Nursery toilet issue. Advice please?

[Notinahundredyears]

Hello, my DD2 who is 3.5 can't wipe her own bottom without soiling her hands (if she remembers to do so) and pants and needs to be reminded to wash her hands after the toilet. She would do so, though, having been reminded. However in her nursery children go to the toilet unsupervised, nobody is watching them if they do or do not wipe their bottoms or indeed wash their hands. As a result my DD2 has had worms 4 times since September when she started. We religiously remind her at home to wash her hands and do wipe her bottom for her when she asks, sometimes she does it herself and then we'd make sure she has a mega good hand wash. I've mentioned to the nursery the situation with worms 3 times, and politely asked to help her/remind her wash hands etc. They replied 'yes sure' every time but there has been no result, and now we have worms again, which means all of us need to be treated, including DD1 and DH. Let alone we have to force the medicine down DD2 as she doesn't like it. Anyone got any advice on how to approach the nursery so they help? She is there all day one day a week and half a day the other day. Maybe they think it's not worth the effort for a child who is not there very much? I plan to increase my hours with them though but am frightened she will have worms even more often. Thank you for your advice.

I would suggest sitting nursery down and asking to do a written plan of action between you both and working out a plan to teach her how to do her bum. This will trigger paper work, and a checklist or sticker chart by the loo so then they would accompany her to encourage getting the sticker.
Say that you are keeping the chart at home in the loo and please can you do the same

This means they will help her when she can't as will watching over her? Maybe? And she slowly may get the knack?

Hi Littleme, what a good idea. Thank you. Not sure why I haven't thought of this myself! Very timely, as parents consultations are tomorrow.

i don't think it's normal for a child to have worms that often. it sounds like you are not getting rid of them properly. have you got perscriptions from the doctor? maybe you can try something else?

I don't think it's fair to blame the nursery. is it a school nursery class? if so, they don't wipe bottoms. 3-4 year olds should be able to wipe their own bottoms. my dc have never had worms and always wiped their own bottoms at nursery.

i think you need to look at your own care of her - such as changing all bedding etc to make sure she is not getting re infected at home.

Unfortunately it is just not practical to expect the nursery to wipe her. For several reasons: Firstly ratios do not allow there to be a member of staff constantly in or near the bathroom. With the new ratio law changes this will only get worse.

Secondly child protection. Unless the child actually asks for help- staff cannot go around asking & randomly checking toilet trained children. Obviously if they smell like there might be an issue they would take the child to get changed & supervise as they clean & change themselves. But taking a fully capable child for random pants checks would put staff in a very inappropriate situation.

They can help remind those who have the odd accident, remind them on what they need to do. Because the ideal scenario would be for them to become fully independent rather than getting them to constantly ask & need help. This is something you need to practise & perfect at home.

The best hope the nursery has is to regularly ask & monitor the best they can.

At our school we try our best to keep an eye on who is going in there, remind those that need it, help 'talk children through' the process of wiping themselves independently. Role play & practise good hand washing technique. Work with parents so that they support their child to practice these skills as home.

So - take your child to the GP & tell them about the constant worms, follow all the instructions to treat it (all the necessary laundry etc...)

Talk to your nursery about ideas for improving the handwashing- there should at least be a member of staff supervising them washing their hands at snack/lunch times. Make a suggestion that they could perhaps do some talk about this at carpet times.

OFSTED would be looking for how they promote healthy habits to the children, so that might encourage them to take it seriously. If they are one of these nurseries that opts to use that sanitising gel instead of handwashing- explain that they need to be teaching the children to wash their hands- it is in the EYFS & an OFSTED expectation that it is part of their provision.

Can I just say that my nearly 4 year old ds cant wipe his bum yet but my two year old dd can, so every child takes different time to do it. He just can't reach, whereas she can!
Hope she getting better with her worms, poor girl