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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

CM CLUB - Brushing Mindees Teeth

22 replies

looneytune · 30/09/2008 09:42

I've just had a text from mindees mum asking to brush her teeth and can I presume they always need doing so do them every morning. This family is LOVELY and I like to help but I'm worried I'll forget as mindee is usually dropped off between 8.15-8.30am when it's all rushed and we are about to go straight out the door or she's dropped off after the school run and we start getting ready for group. I'll try my best to remember after the school run but I'm worried I'll forget as that routine has usually been completed by then so it's not a natural thing to remember (plus with me having a young baby myself and being tired, my memory is even worse than usual!!)

What do you think I should say? I don't mind doing it but don't want to be held responsible if I forget iyswim.

Thanks

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Original poster

looneytune · 30/09/2008 09:50

p.s. just tried doing them and she's clamping her mouth shut and of course I can't FORCE her can I (like mentioned in my medication policy). This brings me to another question......when I have her overnight, what do I do if she won't let me in to brush her teeth???

BTW, she's 19 months old.

TIA

OP posts:

coolj · 30/09/2008 09:52

In my opinion if the parent cant be bothered to do it and want to pass the buck to you, if you forget, dont beat yourself up about it. You can only do your best . You are a childminder not the childs NANNY and have other children to see to.

I think its bad enough having to plan, observe, feed, change etc without having to brush teeth as well .

Sorry, having a bad day .

hennipenni · 30/09/2008 10:08

Agree with coolj, presumably mindee has breakfast before she arrives? so would hope they would have time to brush. Would also draw up a consent form stating that you will not force said mindee if she clamps her mouth shut and you won't take responsibility for any resulting damage due to lack of toothbrushing. (sorry also having a bad day)

Berryred · 30/09/2008 10:26

grr I agree arriving at that time she should have them done already!

I would have no problem brushing them after lunch but first thing seems like lazyness to me

NumberFour · 30/09/2008 10:37

i agree. should be done before she gets to yours. one mum dropped her baby off at 8.07 and asked me to give her her morning bottle before we went on school run.

Sure thing! Easy peasy and all that.

KatyMac · 30/09/2008 13:24

My dentsit told me on no account was I to clean other people children's teeth as it would open me up to being sued if they had teeth problems in later life. Also he said it could be seen to be assault.

I didn't know quite how to take that tbh

hennipenni · 30/09/2008 13:28

Thankyou Katy, I once said that I wouldn't clean childrens teeth for that very reason on a thread a while ago. Boy did I get lynched.

LoveMyGirls · 30/09/2008 13:28

I think it's going beyond the call of duty, maybe as a one off or as part of overnightcare or even if mindee was starting really early but not at 8.15am

southernbelle77 · 30/09/2008 13:29

Maybe I'm just having a bad day too but I wouldn't do it. They might be in a rush in the mornings so think it's ok to pass the buck, but I imagine you are twice as busy as they are so why should you have to.

I would tell them what Katys dentist said and say you can't do it, or if you are going to then draw up a consent form like henni said.

Original poster

looneytune · 30/09/2008 13:29

Thanks for all the replies. Just a quick question for Katy - I have her overnight so surely I can't refuse it altogether as she couldn't go all that time without her teeth being brushed.

I must admit I could really do without this as I have enough on my plate with 3 under 19 months plus my 5 yr old to get to school in the morning. I wouldn't mind so much if she arrived earlier and was having breakfast so I'd do it after but I think it's because they forget but what if I forget.

If I was a nanny then it would be totally different but I think this being done daily is taking it a bit far.

OP posts:

ayla99 · 30/09/2008 13:56

A lot of nurseries have a teeth cleaning policy and children take in their toothbrushes to clean teeth after lunch. Don't agree with that myself though. I sought advice from British Dental Health Foundation, they recommend waiting 30 mins after a meal before cleaning teeth and say that twice a day is quite sufficient. So my unwritten policy is to avoid teeth cleaning wherever possible as most families should be able to include this in their getting up/going to bed routines. I don't do overnight.

But I can see that for some families, getting a breakfast inside their child then waiting 30 mins and then cleaning teeth could all be hard to fit in to their morning rush. So I would probably agree to teeth cleaning at mine, if they've already had breakfast at home. If they're having breakfast with me they usually have brushed their teeth at home when they got up - I don't have 30 mins between breakfast and the school run you see.

I would explain to this parent that there isn't time to clean teeth properly at the time they are currently arriving (taking into account times other children are dropped off, making drinks, changing nappies etc and everything else you have to do in the morning). So would only agree if I could fit it around the other commitments, perhaps if they arrived at 8am?

Interesting point from your dentist Katy, something to bear in mind. We are very ulnerable in this job!

ayla99 · 30/09/2008 13:57

vulnerable even.

LittleMyDancingForJoy · 30/09/2008 14:02

From a parent's point of view, I think asking you to clean a child's teeth in the morning is a bit cheeky. Especially that late in the morning. I count teeth cleaning as my responsibility as a parent, and if I can't squeeze it in then I have to get up earlier.

If they can't wait 30 mins after eating (and who does that, anyway?), then actually brushing before breakfast is very good too, as with no bacteria in the mouth there's nothing to turn the sugar etc into acid.

LittleMyDancingForJoy · 30/09/2008 14:28

Blimey, I have the threadkilling curse today good and proper!

Original poster

looneytune · 30/09/2008 14:31

I'm here to un-kill it Thanks for giving me your pov as a parent I've now emailed the mum back explaining my reasons for not wanting to commit to doing it daily, hopefully she'll understand as she is lovely and we are friends aswell now, just hate the thought of offending her!

Thanks everyone

OP posts:

LittleMyDancingForJoy · 30/09/2008 14:37

phew, was starting to feel like the invisible woman!

I think you were right to email, if you didn't feel happy about it it wouldn't be right to commit to it.

I'm sure the mum will be fine

Original poster

looneytune · 30/09/2008 14:44

Replying again so you don't think you killed it Thanks, hopefully she'll be ok

OP posts:

Scarfmaker · 30/09/2008 21:52

What a coincidence - one parent of mine brought 18 month old mindees toothbrush and toothpaste to me last week and asked if I would brush her teeth after lunch when she's with me. To get her used to the idea of someone else doing them instead of just Mum she said.

I don't mind but now my other mindee has a bit of a tantrum asking for her toothbrush everytime so I'm gonna have to ask Mum for her toothbrush if possible!

KatyMac · 30/09/2008 21:54

The british dental association advises only brushing twice a day (according to my dentist)

lovemybuggy · 30/09/2008 21:59

V hard for you even if you did have time etc if the child clamps her mouth shut to stop you.
My 3 year old does this and i have to pin her down to do it.Singing and making it a game helps a little sometimes but generally its awful and i certainly wouldnt expect a childminder or nanny to have to do it.

MaureenMLove · 30/09/2008 21:59

I had two mindees who had toothbrushes here. One came to me at 6am, still asleep or barely awake, so totally understandable. The other was a 7 yr old, who sometimes didn't have time before coming here! I told mum of that child that I would remind him to clean his teeth, IF and only if she advised me at the door, that he hadn't done them. I told her that I had enough to do at 8am, without reminding a 7 year old to do his teeth! Luckily she agreed that it wouldn't be in writing, so no blame if he needed a filing!

changingsoon · 30/09/2008 22:05

all my mindees supply toothbrush and paste. we do teeth after lunch. ive got a dental hygene policy

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