Help - cloth nappy legislation?
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Forum Name: Cloth Nappy Discussion
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Topic: Help - cloth nappy legislation?
Posted By: kiwivic
Subject: Help - cloth nappy legislation?
Date Posted: 04 August 2008 at 11:18am
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My sister has a 7mth old little boy who has been in MCN's since birth. He's been in part time daycare since he was 5mths old and his carers have always been happy to use his pocket nappies, however she has recently had to enrol him in a brand new centre because her current centre can't provide all the hours she needs. When visiting the new centre last week she informed them that he wore MCNs and they told her that he'd have to wear disposables while with them because they didn't have the proper approved legislation required to be able to deal with cloth nappies??!!! What the heck does that mean? All they have to do is wrap it up in a wetbag and pop it in his bag. My sister is really upset and has asked for my help. She had 2wks before he's due to start so I told her I'd find out as much as I could before then. I'm also going to ask at my son's daycare (who are pro-cloth) if they have any idea what this new centre is talking about.
Any help or ideas would be greatfully accepted!! Vic xx ------------- 
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Replies:
Posted By: Bel
Date Posted: 04 August 2008 at 11:39am
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Hey Vic, No ideas about legislation (tho sounds a bit weird to me!) but just noticed your ticker!! Congratulations!! Come join us in the March mums!! ------------- Mum to two beautiful kids 
Luke (09.11.2007) Amy (01.04.2009) |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 04 August 2008 at 12:19pm
| Some day cares do have nappy policies. I went and visited some last week. Some were very anti cloth and 1 was completely fine with it saying that there is no hygiene issue provided the parents provide somewhere for the nappies to go and take them home every day which is just common sense stuff. Some places just don't want to try so they come up with bogus excuses I think |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 04 August 2008 at 12:50pm
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It isn't a cloth nappy legislation it is their health and hygiene code that they have to work under. I honestly think daycares are full if it when they say they can't do cloths at daycare. Most of them thing old school flat whites so they think they have buckets fulled with napisan in their change room - which yes is dangerous. But MCN are dry pailed so no problems. Talk to the local ministry of health people about it and also the local ministry of education about it. I think the ministry of education are looking at changing policies so that DC's do look at letting parents use MCN's at daycare. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 04 August 2008 at 1:09pm
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Yeah I also think that they are just making excuses, I think a lot of centres just don't realise what MCNs are like and think they will be too much hard work when in reality they are just as easy to use as a disposable. All I had to provide at Spencer's centre was a wetbag, they would pop the nappy in there and then put it in his bag, no different to what centres do with dirty/wet clothes. ------------- 
 
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Posted By: Mum2ET
Date Posted: 04 August 2008 at 1:49pm
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I agree with CT- sounds like they are just making excuses to me. I have just enrolled Ella in a new daycare, they provide the sposies so am happy for Ella to wear them there, but I asked if they were OK if I sent Ella in the morning wearing a MCN and the centre mgr had absoultely no problems with it. ------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Posted By: Mazzy
Date Posted: 04 August 2008 at 2:06pm
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It does depend though on the daycare and how much space they have for storing nappies/how their system works. Hopefully Nikkiwhyte will come in here to read this 'cos I think she just investigated something similar with a Wellington daycare and found out a bit more about some of the difficulties they can have ie: bags at kid level so can't store nappies in there and sposies go straight outside into a bin through a rubbish chute = no where for cloth to be used or stored.
Most centres should be able to use cloth but some have space issues and actually can't because of the health regulations, which is what they might be talking about in this case. ------------- Mum to two gorgeous girls! |
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 04 August 2008 at 2:35pm
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There is no legislation as such... all the centres have to do is have a policy regarding nappies. Unfortunately most aren't in line with modern cloth and so cite that as a reason for not allowing MCN but TBH I think that's a load of crap and a cop-out.
The centre I was dealing with has space issues as Mazz said. They are going to bring it up again at the next supervisor's meeting but I don't hold out much hope. The manager made mention of the fact that if they have a policy of accepting cloth nappies then it has to allow for 100% cloth use. Which I think is also a load of rubbish as you are never (unfortunately) going to get 100%! (But I sort of understand the logic). At this stage apparently it is dependent on the supervisor so if you can convince them then you are in. My advice is to take them along and offer to do a demo. Provide a zipped wet bag with an essential oil insert and make it as easy as possible to use cloth. Most are fairly receptive to it once they see the modern options. And, it's sneaky as hell, but I'd not be above bandying around the whole 'reacts to the chemicals in disposables' thing. 
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Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 04 August 2008 at 7:30pm
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Our daycare said the same thing about 100% of the centre being in cloth I WISH!!!!
Perhaps when I'm pregnant with #2 and will sign him/her up there then I'll start my crusade to sway them even if it means getting hubby to build them an MCN friendly nappy change area ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
 
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Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 04 August 2008 at 9:05pm
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Sounds like they were just using fancy words to put her off.
Congrats on the pregnancy Vic aww you get to buy little newborn nappies
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Posted By: kiwivic
Date Posted: 04 August 2008 at 10:45pm
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Many thanks - I agree with you all and have passed this info on to my sister. I also checked with the supervisor at Leo's childcare and he said that although a centre has the right to refuse cloth there is no reason why they couldn't and shouldn't allow it. He also suggested going along for a demo and explaining exactly what they were using and how they would be dealt with.
Thanks Bel & Rach - it's very early days but we're just chuffed to be expecting again  -------------
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