Cloth Nappies at Daycare
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Forum Name: Cloth Nappy Discussion
Forum Description: Are you new to cloth nappies? Looking for washing tips? Want to rave about a great new nappy you've tried? By popular request a board especially for all our cloth Mums!
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Topic: Cloth Nappies at Daycare
Posted By: bifnlins
Subject: Cloth Nappies at Daycare
Date Posted: 20 May 2010 at 9:04pm
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Anyone have any experience of or know anyone using cloth nappies at daycare?
Need some practical advice/suggestions to convince my daycare to let me use cloth nappies because disposables are causing really really nasty sore bum for my poor wee boy. I have already asked but they say no because of hygiene and storage of dirty nappies issues - presume they mean no space for storage |
Replies:
Posted By: Mama-Me
Date Posted: 20 May 2010 at 9:07pm
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I would send enough nappies for each day in a school bag plus a wet bag for the dirty ones to be put in. ------------- http://www.thebabyview.com/" rel="nofollow - The Baby View for mums who love to shop |
Posted By: angel4
Date Posted: 20 May 2010 at 9:31pm
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We use cloth nappies at preschool. I send enough cloth nappies for the day, all made up in a school bag (i also put a cloth wipe inside each nappy for them to use ) and a wetbag. They don't do anything to the nappies just fold in half like disposable and put in the wet bag. They don't tip any poos or anything off, which is fine with me. They did say they would except that they would then have to have a special sink or something for hygiene purposes. It works ok.
Seems a bit of a cop out on your daycares part in my opinion. Especially given he is reacting to the disposables. Seems a bit slack and a little mean to your wee boy |
Posted By: E&L+1
Date Posted: 21 May 2010 at 9:31am
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We use cloth at daycare. We are the first who have so it is a new experience for them but they have been more than happy to work with us. When I was looking at different DCs one of my questions was will you use cloth and only one had an outright no.
Here is what they expect which is all fair on there part. 1. I provide a zipped wet bag or lidded container. 2. I provide some desposibles to use in emergency 3. We use fitted/pocket MCNs so that they are easy to put on and preferably use velcro, I have to make them up to start the day. Some DCs request flushable liners to be used as well. I have got some MyBaby ones from TM that I use and have been fantastic for DC and cheap so it doesn't matter if they get paint or something on them. I often use them at home too and don't get leaks or anything with them. The storage of the nappies doesn't take up much room at all so that shouldn't be a reason and the hygene issue is resolved with a sealed container. I don't expect them to rinse the nappies but any pooy ones are rinsed and put in a plastic bag then into the container. I would go and see your Dr and say you have noticed that DS has been getting nasty nappy rash when he is in desposibles which he has to wear at daycare. Ask the Dr to write you a letter stating that due to skin sensitivity that your DS must be in cloth for the majority of the day and that depsosible nappies must only be used in absolute emergency and not for x amount of hours in a row (so they don't just put the cloth on at the end of the day). If there is a medical reason for it they can't say no. I don't think they should be saying no anyway as it'll mean less waste for them to deal with! Also when you show them they often are more compliant when they realise they are just as easy as desposibles to put on. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 21 May 2010 at 9:56am
We go through Porse and an in-home carer, so a little different, but our lovely carer has taken on the cloth nappies, and now reckons she personally wouldn't go back to sposies! 
