Incident at nursery

[Nickynoo88]

Hi mums,

Just wanted to ask for advice. Upon collecting my 16 month old daughter from nursery I was given an incident form. They advised that she had eaten another child's poo, and it only became apparent when she walked over to a member of staff with poo in her hands and around her mouth.

I am devastated and whilst I understand things can happen I just can't help but feel let down that it was allowed to happen.

What would other parents do?

Thanks

The incident form said just this and the remedies they did to clean her up. Highlighting she had no signs of illness throughout the day.

I was surprised a member of staff didn't call me so again will flag this up when I call them tomorrow.

I think I’d be asking to have a meeting with the manager and the member of staff who discovered what she’d done to find out exactly what led to it happening. It’s just not acceptable

Agree with others that it depends how this has happened- sticking her hand briefly in another child's nappy who was soiled - ok, access to nappy bin or stuff lying around - not ok!

Obviously nappy was loose and pooh fell out your lo got it before anyone realised. Not nice ....early morning could be that a parent didn't put it on right. Later a staff member or child can undo nappy....or it was a really loose pooh. Not sure exactly how they find out unless there is CCTV covering every area

The staff ratio is 1 to 3 but it can be over the building as well as including staff doing things like nappy changes, cleaning up lunch or mess, setting up lunch, supervising activities, writing up paperwork, seeing to sick children, talking to parents, settling children.....endless list....they don't walk around behind children watching for pooh drops.

I would have expected a phone call for this. I'd want a meeting and an explanation

If it were my child, she would be out!

Have you written about this nursery before? Did your DD have an accident involving a really nasty chin cut a few months ago?

Either way, nah - I'd be pulling my child out and looking for a different nursery. Having your 16month old eat another child's poo is not part of the normal - 'oh well it happens' sort of thing that parents might apply to other nursery mishaps.

I'd be complaining and leaving. For me, I'd be thinking - they just aren't watching her closely enough and/or the hygiene standards are horrendous.

If the story was, your daughter and another child were both having a nappy change and your DD put a hand in a nappy and touched their face but the nursery staff cleaned it immediately etc I could see that, and how that might happen but for her to he walking around with poo on her hand and in her mouth and around her face- I mean come on - no one had eyes on her.

So for me, she wouldn't be going back and I'd be on the phone getting Grandparents to come and calling other nurseries and childminders to find a spot for her.

Maybe some might think I'm over reacting but nah - that's too much. In a professional setting where you're probably paying ££££ per month you expect your child not to be in the vincity of or able to eat actual feaces.....

They should of phoned you straight away and explained what happened. That’s not exceptable.

I'd want them to explain how she had access to another child's poo. Surely they have one of those nappy bins that you can't pull nappies out of (have to open entire top to replace the bin bag). They knew it wasn't hers, so where was the source? If it was from a child whose nappy was in the process of being changed an adult would surely have seen her and stopped her.

I have two kids who've gone through nursery and a close friend who has worked in a nursery for years and talks a lot about work. Never heard of a child being doing this or being able to. I know it happens and don't think it's particularly unusual behaviour by children that age, which is why it should be made impossible for it to happen.

I more mean that I would be more forgiving of this if it was in one of the nursery rooms that has more children to staff. Considering the room that OPs child is in should offer the highest level of supervision the nursery can provide I think that makes it worse that this was able to happen.

Why are people assuming the pooh came from a nappy bin? That is very unlikely it is more likely to have dropped from a nappy to the floor

Are babies wandering around in just nappies with no clothes at nurseries then?

@WunWun - wearing dresses / skirts (without tights in the warmer weather) or even baggy shorts provides an escape route if the nappy leaks at the leg band.

Babies in summer are often dressed by parents in loose shorts and dresses many parents also put babies in massive gaping nappies I've had average size 16 month olds wearing bigger nappies than a 30 month old. The looser the nappy the more chance of leaks....and nappy pants frequently move exposing a butt cheek as the child moves around.

I'm always amazed by the number of children in rear facing car seats that go up to a max weight of 15kg but nappies designed for 18 kg children and parents saying the nappy keeps leaking I better buy bigger.

This is pretty shocking. I think the nursery does need to provide an explanation. If they can't explain I would contact Ofsted.

I'm not sure why other posters are brushing this off as normal. You can become very unwell from eating faeces, even your own (hep A can be transmitted through poo for example). I hope your DD is okay.

OP, have you spoken to them now? @Nickynoo88

Who's brushing it off? The issue is did the nursery tell the op within a reasonable time to seek medical advice? Do they know if pooh was an accident ie fell out of nappy or a potty training accident(most likely) or due to bad waste management and hygiene?
Why was everyone jumping to the baby must have got to the nappy bin?

There isn't a time limit on seeking medical advice for this. And it's pretty clear that OP should have been contacted immediately and a full investigation undertaken.

Update: I have made a formal complaint to the nursery and the incident is currently under investigation within the management team.

Upon further questioning to the room manager, she has advised that the children were eating banana on the mat after waking up from a lunch time sleep. One of the children had no trousers on as it was warm weather and was just wearing a nappy. However it appears that there was a leakage and the staff member picked the child up to change their nappy. They were unaware that any had fallen onto the floor and my daughter thought it was banana!

This is their version of events and the manager has even questioned whether it was poo but they were airing on the side of caution. This was never explained to me on the day and to be honest I feel as though they are backtracking.

Thanks to most of the comments that were helpful. My daughter has shown no signs of Ill health and will not be returning to the nursery until the outcome of the investigation.

Thanks for the update OP. I'd probably agree, sounds like backtracking!

Hope you managed to find good childcare quickly. What a stress for you!