Why can't nurseries deal with "spillages" ?

[pookamoo]

DD is starting nursery next week and will be taking a combination of formula and expressed breastmilk for her feeds. She is 1.

Today the nursery told me that the water for her formula will need to be prepared in advance by us at home and sent in a cool bag. They will add the formula powder (which we also supply in measured pots).

However, if there is a leak of water, they are "not allowed" to deal with the spillage. They can't just boil a kettle and let it cool and make new water for the formula, they would have to phone me at work and get me to go there and do it.

Why is this? I didn't get the chance to ask her.

Its all to do with legal stuff/regulations/care commission etc..2 b perfectly honest it prop involves a whole load of paperwork n hassle!! Ive been a nursery nurse for 10yrs n 2 b honest the past few yrs have seen legalities n PCs gone crazy!! Itz sadly more to do with "keeping yourself/company right" than providing high quality childcare...not all places r like this i hasten 2 add!!! Itz a sad day when an experinced, qualified nd vetted person cant 4 example administer bonjela 2 a child in pain due to leagal stuff!! hope this helps however i would ask them their personal reason as well x

I wouldn't send my child to a nursery incapable of preparing cooled boiled water for children. They are supposed to have covered food hygiene, etc, in training, and therefore there is no legal reason I can think of why this should not be possible.

However DH (who is a legal type) says you should write to the head of the organisation asking them to cite the exact bit of health and safety legislation they reckon they are basing their policy on. That should put them on the spot.

I had another thought though. Parents are all too often cowed by lazy and complacent organisations invoking laws that don't exist in the name of 'elf n' safety/child protection/data protection. If parents stood up for themselves and held the nursery to account for every drop accidentally spilled, suing them for associated transport costs and/or loss of earnings, then I reckon this nonsense would stop sharpish, don't you?

they want you to bring your own water????

in a bag????

really?

Having thought about it a bit more, I think it's almost even one for the local paper, it's that daft!

my nursery provides

formula
fresh cooked meals
nappies
do the children's washing apart from a fri
will give calpol

I would NEVER take water in in a bag for my ds!!!

Actually that is contrary to current advice on how to make up formula anyway . They should be making up formula with hot boiled water in order to kill of any pathogens in the powder and THEN cool rapidly for giving to baby. This would take care of leakage probel as no need for storage of water anyway. Or they could ask for you to provide milk in ready to use cartons - more expensive but gets around problem.

Ooh had a google and found this. www.dwrcymru.com/English/library/publications/milk%20guidance/english.pdf

It has specific guidence for care settings on making formula in advance and storing safely. Nowhere is it recommended to have bottles of cooled boiled water anymore. its either made up formula very chilled and heated to very hot,ready made cartons or a flask of boiling water, making up as you go is best advice due to pathogens in milk powder however.

of course i meant to say this

that is mental. I have never heard of a nursery with such a stupid policy.

If I were you I would change nursery, as it would signal to me that they would call you about any stupid little thing rather than taking initiative. Working whilst your children are in day care is stressful enough without worrying about that too. (Partic as it is likely to involve taking time off work - which can cause issues with bosses etc).

formula should be made up with hot, hot water, not cooled boiled water

you could take ready made cartons

you could not bother, and just give EBM

you could not bother an just give cows milk as she is 1

formula shouldn't me made with cooled water, give them ready made cartons.

Why bother with formula? Let her have cows milk at nursery and EBM at home?

Good point about them breaking protocols about the preparation of formula - I think it's worth mentioning this as their pseudo health and safety based edict runs the risk of actually damaging the children's health.