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Nurseries

Find nursery advice from other Mumsnetters on our Nursery forum. For more guidance on early years development, sign up for Mumsnet Ages & Stages emails.

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Original poster

Filthy clothes from nursery

41 replies

Taybz · 19/06/2023 14:25

My 20 month has recently started nursery. I didn't realise how filthy his clothes would come back (ftm mum here). I'm talking paint marks and food stains top to toe. They don't seem to put a bib on them when eating or an apron when eating. Is this the norm? I've got a few ruined clothes on my hand now - what do you dress your kids in for nursery? I'm seriously considering putting together a nursery uniform of just black cheap clothes! Any suggestions please.

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Nearlyamumoftwo · 27/06/2023 15:22

Yes you need a nursery wardrobe and you should be concerned if they come home completely clean! The way I see it is if I was doing all the painting, crafts, planting flowers, cooking etc at home my boy would get dirty so the same should be happening there!

Hugasauras · 27/06/2023 15:24

Vinted is good for this. I got a whole nursery clothes set for DD2 for under a tenner.

FlounderingFruitcake · 27/06/2023 15:24

This is why it always confuses me when people complain about school nursery uniforms! They’re the best thing ever as they save your own clothes. In the meantime though hit the George at Asda sale rail and keep the nice clothes for non nursery days.

princesscaraboo · 27/06/2023 16:52

You need to have a "uniform" of sorts for nursery. Only those to be worn as they will get wrecked pretty easily.

Caledoniadreaming · 29/06/2023 09:44

Second hand bundles off Facebook - I used to ask specifically for play wear and clothes that were almost destined for the bin, people just want shot of stuff by this point so often will give it away or ask for a nominal amount. My son's nursery is an outdoor nursery so he comes home filthy pretty much every day - I'd rather that than a pristine child if I'm honest.

TheSnailAndTheWaaaail · 29/06/2023 09:47

Yeah they get pretty filthy at nursery, I very quickly learnt to send mine in old/tatty/already stained clothes a lot of the time! As long as they had a regular nappy change and were changed out of wet clothes I didn't mind anything else and took it as a sign they'd been doing plenty of activities!

Stinkyredrose · 29/06/2023 09:50

Keep nursery clothes separate from normal clothes.

Whatever you do, don't take DC straight from nursery to hospital appointments. I made that mistake and they asked me so many questions about why he was so filthy. I think they were concerned about neglect. I was mortified!!

LemonLimeDivine · 29/06/2023 10:04

Mine comes back grubby but happy. Lots of playing outside, forest school and creative activities. Definitely get a cheap nursery wardrobe.

Aurora83 · 07/07/2023 06:14

I got a second hand bundle from Vinted for nursery :)
also with stains I use something like vanish spray (well a supermarket brand one is cheaper..) and if stain is still there hang it out in the sun… the sun is magic lol
if it’s still there after sun oh well!

Perfect28 · 07/07/2023 06:23

I mean surely nobody puts a toddler in nice clothes anyway unless it's a wedding or something? Clothes are practical to keep warm and cover up, expect them to get messy...

drunkpeacock · 07/07/2023 06:27

Yes definitely get old or cheap clothes that you don't mind getting dirty. The thing is, if the nursery are encouraging very small children to freely explore activities such as painting, planting or drawing then stopping them each time they show an interest in the activity in order to put an apron on them or fuss around with clothing will be counter productive. By the time the baby is "suitably dressed" they'll have lost interest.
That's where a lot of the mess comes in. It's a bit annoying as a parent but learn to see the mess as the result of a day spent exploring and it will help you feel less stressed.

Hibiscrubbed · 07/07/2023 09:23

I just got a load of cheap tees and shorts and trousers from H&M and they’re the nursery clothes.

Sending a child to nursery in anything you value if it got ruined would be madness…

SallySunrise · 07/07/2023 09:28

Yeah, this is pretty standard. It's the reason I buy most of my kid's clothes as bundles on vinted (they're 4 & nearly 2). I try to see it as a measure of how much fun they've had (and save new stuff for when they're with me).

tenbob · 07/07/2023 09:31

Multipacks of trousers and tops from Asda are our nursery ‘uniform’

Our nursery has a smock but they rarely keep it on all day, because it will get wet from water play and get taken off, then clothes get filthy from lunch etc

but that sensory experience is SUCH an important part of learning and development so the laundry is a small price to pay

crazylady121 · 07/07/2023 09:37

I worked in childcare and 12 babies in baby room.All wearing bibs and being helped to feed.As toddlers get older obviously more free range but still aprons on for painting and messy play.It depends on each nursery and also how organised and efficient the staff are.Best just have clothes especially for nursery.

Reugny · 07/07/2023 09:44

Perfect28 · 07/07/2023 06:23

I mean surely nobody puts a toddler in nice clothes anyway unless it's a wedding or something? Clothes are practical to keep warm and cover up, expect them to get messy...

Some people do.

I have no idea why.

Even when my daughter use to wear an all over bib with sleeves, she would manage to get food in between her bib and clothes.

She also would be caught painting random parts of her clothing by the CM, her nursery worker and myself.

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