Is it unreasonable to expect childminders / nurseries to avoid food stains on clothes?

[UnsureIsMyMiddleName]

My baby comes home most days with food stains on her clothes, and it’s often things like turmeric which are really hard (if not impossible!) to get out.

I completely understand that babies get messy and I’m not expecting her to come home spotless – general dirt and mess is fine and washes out. But food stains feel a bit different, especially when they’re permanent and ruin outfits.

I’m wondering if this is just something that comes with nursery/childminders and I should accept it, or whether it’s reasonable to expect a bit more care in this regard?

Would you say something?

Honestly, I'd just send her in older stuff or charity shop clothes on days you know they're doing messy food. That's what most of us end up doing and it just takes the stress out of it completely.
Nurseries are brilliant at so many things but laundry protection is not really on their radar when they've got 8 babies all eating at once! They do use bibs but turmeric will beat any bib, that stuff is basically yellow dye.
I wouldn't say anything personally - not because you're wrong exactly, but because it's one of those things where even if they agreed with you nothing would really change, and you might feel a bit awkward at pickup for a while.
Save the nice outfits for weekends. It's a bit annoying but it honestly becomes second nature quite quickly.

Nursery clothes are supposed to be the ones you don't mind getting all sort on.
Just buy vinted or marketplace bundles and it doesn't matter.

DS2 comes home with all sorts and muddy knees usually. To me it's a sign he's having fun!

Whiteboard marker either hairspray, isopropyl alcohol or hand sanitiser.

Highlighter pen try above or nail polish remover

Not just children who get covered in things in an education setting 😂

Many people have separate clothes for nursery that will be stained and ruined.

I've had to accept that nursery clothes don't survive! As long as they are clean, I don't worry if they are stained, and I keep home and nursery clothes separate.

Yabu. Children who are being kept clean are not having fun, and aren't learning anything useful other than how to keep clean. Keep a few sets of old stained clothes that are worn on childcare days and don't worry about it as you know they are going to get mucky.

Wait until baby is a toddler!

I love it when mine come back covered in paint/mud etc - as I am sure others have said, it shows they've had fun.

We do a lot of activities at home for which they (and any child at mine) have home clothes - gives them freedom.

Weaning babies should be playing and exploring with food anyway. Which is messy.

YABU, we had a phrase in Early years 'There is no such thing as inappropriate weather or activity, only inappropriate clothes'

You really need manage your expectations for the next 18 years of cookery projects, football clubs, art classes, leaky pens, cycling, camping, going to the beach, Halloween, fun fairs, puberty and so much more. There's a reason they market soap powder to mothers.

I’ve worked in a school where there was a framed filthy school uniform in the entrance with labels on it showing the experiences that led to the stains.

And actually, I’ve just remembered that I once had a child in a reception class whose mother went mad if he got paint on him or mud. He loved to paint, he was four! She wanted me to stop him from painting and I said I wasn’t going to. He would get upset if he was tidying outside and had to carry the tyres or pallets in case he got muddy. I’d forgotten about him until now.

That’s a bit sad

Of course YABU

This doesn't stop and nor should it. My 6 year old came home from holiday club yesterday absolutely filthy and all I said was that it looks like she's had a brilliant time.

Messy play is central to child development. I'd be careful about inhibiting your child's play (or feeding) by commenting on the state of her clothes.

Unclench OP Just have a nursery wardrobe and let her wear the stained clothes there.

Spray 'Elbow Grease' on the turmeric stain, breaks it up brilliantly prior to washing. Children get grubby, it is in their job description 😆

The only person I know who doesn’t have a Nursery Wardrobe always has immaculately dressed DC but also huge personal debt.

The turmeric is unusual if it’s a regular problem. As others have suggested, nursery clothes are the way to go but would it be possible to dress her in a protective smock? You can get very pretty ones

Always had nursery clothes for DC

I very quickly learned to send my DD to nursery in clothes that I didn't care about. She had specific nursery outfits

Get her white clothes and then wash them in the machine with hydrogen peroxide on a hot wash with the usual soap etc and that gets everything out

Totally unreasonable.
that’s why my kid has nursery clothes and I am always stocked up on stain remover.

@UnsureIsMyMiddleName
To remove turmeric and curry stains use glycerin available in the baking aisle.

YABU send in cheap clothes rather than ‘outfits’

YABU

YABU.

Teach her to eat neatly and not spill her food all over herself. It's really easy...