AIBU...

[lilacdaisy611]

To think DD's nursery should make an effort to keep clothes clean during messy play like painting??

Like, put a smock on them? Let them play in their undershirt, etc.?

This is the second time DD has come home with a brand new jumper ruined by paint. Went straight in the wash with stain remover which helped but not enough.

I'm a little annoyed. Should I say something to them? Or am I dumb for sending her off in nice clothing to nursery?

I know they're all very busy and have the 3:1 ratio etc. but is that so much to ask? How hard is it to put a smock on??

Not sure it makes a difference, but DD is 15 months so will be awhile before she can do crafts without making a mess.

Or am I dumb for sending her off in nice clothing to nursery?

Yeah it’s this, YABU. Nurseries are normally very clear not to send babies in stuff that you don’t want ruining but to be honest it’s common sense. Tatty comfy clothes that you don’t mind getting stained are best.

Oh god yes. Nursery never put on an apron, my DC come home caked in paint, mud, flour, shaving foam, chocolate... I do send him in old clothes, but even still. Sometimes we need to nip somewhere else after nursery and he's a state!

It should be washable paint.. rinse with cold water in the sink and it should come off. If you put it straight in the wash you’ll set the stain.

And yes, don’t send her in nice clothes!

TBF my DS refuses to wear them - he hates the elastic feeling around his wrists, BUT nursery have spoken to me about that and I said it's fine and for him to do things without the coverall thing on

Don't send her in new clothes or anything you would mind getting dirty.

There's a reason why lots of parents send their kids to nursery in older / second hand / otherwise wrecked clothes.......it's super common to get filthy at nursery, not least because they're learning how to eat; paint; share; be kind with art supplies.

My son sometimes paints in his vest, but often has random marks.

I used to know my older kid had had a great day based on how filthy he was!

Just don't send them in anything you're particularly attached to - easy peasy!

Why would you send her in a brand new jumper? Just get some old/cheap clothes for nursery that you don’t mind getting messy. YABU.

Sorry but YABU to send your child in in nice clothes.

Did the nursery never tell you this? I thought it was a given?

See, I have issues with this too 

I don't send DD in to nursery in anything fancy - her standard uniform is leggings, long-sleeved t-shirt and hoodie/jumper. However, I do have to buy these, therefore they are (initially) new. And although they're not mega-expensive (supermarket brands) it does make my heart sink when she comes home, like last week, with bright blue paint all over a brand-new yellow hoodie. It didn't come out, either.

And yes, I could buy second-hand, but for some reason the people in my area seem to expect quite a lot of money for old clothes on Marketplace, so faced with £12 for an old Boden jumper or £8 for a supermarket one, I'd rather buy a new supermarket one because it's cheaper, it's right there when I'm shopping and I don't have to trek to someone's house for it.

I'm with you, @lilacdaisy611 - I don't think it's too much to ask to put a smock on them for things like painting!

Clothes with paint stains aren't ruined. They are perfectly suitable for continuing to wear at nursery. I'd always send mine in basic cheap clothes that I didn't mind getting covered in paint/glitter/mud/glue or whatever else from the fun activities they did.

YABU, if they wont co-operate in wearing the smocks etc then they crack on. Generally you will be advised to wear suitable clothes for messy/outdoor play it is crucial for their development.

You say it's the second time that DC has come home covered in paint so you know it could happen, why send them in wearing a brand new jumper?

Stick to old or cheap clothes for nursery.

I mean, that would be nice but really just keep a supply of old/already slightly stained clothes for nursery.
Take a change of clothes if you need to go somewhere afterwards and don't let it worry you.
This is definitely a "don't sweat the small stuff" issue if she's otherwise happy and well cared for.

This sounds normal OP. Most people even have a category of clothes for nursery that are the old, cheap or already stained clothes.

You are being unreasonable . Don't send her in good clothes. A good nursery will allow the children access to messy play all the time, your child will get messy.

Old clothes for nursery, they get dirtier as they get older too OP.

I used to work in a nursery and we’d use smocks. Inevitably kids would get paint on their hands then wipe them on their clothes or refuse to wear a smock but really want to do painting or take it off to then come back to do more painting and repeat. Plus with the best intentions there are only a certain no of staff to children and only a certain amount of smocks.

We asked parents all the time not to send kids in nice clothes to only be ignored, it did my head in.

Could you imagine the parents reaction if we said to a child ‘sorry you can’t paint or do messy play today because mum has put you in your lovely new jumper and she doesn’t want it getting dirty’.

Why would you send your child to nursery in a new jumper? Send her in old stained clothes and then it’s not a problem if they get dirty and stained?

YABU, sorry!

My child sometimes won't put a smock on so he comes home pretty colourful some days.

I wouldn't put brand new clothes on him though so I don't mind.

YABVU

Isn't the first rule of nursery to send them in old clothes/clothes you don't mind getting dirty?

I remember someone telling me that the messier clothes the more fun that child probably had that day.

If we were going somewhere after nursery I'd either take or pack some extra clothes and put them in a separate part of the bag from the usual spare clothes with a note saying not to use them.

Mmm, don't send them in good clothes.

But my dc comes home with non washable paint on his outdoor coat; regularly soaked to the skin (in winter) such that coat and over trousers need washing daily (no kidding, we have two and alternate) and his brood clothes also somehow soaked. Arms caked in mud with a rash underneath, presumably due to not washing it off all afternoon.

He is a messy kid. DD always came home clean. But I think they ought to take better care of him.

Yes, YABU

YABU to send them to Nursery in new things or things you don't mind getting mucky.
YABU to think that putting an apron on a tiny child stops their clothes getting mucky.
YABU to think they don't put aprons on them in Nurseries. I mean, I don't know your Nursery, but every other Nursery I have been in (which is a lot)