CM CLUB:mindee's & personal cleanliness?..my predicament!

[StrawberryFULLMoonOWOWOWWWWWWW]

not going into detail personally!

what would you do if a mindee comes sometimes ok, sometimes very grubby(clothes) and in all the time theyve come never had clean finger nails>..thick black dirt under them and constantly hands in mouth?

Oh I hate the smelly toilet thing lol. Although sometimes ds has it when he has a nappy on, and at the end of the day he smells like an old man!

I think that if they come first thing in the morning it is an issue, and like someone has said, maybe start writing some of the things down as it may be a neglect case.

dmo, you soumnd like me lol.

I was looking at one of the mindees coats today that is covered with food and stuff, and thinking that I could stick it in when I do some washing and drying later!

I realise that kids do get dirty etc, but I would be embarassed if mine went out looking a mess!

Message withdrawn

i undertsand what you're saying hmo2 and i personally don't do all of those things you mentioned but if imo a child was "grubby" i would do my best to remedy the situation without causing the parents any embarrassment, i think thats what dmo/ smoon are trying to do. i know in dmo's situation the father is a single dad and i think he just hasn't noticed/ not used to doing all the things we mothers "just do" so he needs and probably appreciates the help dmo gives. s/moon im not really sure of your situation, i think washing hands with a nail brush is probably sufficent.

i always make sure dd1 is bathed with hair washed every morning and dd2 has a bath at night. most of us would never dream of sending
our children out unkempt but as someone else mentioned its all about standards.

I think you all sound like lovely cm's, very careing. At first I thought you were being a bit ott, but having read the whole thread I really would say something to the parent. Esp in the case of the single Dad, it would be much better coming from someone understanding who cares about his child then school or god forbid social services in the future. Also you know how cruel children can be, when these lo's get to school they will be teased, every class in my day had a 'fleebag' and it would be awful to be that person. It would be difficult ,but a well meaning gentle word would be appropriate.

happymumof", we arn't laughing at them?, were trying to fathom out what to do?!

Message withdrawn

I think it is a case of different standards I look after children who arent taught to wash their hands after using the toilet! Now I find this unacceptable but I have had this now with several families!

I also help at a childrens club and am constantly being told by children that they dont wash at home. Last term we did a project on cleanliness and it was surprising to see how many children didnt have a clue about washing their hands.

thyere not being laughed at someone commented her son smells like an old man at the end of the day, but we are not laughing..i have a genuine problem with the hygiene of a mindee and was asking advice, most other posters have suggested that their children too also smell a bit, trying to prevent me from being overly concerned.
this isnt a childish convesation, this is a group of cm's trying to come up with a so,lution to ensure parents keep their own children clean and not leave it to cm's

Yes, it was me that said that my son can smell like an old man.

I think that you have indeed missed the point that we are trying to help rather than anythign else, and by asking other cm's we are seeing what other people deal with as well.

The thing that I found funny was that as a cm working on your own, you just don't know whether it is normal or not. Not laughing at the child, but just at the topic. Good old British humuor in adverse situations and all that stuff.

Strawberry fullmoon - I think there may be a clue in one of your posts you say mindee has dry skin/excema maybe teh mother doesn't want to irritate by washing to often although duirty naikls would make it worse perhaps suggest oilatum or someghing say itwas in a mag you were reading

yes, child does have problem skin (excema)and has special creams but is constantly scratching at it with dirty finger nails and mum said she hasnt used creams on her for ages but skin in creases(arms, knee's) is very very sore