipes in his bag too so it's not even as if they have to use their own. I know kids snot a lot but if it's as bad as that a quick wipe should be given

NuffSaidSam · 20/12/2021 00:06

I do think they should wipe their faces. I think it's part of basic care. Like wiping a baby's bum!

inpixiehollow · 20/12/2021 00:08

I do think they should be wiping his nose. I work in a nursery and we wouldn't really clean paint/playdoh etc off of a face, especially if a child wasn't bothered about it but we do wash hands and we do wipe noses. Is it 'fresh' snot? Or the dried up crusty kind? If its dried on they obviously aren't wiping it and they should be doing so please point it out to them. If its fresh I'll give the benefit of the doubt and say its likely it has been wiped and now is running again, some children we can spend all day wiping their noses and its a constant stream.

CoffeeRunner · 20/12/2021 00:11

This used to drive me mad with my DCs.

I can't stand children being left with snotty faces.

HunkyPunk · 20/12/2021 00:19

At the nursery where I work, we always get a tissue and help the children clean their face, hands, hair, if they’re snotty or have finished messy play. Sometimes needs a flannel with warm water to get all the gunk off! It’s just part of the job. Nursery staff shouldn’t be too busy to make sure the children are clean(ish!) and comfortable.

WildStallyn · 20/12/2021 00:20

My DC never came home dirty or snotty from childminder or nursery. YANBU.

Original poster

fashu · 20/12/2021 00:20

Yeah it's all crusty smudged around his face which puts me under the impression he is trying to get it off but needs a bit of help. He's goes in with a bag everyday with a clean uniform, underpants, wipes and a pair of training pants just in case but his stuff is never disturbed so I don't think they even go in his bag.

OP posts:

Winniemarysarah · 20/12/2021 00:30

@WildStallyn

My DC never came home dirty or snotty from childminder or nursery. YANBU.

Same. How low do your standards have to be to allow a child to go home with a face full of dirt and snot? It’s very basic hygiene and clearly makes the parents feel like shit that the care giver doesn’t have a spare 15 seconds to give their child’s face a wipe

RedHelenB · 20/12/2021 06:54

If he just a uniform then that sounds like a school.based nursery in which case there will only be 2 members of staff. Not enough to ensure every child is snot free I'm afraid, unless it's really obvious.

GoodnightGrandma · 20/12/2021 06:56

Yes they should wipe his face. If he wipes snot into his eyes, as tired kids can do, he’ll end up with conjunctivitis. Not doing this basic task is lack of care.

Iputthetrampintrampoline · 20/12/2021 07:39

Wait while they are at school OP. Pandemic schooling is marvellous. Teachers not allowed to touch children who have playground cuts,or like my dd had concussion from Pe and they rang me to tell me they couldnt even place an ice pack on her head due to covid rules..ffs after the term I have had trying to remove gravel from knees hours after the event when they gave my daughter the pack to deal with it herself and she just couldnt do it properly as she is so small etc I would love a dirty face !!!

Kitkatchunkyplease · 20/12/2021 07:45

It is so irritating isn't it. I pay almost £60 a day to collect a child who looks like she has years worth of dried snot on her face. I don't know why they can't at least wipe it when I get there.
I have trained her to go and ask for a tissue and it happens a lot less frequently now.

Russell19 · 20/12/2021 07:51

@Iputthetrampintrampoline

Wait while they are at school OP. Pandemic schooling is marvellous. Teachers not allowed to touch children who have playground cuts,or like my dd had concussion from Pe and they rang me to tell me they couldnt even place an ice pack on her head due to covid rules..ffs after the term I have had trying to remove gravel from knees hours after the event when they gave my daughter the pack to deal with it herself and she just couldnt do it properly as she is so small etc I would love a dirty face !!!

That is a disgusting way to treat a child and is simply not correct. There is nothing in covid guidance to say anything like this. You should be discussing this politely with the head teacher and not just accepting it. If a first aider wore full PPE and washed hands afterwards then I don't see the issue.

Youdoyoutoday · 20/12/2021 07:53

Agreed, snotty faces are grim!

winniesanderson · 20/12/2021 07:56

The runny nose thing does really bother me. However I will say that depending on class room numbers and how well the cold is spreading, it can be tricky to catch them all in time. Sometimes it seems like half the room have got a constantly running nose and often they've wiped it away halfway up their faces with a sleeve or something before you can get to them. You'd hope that they'd have their face washed in this case however and I would be inclined to mention it if it's bothering you. I'd also be teaching nose wiping or as a pp said asking for a tissue when at home.
The bag thing wouldn't bother me. If there's no reason to go into it, e.g change of clothes, then it just doesn't happen.

Iputthetrampintrampoline · 20/12/2021 08:01

Thank you I did question it and they were not moving,No contact with children,It is scandalous,

RonniePickering · 20/12/2021 08:05

I totally agree. I'd hate being left with a dirty snotty face myself, takes 30 seconds with a wipe.

ZippyZap · 20/12/2021 08:06

@Iputthetrampintrampoline

Wait while they are at school OP. Pandemic schooling is marvellous. Teachers not allowed to touch children who have playground cuts,or like my dd had concussion from Pe and they rang me to tell me they couldnt even place an ice pack on her head due to covid rules..ffs after the term I have had trying to remove gravel from knees hours after the event when they gave my daughter the pack to deal with it herself and she just couldnt do it properly as she is so small etc I would love a dirty face !!!

Wow, this is wrong wrong wrong, you need to report this and bring this up with the head or even Ofsted. If they can't give first aid, they shouldn't be open. Bloody disgusting, put ppe on if need be. I'd be very worried if this was my schools response, what else do they do that is wrong or abusive would be my thoughts??!!

Tonkerbea · 20/12/2021 08:34

Snot I can sort of understand, but leaving your child's hand bloody and not cleaning down with those graze wipes/water and savlon is not ok.

MajorCarolDanvers · 20/12/2021 08:39

@Iputthetrampintrampoline

Wait while they are at school OP. Pandemic schooling is marvellous. Teachers not allowed to touch children who have playground cuts,or like my dd had concussion from Pe and they rang me to tell me they couldnt even place an ice pack on her head due to covid rules..ffs after the term I have had trying to remove gravel from knees hours after the event when they gave my daughter the pack to deal with it herself and she just couldnt do it properly as she is so small etc I would love a dirty face !!!

That's appalling. COVID guidance has never said anything like this. You should complain.