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Nurseries

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Original poster

Wiping bums at pre school

15 replies

Jic · 13/01/2009 23:19

DD just started pre school- she is 2.6 and toilet trained. When I was settling her in and going through a few things with the staff, they told me that they don't wipe them after going to the toilet, they only help them onto the toilet and help them wash their hands. They said they are to touch them as little as possible. I understand there are all sorts of rules and regulations these days to protect both kids and staff, but sometimes I think it goes too far. I mean how is a 2.6 yo supposed to reach and wipe themselves properly? Wee is one thing, she can just pull her knickers up, but what happens when she has a poo? Does anyone's 2.6 manage to wipe themselves?

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hester · 13/01/2009 23:21

That is absolutely ridiculous. Would love to hear if that's widespread. (dd is 3.3, by the way, and can't wipe herself, and I absolutely assume it is done for her at pre-school.)

MumHadEnough · 13/01/2009 23:25

Thats awful! Surely they can "help" the wee ones, I mean even if the kids is doing it themselves they can give them loo roll, help them to do it etc.

Bloody ridiculous!

Original poster

Jic · 13/01/2009 23:27

So silly, isn't it. I was shocked when they said it to me, because like you, i totally assumed that they would do it. other things like they are not allowed to give cuddles/sit on laps/show any affection etc shocked me too- what's going on these days, it's gone PC mad!

OP posts:

EachPeachPearMum · 13/01/2009 23:28

DD (2.11) is at nursery and has been toilet trained since she was 2.3
She is expected to go to the loo, and wipe herself. Most of the time its fine, but sometimes she doesn't do a great job.
I have told her to ask if she is having difficulty- at home I still help her- I'd much rather she was clean than sore!

It is only the last couple of months that she has been expected to do it herself though.

hester · 13/01/2009 23:43

I really hate the thought that dd might not get cuddled at school when she wants or needs it. I would so much rather run the risk of one of her teachers being dodgy than having all of them not being able to interact with her warmly and sensitively.

I volunteer at a creche and have noticed I'm the only one who does cuddle distressed children. I intend to carry on until they tell me not to. And then I will leave.

DwayneDibbley · 13/01/2009 23:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Foxy800 · 14/01/2009 06:49

Hi there,
I work in a day nursery and if the children ask for help or if we know they need help then we will happily help them.
We do encourage them to have a try but dont make them do it if they cant!!!

2sugarsandapuppy · 14/01/2009 06:55

Aww. DD2 was late in learning, but the nursery manager's exact words were 'she's done it all'. I would expect them to help. That was poo and wee, btw.

purepurple · 14/01/2009 07:35

while wiping your own bum is a very important life skill, up there with wiping your nose and recognising your name, as a nursery nurse I am there to care for children and wiping their bum is part of that. I'm not too keen on it, so I do get them to try to do it for them selves, but I always check and help if needed. When you change a nappy you have to touch intimate areas so I can't understand the reluctance of staff to wipe bums. What a sad world we have created

DaisyMooSteiner · 14/01/2009 07:54

I would consider raising this with the management of the pre-school and if you don't get a satisfactory response turning it into a formal complaint, as if they are not wiping pooey bums they are not meeting the child's physical needs and putting him/her at risk IMHO.

Bucharest · 14/01/2009 08:17

A friend of mine had this- it's something to do with health and safety and not being accused of DailyMailPaedophiliaParanoia etc....ie utterly bonkers. At her son's preschool they send nappies home full of sh*t as well. When she asked the manager she was told it was for everyone's well-being. (everyone, presumably, apart from the small one with the sore backside from not having wiped properly)

purepurple · 14/01/2009 14:51

health and safety my arse they could always try wearing disposable gloves

tankie · 14/01/2009 17:48

Is the pre-school different from a nursery? I've worked in 2-3 rooms in nurseries and we changed nappies and wiped bums as needed (with gloves on), disposed of dirty nappies and gave children cuddles and affection whenever they wanted it.

Foxy800 · 14/01/2009 18:51

That is what we use purepurple, we use disposablegloves.

juneybean · 16/01/2009 23:48

How ridiculous, we don a pair of disposable gloves and wipe them down if need be in my nursery.

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