Would you send your 1 year old to a nursery where staff smoke during breaks?

[DesignMamma]

I went to see a nursery yesterday, where I am going to enroll my 1 year l old, I noticed staff smoking during their lunch break. I am all for people doing what they want during their breaks, however what I am worried about is smoke still being on clothes etc. Any mums out there with similar experiences with their nurseries? Thanks

Nope, find somewhere else

@DesignMamma

I went to see a nursery yesterday, where I am going to enroll my 1 year l old, I noticed staff smoking during their lunch break. I am all for people doing what they want during their breaks, however what I am worried about is smoke still being on clothes etc. Any mums out there with similar experiences with their nurseries? Thanks

Clearly you are absolutely NOT all for people doing what they want on their breaks, why pretend you are?

No.

Yes and anyone who says no needs to get a serious grip, especially if you live in a city.

I dont live in the city, but as well as it being a disgusting habit I think it's really unprofessional to have your staff smoking within view of parents.

My nursery had smokers. I only knew this as they used to catch the same bus as me. It didn't bother me. As for third hand smoke I doubt they would be around one individual little one in close enough proximity for any significant length of time.
The nursery was on a busy road and if I really thought about it the traffic was probably a bigger risk of polluting my PFB than a quick cuddle with a nursery nurse.

I've worked in a very nice nursery in the past, there were more smokers than non. We had to leave our tabards inside and go around back into the field. Nothing about gum or body sprays.
Same thing when I worked in a hospital tbh. My bosses favourite job in recovery was cuddling the kiddies and she smoked at least a pack a day.

As long I didn’t see the staff smoke and they all looked tidy enough.

Yes I would firstly it’s their lunch break... and you may have some small issues over the next 3 years or so OP.

Pick your battles wisely.

Sorry if this post offends anyone, it's all new to me looking for child care facilities, having visited many nurseries / childminders the last few weeks I noticed many have smoking policies in place for their staff (i.e no smoking on nursery ground and change of clothes etc). The nursery where I saw staff smoking in front of the nursery (was also next to a no smoking sign, as its part of a public kids play area) they do not have a smoking policy in place.

When I was a young my (non-smoking) grandma unfortunately passed from lung cancer due to passive smoking, so yes perhaps I am over thinking it. If I had a choice I would pick a nursery (for my child under the age of 2) where they have a smoking policy in place as oppose to one which doesn't.

Thank you for everyone comments and feedback it's good to see what everyone's opinion is, after all isn't Mumsnet a place where we all can express our own views and opinions,
whilst supporting each other.

It would put me off. My D.C. has been at nursery for 2 years and I saw one member of staff smoking about a year into D.C. settling in. If I'd seen them smoke before I put D.C. in nursery I wouldn't have chosen that setting. But as it was a year later, I couldn't be bothered changing nursery do just shrugged it off.

You'd never normally know and I say that as a former Nursery Manager.

You can't dictate what people
choose to do on their breaks and if employing a Nanny, yes absolutely, you have a say. But not in a Nursery I'm afraid.

As a non smoker I get it. It's absolutely disgusting and I hate anyone around my children who has been smoking. They stink . On their clothes , breath and everything. It's rank.

But as a parent you would never normally know. You just happened to see someone op outside having a cigarette on their break.

Over twenty years I have worked in many nurseries as well as now working on the other side of ten fence and there are lots of people who work with children who smoke. And that's just fact.

It’s not ideal but I don’t think you can stop staff doing what they want on their lunch break unfortunately.

It would be a no from me. I know they don't smoke around the kids but it clings to clothes.

All the people saying no, did you ask this before sending your children to nursery.

@lboogy

It would put me off. My D.C. has been at nursery for 2 years and I saw one member of staff smoking about a year into D.C. settling in. If I'd seen them smoke before I put D.C. in nursery I wouldn't have chosen that setting. But as it was a year later, I couldn't be bothered changing nursery do just shrugged it off.

Same/ DC love the nursery, doubt I could guarantee a non smoking nursery worker anyway. If I worked with 20 x3yr olds day in day out I’d prob be shooting up in my break screw the fags (joke)

How does the future you feel about teachers and teaching assistants smoking at school?

How would you know?
Most nurseries have staff smoking outside on their breaks, it's not illegal.
They should be asked to not stand directly on the front or near the building though.
I'm not even sure you can even ask.

What about teachers, doctors, nurses, activity organisers, or any other adult they may come into contact with.
You could always look after them yourself.

Devlesko

Love it 😅

I cannot believe some of the responses here. No way on gods earth. I have sent a temp nanny home when I realised she had been out wjth one of my kids in a buggy whilst smoking.

It's 2021. We know about health risks from secondary smoke! Allergies, asthma, ear infections etc. It stays on your clothes and hair you cannot get rid of it. Anyone who knowingly smokes and works with kids should not be allowed.

I do wonder how on earth children born in the 60s and earlier survived. My grandma smoked like a chimney, my mother ate lots of liver when pregnant (as did I), the things I read on here about parents panicking about things that were, a generation ago, perfectly normal is incredible.

I've lived 2 minutes walk from a nursery for over 10 years and for the vast majority of the time staff thought it was appropriate to stand near by smoking cigarettes in their uniforms. Now they make poor attempts to hide their tops while smoking cigarettes.

As a result I use a non-smoking childminder who lives further away.

However when my DD goes to school she will find that she knows a couple of neighbours who she randomly sees vaping, though she hasn't noticed.

Anyway at some point your child will be in the care of smokers.

What about teachers, doctors, nurses, activity organisers, or any other adult they may come into contact with
This.

I appreciate your anxiety but but you can’t police every little thing if you are going let your children do anything outside the home. How do you feel about staff with a mild hangover, or someone who has taken strong painkillers due to a migraine?

Good childcare is rare, if you liked the nursery otherwise I’d use it. I’m sure the staff wash their hands after a break.

Good luck finding a nursery where they don't. Most nursery staff are at or close to minimum wage and from the social groups most likely to be smoking.

Wouldn't cross my mind if they smoke or not, and I wouldn't think anything of it if I saw them.