To think nursery shouldn't be using my child's clothes for other children?

[Clothing1]

So this has happened a few times and I'm not sure whether I should let it go or say something.

We have an app where pictures get uploaded from the day for parents to view. My son goes to nursery twice a week and I leave a coat there for him, I don't bother bringing it back and forth when he goes so it stays there on his peg all week for use when he's in and he has another at home for there. It has his name in it.

I've noticed recently that on pictures when my son isn't there another child will be in his coat, I know it's his because it has a mark on it which is noticeable. This can be when they go to the park etc... So possibly getting dirty when the children are playing.

AIBU to find this annoying and to ask nursery not to use his coat for other children? I'm not made of money and if it gets ripped or dirty when worn by another child I don't want to have to pay to replace it.

It's on his peg (they have one each) and has his name in so I don't believe it's just a mistake. I'm assuming other children forget their coats sometimes so they just use my son's as a spare when he's not there.

I wouldn't be providing a coat so that other parents can shirk their responsibility. Their child will own a coat. We're not in Victorian era and having shivering street urchins with no clothing. The parents simply aren't ensuring that their kid has it in nursery (like OP has solved her forgetting coats problem by leaving a coat there 24/7). It's up to the nursery staff to sort it with the other parents.

Yes tell them you don't want other children wearing it for the reasons you mentioned.
They should have a spare clothes box for that or be telling parents to remember their childs coat.

This honestly wouldn't bother me. Our DC have occasionally come home in clothes that aren't theirs if they've been through all the spares in the bag or we hadn't realised there was no spare top etc. Similarly, they've come home in someone else's nappy if nursery have forgotten to tell us they were running low. I assume (and hope) they use our spares for other DC where needed, it's not a big deal.

I imagine it's easy for parents who drive to nursery to forget a coat since they can't wear them in their car seat. If my DC's coat was there not being used I would absolutely prefer that another DC wore it rather than being cold. It's not like they're depriving your DC as they're not there, and it's highly unlikely that it will cause any real damage. Coats are one item of clothing I find are usually still in good condition once outgrown.

I wouldn't like my daughter's nursery using clothes I have provided for her, for other children.

Recently we gave her nursery a huge box of her old (but immaculate and clean) too-small clothes to either use as spares for other children or to give away to parents who may be struggling a bit for money. I also told the nursery they could sell them to raise money for the nursery if they wanted to but I was happy for them to use however they felt appropriate.

You are well within your rights to ask politely that your son's coat and other clothes/possessions aren't used for other children without your prior knowledge and consent, for the very reasons you've already given here.

It's July. If the item in question is a coat, the problem is going to go away for a bit unless you are in the Southern Hemisphere. Maybe wait and see what happens in the Autumn.

Actually yes. I went in more than once to find my boss wearing my office cardi. I'm a cold person and wanted it myself so it was awkward asking for it back!! I just started leaving it in my car instead.

They offered to give me the money but like I say I was in a very bad place and just wanted the whole ordeal over.

I felt very much like ‘that parent’ as it was only about £15 but I wish now I had taken the money. It’s the principle.

It was a relatively small nursery and on the whole it was fantastic. Both children went and loved it and I had nothing similar like this in the whole time I was there. The girls in the room were very young and I think quite naive/inexperienced.

I sent in a new box and that was never touched. DH passively aggressively scrawled DD’s name on every side and it must have been quite effective. DD was in there maybe another fortnight and then moved up groups. I —hid— was working late in the intervening weeks so DH or my mum did the pick ups and nothing was ever mentioned afterwards aside from the initial manager’s apology.

An email was sent out reiterating all parents must send in nappies, wipes etc for the week as a number of children were running low.

Some of these replies are nuts? Of course nursery shouldn't be regularly using your DS's coat for other children to wear. Children have labelled pegs specifically to store their own belongings on - there is no way anything on a child's peg is fair game as communal?!

I would definitely have a word with the staff about it, doesn't have to be anything major, just a quick word at pick-up saying you've seen the photos of the other child wearing DS's coat and could they please stop as you don't want to have to replace it through extra wear and tear and damage.