Am I asking too much from nursery??

[SarahScone]

Fourteen month old has just started nursery. He has done two weeks of three days a week. Crucially, he seems to be settling in, sleeping and eating fine and slowly getting more comfortable with his surroundings.
The nursery use an app to communicate with parents. It seems to be sporadically updated. He should have breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, sleep and nappies logged. I’d say about a third of this gets logged everyday. And then there is the odd photo and update of what my child has been doing.
This is more about managing my expectations than his care because I trust that when is there, he is looked after properly.
However, (and bearing in mind he is my PFB after an arduous IVF journey), this info would help me with things like what he has for dinner at home (and how much), that i know he’s drinking enough (wet nappies) and when to put him to bed etc etc.
I pick him up at 4pm when most other parents are picking up so not much chance of a chat.

What do you think? Should it be updated more reliably or am I being fussy?

It’s not the most important aspect of caring for your child, no. But a handover at that age is still important. It’s helpful for you to know about sleep at nursery so that you’ll know if you need to adapt anything at home. And perhaps more importantly, knowing whether and what they’ve eaten at nursery gives you an insight into your child’s wellbeing. As simple as knowing if they’ve had enough to eat that day, or being able to spot food intolerances/allergies. If nursery don’t communicate this to you, it’s not like your child can tell you at that age, and it’s important for you as their parent to have oversight of how basic needs, like sleep, feeding and nappies, are met. A good nursery will ensure staff have enough time in their day to log these things without compromising the care of the children.

Having said all that, I wouldn’t be basing my opinion of a nursery on the first few weeks in January, when you’re most likely to have illness rampaging round the kids and staff.

Writing this as a childcare provider.

I’m going to add this having read a few more posts: whether it’s an app or not is irrelevant. My own kids went to nursery before apps were a thing, but I did have a verbal handover when I went to pick up.

It's is worth asking when you go in if they have physical records of that info, it is unlikely they are updating all of the children's apps as they are eating, so there may be a paper version. In my setting, we are required to have paper records of all personal care (if later required for safeguarding investigations, e.g.), I imagine this is pretty standard.

It may be that there is one iPad between 5 staff which is also used for pictures of the children, so although information is recorded in setting, it doesn't always make it on the app.

Devil's advocate to all those saying you get used to the lack of info/don't stress/they're probably with the kids, etc., if this is a private setting you are paying for, and the nature of the updates is set out in their terms/contract, I would 100% be highlighting that you are not receiving the service you are paying for. Childcare is far too pricey to be getting poor service. If parents don't complain, management won't support staff with time/extra bodies to complete tasks.

It will depend on the ratios if they have staff with time to do all that.

My little ones nursery upload at least 3 photos and a wee blurb about each photo, what was offered & eaten at meal time. Toddler & babyrooms also include naps/ nappy changed/ toileting/ accidents.

I’d rather they were with my child than logging dirty nappies tbh!

Great use of vituperative! But ignore those posters. Don't feed it with a response.

I don’t think yabu. If they have an app then an expectation is set that they’ll use it. I’m a childminder and send home a written diary each day, with food, naps, nappy changes (just rough times of dirty nappies or if only wet ones) and a few comments about what they’ve said or enjoyed that day, songs we’re learning or a book we’re reading. I write these and send photos -usually while the little ones nap and it takes 10-15 mins for 3-4 children, sometimes a bit more depending if I get into a back and forth conversation with parents.

It’s really important that parents feel part of their child’s day - as childcare professionals we are meant to be working in partnership with parents and research shows that this achieves the best outcomes.

It is really different to a grandparent caring for a child - I’d imagine they’re taking photos and talking to the parents all the time anyway… or how things were pre mobile phones/digital cameras, but in this modern day and age, why not update parents?

We don’t use apps. We do a written diary in our baby room about nappies, food and the day they’ve had. After this it is verbal handover unless there is anything in particular that the parent needs to be told. Ie if child is usually a good eater and hasn’t today this will be handed over as unusual for that particular child. Nap times are recorded and told to the parent if they ask.

Being with the children and teaching and interacting with them is the priority. Parents need to trust that staff will tell them of anything unusual happens in the child’s day.