Potty Accidents

[Daycare Mommy]

As an aside, I don't consider it to be the parents job to deal with a potty accident that occurred while I was caring for their child. I feel like if I wasn't paying close enough attention to prevent the accident in the first place, then I should clean up the mess. I don't like to do it, but I will.

If a child is truly potty trained it's not your fault the accident occurred though. It's an accident and they can happen now and then no matter how diligent we are at reminding them, but with the amount of time it takes me to clean up the kid, wherever they hit, the bathroom, and myself the other kids are generally pretty restless or some may have gotten into trouble by the time I get back to the group. Doesn't seem fair to me to extend this cleaning period even longer to rinsing and/or running the washer to save the parents an extra outfit to wash tonight while everyone else is deprived of my attention. I'd say if I were a nanny then yes, it's my job. As a daycare provider though I'd argue all the way to termination that no it is not my job.

Also a question for those of you that do any form of cleaning or rinsing to the poopy underwear. How and where do you rinse?? I wouldn't know where to do it even if I felt it was my job without making an even bigger mess.

[momofsix]

I'll wash clothes if there's an accident. I can usually throw it in with a load of my own, and it doesn't bother me, and it is something that the parents have said they really appreciate (and how often do they say that!) If poop is "formed" I just dump it in the toilet and wash the underwear in the machine. If it is really gross, I throw the underwear out (with the parents' total agreement--they don't want it either!)

[momofboys]

If a child is truly potty trained it's not your fault the accident occurred though. It's an accident and they can happen now and then no matter how diligent we are at reminding them, but with the amount of time it takes me to clean up the kid, wherever they hit, the bathroom, and myself the other kids are generally pretty restless or some may have gotten into trouble by the time I get back to the group. Doesn't seem fair to me to extend this cleaning period even longer to rinsing and/or running the washer to save the parents an extra outfit to wash tonight while everyone else is deprived of my attention. I'd say if I were a nanny then yes, it's my job. As a daycare provider though I'd argue all the way to termination that no it is not my job.

Also a question for those of you that do any form of cleaning or rinsing to the poopy underwear. How and where do you rinse?? I wouldn't know where to do it even if I felt it was my job without making an even bigger mess.

I totally agree with you. I have ran my own kids' undies (After a thorough rinsing in the toilet) through our washing machine's pre-wash cycle by themselves. But no way would I put someone else's undies in my washing machine. You really need to run that stuff separately & I won't waste a load of wash one one child's panties/undies. As far as I am concerned it would take too long.

[Carole's Daycare]

I agree- I always bag them up, but a label and hang it from a peg in the back entry for parents to grab on their way out. I dont want someone elses soiled clothes in my laundry or with my things. Gross.

[MarinaVanessa]

gkids09, momofsix

Yay for us
My parents also like the fact that I wash the clothes instead of bagging. They see it as a feature and it really doesn't take a lot of time. I also dump the "formed" poo and flush then rinse the soiled clothes (I wear rubber gloves) in the laundry sink in our washroom, spray on a little pre-rinse and leave wet until after-hours. I never rinse in a bath or kitchen sink. I guess I'm lucky because we have an open floor plan and our washer/dryer are off from the kitchen. It's not a room itself, more like a closet which encloses the washer, dryer and sink with bi-fold doors. So I just rinse in the sink, leave the clothes and gloves there and close the doors. I genuinely don't mind doing it. I don't have a toddler of my own and for whatever crazy reason I ENJOY washing their clothes . Maybe it's time I have another one .

[mac60]

I agree ladies, I am not washing soiled clothes with my own families laundry, nor am I running a load for 2 items, nor do I want that kind of yuck in my washer. I also refuse to wash out poop underwear in my sink. I also don't feel that when a child has an accident it is my fault at6 all. I have an almost 5 yr old that has frequent accidents .......definately not my fault.

I will try to plop off the poop, but if it don't "plop off" it will go home with them.