AIBU to expect a bib to be used for a 2 year old?

[pixipie151]

My DD has just transferred from to the over 2 section at her nursery. Near enough every single day she has had to have a change of clothes and the clothes she has changed into are filthy with food.

When I tackled this I was told rather defensively that it was to help her transisition to independent eating and that most parents prefer this to wearing bibs. But that if I wanted, they could make my daughter wear a bib.

I was made to feel that I was either:

A) Inappropriately infantalising my own child.

B) Had OCD.

I should also add that I had a battle in the under twos to make them wear bibs, but eventually the clothes did come home cleaner.

Am I a freak or are they just plain lazy?

I have a background in child health, and as far as Im aware, a 2 year old is not developmentally capable of the fine motor coordination to eat food without spillage, and I dont believe making her go without a bib will teach her than any quicker.

I just feel it lacks a certain respect for a child's wellbeing (as well as being a nightmare and costly to clean the clothes).

What should I tell them to do? Use a bib (at risk of her standing out from her peers), or stick to my guns and assert myself?

DD2's nursery gives them all little wipe-clean aprons to wear at lunch, they love lining up to put them on. Perhaps you could suggest it?

I worked in a nursery and the under 2's were all given bibs however once they moved into the next room they didn't - again with beakers with lids on we started to phase these out around 22 months as when they moved up a room they had cups with no lids or handles.

As a nanny I tend to get rid off the bib around 20 months/2 years as it's the next developmental stage of being able to feed themselves without getting it everywhere.

I've used my own bibs for all the children I've looked after (and my own three)until they're around 2.6.

It's just something I've always done and saves a lot of messy, smelly clothes for the parents to wash.

Widowetc just because you know a few children who are well coordinated doesn't make it bobbins.

Maybe I am going by my experience where my DS really did need a bib at that age as does my DD who is 21 months. So not bobbins.

Put an old t-shirt on over her clothes every day?
Send her in cheap things you don't care about so much?
I think they should respect your wishes about the bib though.

Yanbu -- they make the DCs wear art smocks in their school until age 10 or so.

thank you all so much for your comments. I think its helped me make up my mind and I will be asking nursery to put a bib on her. I do see many people's point that clothes are washable, but her clothes come home filthy, and I can't get the stains out. Vanish just dosen't cut the mustard (let alone the tomato sauce!).

And for me, it isn't about the stained clothes, its about respect for my child.

You didn't ask for a top tip, but I shall give you mine: ditch the Vanish and dry clothes in the sun. It never fails to get the stains out of clothes in this house and I wash things on 40 degrees.