Mouldy bottle from nursery

[babysleeper]

So, I'm about to start my DS at nursery and have had a few settling in sessions. I'm not overly happy with the setting as it is but that's a different story.
I picked him up yesterday from a 4 hour settle (longest so far) and was told he had drunk only an ounce of his milk. The worker offered me to take the bottle home so I happy said yes as it may settle him for the journey home.
When I got to the car I took the bottle out and I was shocked at how dirty it was. I looked closer and there was black 'stuff' in the teat and the bottle itself.

After showing DH we have come to the conclusion that it is black mould. We are really upset about this and I feel really disheartened about the nursery.

AIBU to seriously complain? How would you approach this?

Mould wouldnt develop over 4 hours so it is either someone elses bottle or it went in like that.

As Nap said.

Is it your bottle or their's?

Did you send pre-made formula and a sterile bottle?

Think you’re bottle went in like that or got swapped for someone else’s. Sounds like you’re not happy anyway so find a new setting

Totally agree with PPs! You might need to look to your own practices there OP. Why use a nursery you don't like too?

It can't be mould after only 4 hours.

No it wasn't our bottle it was the nursery bottle. I've worked in many nursery settings and we've shared bottles but obviously properly cleaned and sterilised. This clearly hadn't been cleaned properly... I'm assuming in quite a long time!

Change nursery if you’re so unhappy with it.

I would send in your own bottles. I would also highlight the problem to the nursery, as they may need to wash and sterilise all their spares. You will be able to tell by their response whether they are concerned about cleanliness generally.

@WanderingTrolley1 I don't have the option to change the nursery unfortunately. But wouldn't you be unhappy with that? I don't feel like I'm being fussy. I wouldn't even expect an adult to drink out of such a dirty cup:
Yes you're probably right I will look at how the reactions are thanks.

That's awful! Definitely complain. And send in your own bottles in future. Yuk.

This is wrong, it should not have happened, but it does need to be seen in context. All we know is that it’s a one-off mistake. It would be all too easy to get this out of proportion, especially as you already have some unstated reason to dislike this particular establishment.

Certainly raise the issue with nursery. I’d keep some photographic evidence just in case of dispute. You may wish to make a formal complaint, in which case you must ask for their complaints policy and follow it. They should then respond in writing within so-many days, and tell you how to escalate if you are not satisfied with their response.

You’re within your rights to notify your local Environmental Health Officer, since the nursery must be registered with them as a food business. They’ll then probably contact the nursery, but I wouldn’t expect them to visit unless it already has a poor record or a string of complaints.

Strictly speaking, you could complain to Ofsted, but it's a bit early for that. Ofsted would expect you to have followed the nursery’s complaints procedure first. If this is a one-off or first incident of its kind, Ofsted are unlikely to make much of it.

Why are you stuck with a nursery you don't like have you really explored all options including different types of settings like childminders? Are you on waiting lists for somewhere you like better?

The bottle is disgusting, ive seen many juice beakers, bottles and lunch packs brought in by parent like this, could it have been a mix up? I would point it out and bring in my own labelled bottles whilst seeking out a different setting.

Thankyou for the replies. I didn't think about Environmental Health but I will be keeping an extra eye on cleanliness as he starts!
My job role links me to the setting so if I can't send him there then I will have to find another job. This may be something I have to do but money and situation wise I can't right now. I know that the nursery will improve and has a lot to offer with the right support, but the dirtiness of the bottle did shock me.

Thanks again! And we will deffo be being our own bottles!

'No it wasn't our bottle it was the nursery bottle. I've worked in many nursery settings and we've shared bottles but obviously properly cleaned and sterilised'

Shared bottles

Never

if be concerned about the wider picture
if they have such a practice re dirty bottles what else is going on or not going on.

I have never ever ever heard of bottles being shared.

Take your child elsewhere.

Huge red flag. Communal bottles should be throughly washed and sterilised. If it looks like that how long has it been since it was lay done properly. Clearly not a one off. Don't send your child there. It would be neglectful and for gods sake report it.

Shared bottles? This happens? Yuck.

Let me guess, they get sick all the time?

Shared bottles?? Oh my word!

It's not normal to have shared bottles
I run a nursery and parents have to send in clean sterilized bottles and powder measured out separately
We don't even have spare bottles