I send two wetbags - one with clean nappies (pockets or SIO's, so easy to use), one for dirty nappies, and each day take home the dirty bag. Next day I restock the clean ones - and each nappy has a flushable liner in it ready to go. Nat's carer does flush the poo off, but being toddler poo, it just flicks off super-easily anyway 
When I was looking onto daycare centres, one I talked to said they wouldn't do cloth because it was "unhygenic"   I did ask how having dirty/wet cloth nappies in a sealed bag/container was any different to having dirty sposies sitting around in a (not-sealed) rubbish bin.....but that didn't go down very well! I think for some centres, they just haven't encountered MCN's before, so don't realise how simple they are, and in terms of storage, not really that different from sposies at all. Good luck, I hope they take on the challenge for you! I would also take some nappies in for them to see how easy they are.....might help sway them?-------------  
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Posted By: bifnlins
Date Posted: 21 May 2010 at 7:57pm
| Thanks evryone, must admit I didn't challenge their straight out no but they are now showing concern about his sore bum so think I'll show them how easy and just like dsposable my nappies are and see how I go |
Posted By: HuntersMama
Date Posted: 22 May 2010 at 12:01pm
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I am in the same boat as you, but my DS is yet to start daycare. They said they wouldnt use them because thye are unhygienic and they dont have the time to deal with them. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: MummaHuhu
Date Posted: 27 May 2010 at 6:22pm
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I've done some research on the daycares in our area and found that some of them still had old fashioned beliefs about cloth nappies.
If you are using MCN's and the AIO type, perhaps explain to them that they are just like disposables but cloth. Easy to put on, etc. If they still refuse I'd put to them the following facts: 1. They should be emptying disposables into the toilet anyway (as per the directions on the packet). 2. They should be washing their hands after every nappy change regardless of what type of nappy is used. 3. MCN's don't need to be soaked and storing them in a plastic bag/wet bag/secure bucket is no different to storing disposables in a rubbish bin. 4. If you are OK with it, perhaps suggest that they don't need to empty solids into the toilet, instead they could fold up the nappy like they do with a disposable and you can deal with the solids once home...again, this is no more unhygienic than the way they would store disposables. 5. There is no time difference in the changing and storing of dirty nappies whether it be cloth or disposable. I would ask exactly what they believe is unhygienic about cloth nappies as I found that some daycare managers were just lazy and the thought of MCN's was too much for them to deal with. There really should be NO EXCUSES as to why they won't accept them! And any reason that they give is just a fob off! Other daycares can and will do it, surely it can't be that much of hassle otherwise all daycares would say no. -------------   http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/MummaHuhu" rel="nofollow - Come on Huhu#3 ...~Chem Apr 13~ |
Posted By: gypsynita
Date Posted: 28 May 2010 at 10:48am
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we're the first to use cloth at our DC and they've had no probs with it at all. I put a supply of of clean nappies in his bag along with a wetbag to store the dirty ones in each day and take them home at the end of the day. We use flushable liners and they're happy to flush those, just have a roll I leave at DC and replenish when necessary.
ETA: i think it's probably just ignorance on your DC's part - maybe take a nappy and a wet bag in to show them how easy and hygenic they are? ------------- Anita Mum to Cian (Aug 08), Josh (Jun 10) http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 28 May 2010 at 11:07am
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One daycare I spoke to said their reason came down to the PITA factor. Their area where the kids bags were put was located somewhere else to their changing area and for safety and hygiene reasons they didn't want a random wetbag sitting around on the floor. They didn't want it to be tripped on and didn't want to go and put soiled nappies in the childs bag where the kids had access to their bags during the day to get hats etc from. And the older kids (2+) had access to this area as it had a couple of litle toilets in it and didn't want a wetbag sitting on the ground.
To be honest. I couldn't blame them for this and I think thats a reasonable reason. |
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 28 May 2010 at 12:20pm
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quite a few daycares so no..I'm not sure if its legal or not..i assume it is? it should be made clear before you start though so you know that.. but a lot of preschool do allow them now...at Ethan's last one there were almost as many in cloth:)
TBH i have worked in nurseries for years and never tipped poo down the loo...partly cause it is often not solid enough and teachers really dont have time for that.. if you are getting rid of the poo it is true you need a special sink thing.. cant remember the name.. having said that they also have to be providing a safe comfortable environment for the child so should allow whatever helps him get that.. though also if they clearly said no MCN's in the first place? it sucks as a parent but i can see it from both sides..:( ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: flakesitchyfeet
Date Posted: 28 May 2010 at 12:34pm
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It is most definately legal to say no. I have my wee one in disposables for kindy, cloth at home. I spent some time with another parent and centre management on this recently.
