How often should nursery toys be cleaned....

[Confusedmum23]

Hi,
My DS who is 6 months old will be starting at a nursery next week, and during the settling-in week, I have noticed how the babies just dribble / slob / drool over the toys in the play area or suck / chew etc. As politely as I could, I asked how often they clean the toys and they said once a month! Quite concerning isn't it, or am I being unreasonable to expect more? In the bag room there seem to be only 5 babies including my DS. Thanks! x

Part of the joy of your child going to nursery is going through the phase known as "developing the immune system", aka living for the next 2 years with a permanent cold. Whilst this is annoying at the time, it does actually do them good in the long run.
Also, if you have been attending any baby and toddler groups, they probably clean the toys there once a year!

Oh and one more thing, is it also normal that the babies are left to play on their own most of the time?

What do you mean by play on their own? Are the nursery staff in the room?

DH works in a nursery and they let the children play with each other and on their own (always monitored by staff) but most of the time the staff are playing with them. Nurseries have to meet EYFS learning goals and so in his nursery they have different 'things' to do/play each week. DD is starting in 3 weeks so I'll know a bit more then

At our nursery the toys are cleaned with milton solution at the end of every session, we have a 6 day rota and toys are cleaned at the end of every day. Once a month for babies seems a long time to me.

Playing on their own? Do you mean adults sitting interacting but nothing too structured (great IMO) or left to play on floor without adult interaction where approptriate? Its fine and indeed correct for adults not to constantly interfere with a childs play and exploration, but there is a fine line between knowing when to sit back and being lazy!

Thanks all. dribbleface, sounds like you work at a great nursery! Which one might that be? My DS is going through the settling in week now and I've just noticed they do just let the babies play on their own and from time to time talk to them. Maybe I am thinking too much but I feel sorry that babies seem lonely.....

Confusedmum23 - thanks. See how the week goes, if it doesn't feel right it often isn't, although don't underestimate mummy guilt and that can make you look for things IYSWIM.

Not to make you feel worse but today in our baby room I walked in to the staff and babies having a whale of a time in paddling pool (staff were not in it!), later two babies were rolling about with one of the girls and they were giggling and tickling etc,, and another staff member being jumped on (sort of laid down with a baby bouncing on her). Some might not like the way we do things but babies need physical contact, hugs, laughter etc.

Wow dribbleface, please tell me your nursery is in London and near Greenwich!!!! Tomorrow is supposedly the last day of the settling in. Hopefully it will go ok as I am to leave him for longer and he is a terribly fussy eater!!!!

Don't normal venture here but dribbleface your nursery sounds fabulous

Confused - don't worry about being a fussy eater, my DS1 was/is terribly fussy but eats lots of things for others. You might find the staff are a bit more reserved if your there. Good luck

Sadly not in London, we're in Essex. Been working/managing the place for 15 years and we are lucky to have such a great owner/team. I've worked in lots of nurseries but stayed with this one as I believe in what we do.

Thanks dribbleface. The staff did fail to feed him his lunch so far - he went hysterical and was fighting so hard to get out of the highchair every time we tried to do his meal there! Hopefully you are right! x

Does he sit in a high chair at home? Would he feed on a staff members lap, then migrate to a chair? Was it familiar food? He will eat for them eventually, and won't starve himself (I was convinced DS1 would starve to death at one point!). Does he have a key person, does this person do all his care in terms of feeds etc whilst he is settling? If you were there he might have been worse, may be better when our not about.

Good luck and let me know how it all goes.

your not our!

He does sit in a highchair at home, though 3 weeks before he was in a rocker chair and before that a bumbo seat which was not great for his GERD, and before that I had to carry him and walk him around to get him to eat! I still do that whenever he gets hysterical which was what I had to do for the past 4 days! Yes we have a key person assigned to us, she's nice and so is the other lady who works with her in the baby room! If I am honest I am nervous that DS would come home not drunk (he hates his formula but it is a prescription one due to his multiple food protein allergies) not eaten and would be cranky all night - the last thing I'd want after a day's work! As for the food, one of the main reasons we are sending him to a nursery is to let him try different foods and to progress with the weaning in terms of consistency, apart from hoping he develops more in terms of motor skills etc. I am such an ignorant first time mother I feel I am impeding his growth and development!