Soiled nappy not changed for 5 hours

[Mummyrere]

Hi there - my 2 and a half year old son started nursery today. He had two settling in days last week. This morning was his first morning from 8-1. When I picked him up he was very upset, as soon as I got home he said “nappy off” and laid down. When I changed his nappy it was caked with dried on poo. All of his bum, testicles etc were red raw and very sore. It was the same nappy I sent him in with. He’s been saying ouch today and I’ve smothered him in sudocreme. Obviously I’m very angry and emailed the nursery which said they was very shocked, when they asked the nursery team they said they had tried to change his nappy but he was annoyed and didn’t want them to. Which isn’t an excuse and they will make a formal complaint. I really feel upset at the first time leaving my son somewhere and this happens to him and the thought of him being uncomfortable and in pain. He’s meant to be in tomorrow and I’m crying this evening at the thought of him going in. Do I give another chance or is this something big enough to pull him out?

A soiled nappy is non negotiable whether a child wants it to be changed or not. I’d rather a child be upset or angry with me than to be left dirty and become sore. I don’t mind being the bad guy in this situation. To be honest, after the first few times kids normally find it far easier once they’ve built a level of trust and settled in a little. I make nappy changes as fun or as soothing as possible depending on what a particular child needs. Some like to be sang to, some like to be tickled under their arms and some like to be distracted by objects. It’s just finding what works and there’s so many tricks you can try.

my son was like a Tasmanian devil when he had his nappy changed. My son is autistic with sensory difficulties. We still had to change him though, it had to be done!

Leaving a child in a soiled nappy for that length of time is unacceptable, there’s no excuse for it whatsoever. If they really couldn’t manage to change him then you should have been called. He should not have been left in that state!