One bucket - not such an issue. But if they allow cloth for one it should be allowed for all. And when the parents were spoken to in consultation with introducing cloth, the resposes about how they expected the nappies to be looked after - wow! Some soaked, some didn't, some accepted they had so supply a sealable wet bag, some wanted them in plastic bags....the list goes on. If a child has a valid and in date doctors certificate, they are welcome to be in cloth. However if not they are not, and to be frank that's fair enough. When you consider the extra time that it will take a teacher off the floor for, the smells in that room, the room required for soaking buckets etc....its one big nightmare! Esp as at this kindy there is also a potty and wee loo in the nappy change room for the unders who have started toiltet training, and not a huge amount of floor space. I wouldn't want them in there with soaker buckets myself. I think you need to be a little more open minded to their POV. We only manage one, two, maybe three kids in cloth. They have to allow and be prepared for 20+ -------------  http://lilypie.com"> |
Posted By: flakesitchyfeet
Date Posted: 28 May 2010 at 12:42pm
Devils avocate.... 3. Really? Tell 20 sets of parents who all expect their brand of nappy to be treated a certain way that. We've tried with just 3 who all had very clear and different expectations of what centre staff will do. 4. Disposables are stored in a sealed bin with a plastic bag under a cupboard well away from the childs bags. The bin is cleaned often with disinfectant. I assume, to ensure the right nappies go home with the right child, that you'd want them stored in wetbags in the childs bag, with all of their other belongings. It doesn't sound quite so higenic to me. Remembering that some infecious illnesses, like hand foot and mouth for example, can be passed on via feaces, so it does carry a risk. And again, if you allow one in nappies without the med cert, you need to be ready to allow all. Convince 20 sets of parents that the nappies don't need loo emptying! 5. Depends on the type and brand. As I've said previously, my child is in cloth. I would love it if all centres went totally cloth! But I think it's important to lay off the management a bit and see why sometimes its just not practical. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> |
janiceilla wrote:Posted By: E&L+1
Date Posted: 28 May 2010 at 7:47pm
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Flake most of those issues would be addressed by having a clear policy on what the DC is prepared to do in regards to cloth. If the parents aren't happy then they choose to have their child in desposibles. The majority of the DC I went too have space to hang wetbags in or very near too the change area. All they would need to do would be provide hooks.
Obviously there will be DCs that will still say no but in this case there is a definate medical reason on why the child needs to be in cloth. My issue is that DCs don't have policies clearly outlining their stand on cloth which would help when parents are looking into centres. I must admit that one of my criteria for DC was that they would use cloth as my DD can suffer nappy rash if she is in desposibles too often. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: MummaHuhu
Date Posted: 28 May 2010 at 9:26pm
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EsmesMum basically covered the gist of what I've got to say.
The DC's I researched had a policy (whether formal or informal) around the use of cloth nappies at their centre. From what I can remember about the ones I queried some policies specified that the nappies provided needed to be easy to put on (i.e. not flats), some specified how they were going to store the nappies. Some daycares said buckets with lockable lids only, some said wetbags with names on them. If the parents weren't happy with the way the daycare was going to store/care for the the nappies then they didn't send their children in with cloth nappies. At least it was something. In terms of hygiene the same argument goes for the disposale of raw, untreated sewerage into into our landfills and the poor rubbish guys who have to deal with the occassional split bags all over the road... I can understand your concern in a DC environment but again, it comes down to how the DC wishes to manage the storage of dirty nappies. Another example, one I saw used wetbags stored in a bin next to the disposable bin. The wetbags had names on them and granted that this daycare didn't have many children in cloth nappies so it wasn't a hassle for them to find the childs wetbag. Another daycare stored the wetbags in a secure cupboard away from the childrens belongings. And from what I understood was that it was the parents responsibility to collect the wetbag from the bin/cupboard at the end of the day. Yes, perhaps it is not always practical, but agreeing with EsmesMum again DC's should have well thought-out policy in place to address these issues. ------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/MummaHuhu" rel="nofollow - Come on Huhu#3 ...~Chem Apr 13~ |