Parents Not Doing Things For Their Children

[Tyna]

How do you handle the children that come in to daycare with...:confused::confused:

their toenails growing into their little feet?
fingernails that will scratch the mess out of you?
smelling like they haven't had a bath in a while?
dirty hands all the time?
clothes/shoes that don't fit /to tight?

I can't think of a nice way to tell the parents that these things shouldn't be happening... Do you ignore it??

Thanks!!
Tyna

[Michael]

Welcome to the Daycare.com forum.

[Auntie]

no bath that is neglect. Document and you may have to report it.

As far as needing the nails trimmed. Can you suggest to mom at pick up that the child was complaining that his toes hurt when you checked them you noticed that his little toe nails are digging into his toes.

NOw is this all from one family and their kids or child?

I know money may be tight so clothes and shoes may be too small. But the hygene part I would always do what you can at your end to send him home with clean hands and face. I know bathing isn't what you do. But I am afraid that is neglect.

[youretooloud]

It depends on the family.

The one thing that does get to me, is ill fitting shoes or clothes. I think no matter what, kids should have clothes and shoes that fit properly.

I've worked in very poor areas, and even kids who shared a home with 12 other family members may not have had a bath, but their shoes fit them.

[sharlan]

I've always tried to do what needed to be done for the child. I've cut lots of finger/toenails, given baths, and washed hair. I've also washed clothes and carset covers. I try to make things easier for the child.

That's just how "I" do things and don't put others down for not doing it.

[littlemissmuffet]

How do you handle the children that come in to daycare with...:confused::confused:

their toenails growing into their little feet?
fingernails that will scratch the mess out of you?
smelling like they haven't had a bath in a while?
dirty hands all the time?
clothes/shoes that don't fit /to tight?

I can't think of a nice way to tell the parents that these things shouldn't be happening... Do you ignore it??

Thanks!!
Tyna

Depends on the family...
If it's a family that has ALL of the above issues, I document, and hint to the parents that it's a problem. If the problems persist, I sit down with the parents and have a discussion about it... if the problem STILL persists, report the neglect.

I will and often do cut my DCK's fingernails, toenails, scrub them down when they get here, change them into cleaner clothes, etc.

[PitterPatter]

I have a client like this and I have dropped the hints and finally flat out said the hair needs brushed etc. She claims they do brush it and they are bathed. I gave up and just took them under my wing. I just wash what I can when I can. As for the clothing and jackets... Usually I don't have anyone to sit with the kids while I run down to laundry so I have a few spare sets of clothing I have bought for them. We change in and go about our day and change back at the end of the day. Every few days I wash all the outfits and start over.

With summer here they get clean/bathe in the pool or when playing in the water/sprinkler. If u allow a small pool put some kids bathsoap in and let them "play in bubbles" if they are really dirty. As for fingernails (assuming u have the same black crusted nails that my dcks have) I start the day with water play on the table with a dish pan full of warm soapy water. 15-20 minutes of soaking/play before breakfast usually does the trick. I change up the games so they dont get bored but they love playing in that pan of water so it's a secret cleaning for me and a fun time for them. We put shapes in and I ask for a shape they have to find it beneath the suds. Or a letter a colored flower, dinosaur etc whatever we have for the day.

As for the nails needing cut I don't do that I am too afraid they will jerk. I am just firm with DCM and tell her the nails are getting long... then after a couple days if she ignores me I will say "U need to cut the fingernails tonight they are too long and causing scratches" For the hair issue, I bought a hair brush and a big bag of mini scrunchies for the girl. She never has her hair brushed so I do that too right after breakfast and again after nap. It's really sad when the kids are sent home smelling and looking better than when they arrive. I thought DCM would take a hint but nope. She probably figures she will just let me do all the work. I will have to find a new bathing idea when winter gets here though.

Good luck to u!

[CheekyChick]

We clean them up and buy clothes at garage sales so I always have plenty of clothes to send home with the children who need them. I have even had parents ask me to cut their child's hair - which I have done on many occasions.

[cheerfuldom]

I don't do stuff like this for my DC kids here. I know all my families have the time and resources to do these things so if the kid shows up here needing whatever, I do tell the parents. I have reminded about fingernails and clothing before. A lot of it is just parents that are so into what they need to do, they haven't noticed or sometimes it is dad that stuffed the 3 year old into an 18month outfit instead of finding something that actually fits. They are just trying to make it thru the day and that mentality means that kiddo gets forgotten sometimes.

[Cat Herder]

I bathe, wash hair, trim nails, clean out ears and send them home in clean clothes everyday. Whatever physical care the child needs while in my care, I provide. I don't really have discussions about it.

If I need clothing/shoes that fit, I tell the parent "I need some size 2-T shorts and t-shirt for tomorrow. He is out of spares. Have a great night. "

If they come the next day without them, I send them home, with their child, to get them.

If they arrive without coats or shoes...I send them home to get it. The policy stays the same no matter what supply I need to provide proper care for their child.

Same thing as if it were diapers or formula. They have a required supply list and I enforce it consistently.

It is a non-issue for me.

[cheerfuldom]

I am surprised at the number of providers on this board that regularly bathe kids. To me, that is getting out of control and something mom and dad need to be doing. How is it that you can bathe children while safely watching the others? I just know that there is no way with my set up that I can watch the others while bathing a child and secondly, I don't bathe kids that are not my own neither would I want my DC provider regularly doing that. There is no reason that mom and dad can't handle that. I have, on occasion, bathed a child that had an horrible poo accident or something but I think that has happened less than half a dozen times in 5 years.

[Cat Herder]

neither would I want my DC provider regularly doing that.

You answered your own question....::::::

Sorry, but it is true.

[DCMom]

I don't really have this problem, with the exception of fingernails and toenails. Probably my own issue , but I hate it when kids have dirty, ragged fingernails and toenails. Ick. We have Monday Morning Manicures ~ I trim their fingernails and toenails. They all love it and it cuts down on scratches and such amongst the little kids.

Bathing...only if it's a baby who had a blowout and I could adequately clean them up with wipes. Then I will plop them in the kitchen sink and give them a quick bath.

I've also been known to wash a winter coat or two during the day, but like many said, it depends on the family/situation. Some I would bend over backwards for and others not so much.