Please Help! I'm I Over Stepping Here?

[saved4always]

I am a meanie. I had a dcb who was 2 1/2 yo and had a stuffed animal that he carried around at home and slept with. He ****ed on the nose of this thing so much that it was gone. Dcm "repaired" him several times because she could not get him to take another lovey. He would come in here with that thing DRIPPING in spit from being ****ed on. I hate confrontation with dcp's (I know, not a great backbone there )) so I did not say anything about it. As soon as dcd would leave the house though, I would stick it in his backpack. Dcb would object, but I just told him that his animal was yucky with spit and he could have it back when he got in his car. He could tell that he was not going to win that one. One day dcm asked me if I could please put the animal in a plastic bag when I put it in the backpack because the wetness ruined something in it....I did put it in a bag after that, but, I was thinking...ummmmmm yeah, and what do ya think it would do to my couch, carpet, other kids, etc.???? Disgusting spit sodden animal...blech....!!!

[jenn]

I guess I'm mean. I do not allow any food, drinks, or toys in my door. I explain this to the parents as a sanitation issue. The only exceptions I have are:
1) If they are new and a toy/blanket helps them transition. I will let them bring it to my house, but they keep it in their cubby and can go visit it as needed. After a few days of not being allowed to haul it around, they usually forget it and don't even visit it. After a week or so, it's not allowed to come in my house.

2) If it is something they leave here and only use at naptime. Example-I have one girl that has a special pillow pet. It stays at my house all the time so I can wash it as needed.

In my experience, it is often harder to train the parent to quit bringing it, than it is to train the child to not have it.

[youretooloud]

You should just make the rule and not even talk to the parents about it.

Your house=your rules.

Yep... I'd let her keep the blankie unless she's chewing on it. It will only take a few days to break her of it.

[WImom]

they are only for nap here too (well nap and our one tv time right before lunch/nap). She doesn't nap most days so she just lays there and chews on it. Her mom forgot the blanket one day and she happened to have a stuffed animal in her bag so I told her we'd just use that. DCG did fine with that and I told parents this. I really think its more them. So far she is doing awesome. I only had to remind her twice during nap.

I usually step on it when it's hanging off her cot or she'll need help putting it away after nap and I have to help her stuff it in her bag (Gross).

Glad to know I'm not stepping on any parent toes here!!

BTW - I'm the same on the toys, drinks, etc. They stay at home or go right in bag. I do make an exception for lovey's but they also go right in bag when they come in. One good thing is that the parents do have two or three blankets and wash them every day or every other which is better than some of the gross lovey's I've seen come through.