Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

To expect nursery to clean DCs face?

62 replies

Dirtyfacebaby · 14/08/2023 21:17

Exactly what the thread title says.

AIBU to expect nursery staff to keep my child's face relatively clean? Every single day when I collect her she looks absolutely feral. Face and hair covered in dried snot and god knows what else.

I don't just mean a little bit dirty, I mean she looks like a street urchin.

OP posts:

Workawayxx · 14/08/2023 21:22

We have the same - how old is your dc? Mine is 2.5. It’s tricky as I know her face can get dirty very quickly but at the same time sometimes there has clearly been dried food from dinner (4pm) when I pick her up at 6 pm plus snot, dirt etc that has stuck to the food. When she was in the 1-2 room she was always pretty clean and tidy so not sure if it’s just going from 3-1 ratio to 4-1. The other day her shoes were on the wrong feet too. Other than that it’s all pretty good though. So yes, tough to know whether to make a thing of it.

Original poster

Dirtyfacebaby · 14/08/2023 21:26

She's 14 months at the moment. I know babies get dirty quickly and she has a runny nose but I find it quite shocking that the staff happily return her to me looking the way she does 😭

A quick wet wipe as they collect her things and bring her out would take 20 seconds.

OP posts:

CutiePatooties · 14/08/2023 21:32

I’ve had 2 DC who have gone to nursery/childminder and neither of them have come out like this. Maybe the odd crispy bit of snot around the nose, but not a visibly dirty face.

I’ve also worked in a nursery where none of the children left with dirt on their face. If I was you, next time DC came out with a dirty face I would ask to speak to their key worker and say you’ve noticed DC comes out of nursery like this quite often and that you’d appreciate it if someone would wipe their face after a meal, or when nose is running etc. Shouldn’t have to tell them this though… I mean, it’s all part of caring for the child and that is their job.

PeggyPoggle · 14/08/2023 21:33

Wouldn't bother me personally.
I know how busy they are. I'll just clean it at home. No big deal and not worth making a fuss over.

Wrongsideofpennines · 14/08/2023 21:35

It would annoy me, perhaps more because I know my child gets sore skin if things are left to dry on her face too much though. But they have never really resisted having their face cleaned like I know lots of children do.

burserynany · 14/08/2023 21:37

That's absolutely disgusting an appalling. I would not be happy about this. I hate seeing children like this. It's totally wrong.

I'm not sure I would leave my child in a nursery that didn't care about something as simple as this. God knows what else they don't bother sorting out properly.

Have a word, but better, look for a different nursery. Mine never comes out looking like that. Also the hair gets done again if it gets messy etc. sometimes I can tell they brushed her hair and put it up in a different way to how I did it in the morning. These things are the absolute basics. They need to be done.

burserynany · 14/08/2023 21:38

PeggyPoggle · 14/08/2023 21:33

Wouldn't bother me personally.
I know how busy they are. I'll just clean it at home. No big deal and not worth making a fuss over.

Shocking that it's not ' worth making a fuss over '. I could not disagree more.

teaorme · 14/08/2023 21:40

Yeah they need to be wiping her face, it’s bare minimum of caring for them. It’s their job! You wouldn’t leave her with a dirty face nor should they

Loopylune · 14/08/2023 21:42

Yanbu mine always came out looking like filthy street rats. Crusty food and snot on their faces and filthy clothes….sometimes not even wearing their own clothes despite me packing spares.

legalseagull · 14/08/2023 21:42

If they cant be bothered to give their faces a quick wipe what else can't they be bothered to do - do they wash their hands? No wonder nursery's are germ pits.
I'd send an email complaint.

PeggyPoggle · 14/08/2023 21:44

burserynany · 14/08/2023 21:38

Shocking that it's not ' worth making a fuss over '. I could not disagree more.

Show quote history

It's not though.
Just my opinion.

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 14/08/2023 21:46

I used to work in a nursery (it was awful) and kids were expected to wipe their own faces, wash their own hands and put their own shoes and coats on.

cansu · 14/08/2023 21:46

That isn't OK. Cleaning hands and face is a basic really especially with small children who have been playing in sand, paint etc. I would ask them to make sure that your dc has had a hand and face wipe.

Original poster

Dirtyfacebaby · 14/08/2023 21:50

Thanks for all the comments reassuring me that I'm not being "that mum".

If she's as filthy as usual when I collect her tomorrow I think I'll raise it with them. It's not difficult to do a quick face wipe, she doesn't scream or cry about it.

OP posts:

Tanith · 14/08/2023 21:55

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 14/08/2023 21:46

I used to work in a nursery (it was awful) and kids were expected to wipe their own faces, wash their own hands and put their own shoes and coats on.

Yep! Blame Ofsted for that.

I know of a childminder who was downgraded because she wiped a toddler's nose during her inspection. The inspector wrote in her report that she didn't promote the children's independence.

cakecoffeecakecoffee · 14/08/2023 21:56

When dd was in the baby room, she was always handed back immaculate and they were fastidious about washing their hands and faces throughout the day.
As soon as she went up to the toddler room she started coming out really grubby. After a few days I commented on it and they said that they "encourage the toddlers to wash hands and face independently". I said that encouragement was great but she still needed help as she was still learning and could they do more to help her. They stepped up and she gradually learnt how to do it properly herself.

phoenixrosehere · 14/08/2023 21:56

YANBU

When we were looking into nurseries form our oldest, there was one we were touring and there was a little boy that looked about 2 with thick green snot just running down his face. One nursery worker was interacting with other children and two others were just standing next to each other, with one of them who was staring at me as if I spat in her face. There was no reason none of them could have wiped his face and I was ready to do it myself. Told DH the moment we left, that that nursery was definitely a no. It’s the bare minimum to clean a child’s face.

Both sons went to different nurseries (same company, different locations) and always came out with clean hands and faces.

sanityisamyth · 14/08/2023 21:59

They definitely should be keeping the children clean. When DS was at nursery, they used to wash his hands and face before he touched me as I am very allergic to tomato and they often gave him beans etc which would have made me ill. It took them all of 30 seconds to give him a decent wipe.

cyncope · 14/08/2023 22:02

Wiping noses is a bare minimum, raise it with the keyworker or room leader.

KnownByAssociation · 14/08/2023 22:03

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 14/08/2023 21:46

I used to work in a nursery (it was awful) and kids were expected to wipe their own faces, wash their own hands and put their own shoes and coats on.

What? At 14 months old?

I wouldn't be happy either! I always think if they're happy for the parent to see them like that then what are they happy to do that the parents don't see!

cyncope · 14/08/2023 22:04

You can raise it in a nice way "DD has a runny nose at the moment, would you mind wiping her nose for her during the day?"

I know you shouldn't have to and they should do it automatically but I'd still mention it and see if things improve.

CandyLeBonBon · 14/08/2023 22:04

Your kids will be fine, honest.

cyncope · 14/08/2023 22:06

CandyLeBonBon · 14/08/2023 22:04

Your kids will be fine, honest.

It's gross though, isn't it? Do you really let your kids run around all day with dried snot all over their faces?

Original poster

Dirtyfacebaby · 14/08/2023 22:10

CandyLeBonBon · 14/08/2023 22:04

Your kids will be fine, honest.

You say that but after a week of having a runny nose recently and being left dirty she then contracted conjunctivitis. The two could surely be connected,?

OP posts:

StSwithinsDay · 14/08/2023 22:13

Your kids will be fine, honest.

Really? Would you like to go around with a dirty snot encrusted face all day long?

Flip

1 2 3

Swipe left for the next trending thread