Parents must change diapers at daycare policy?

[Anonymous]

This morning right after I dropped my daughter off at daycare, I could tell she had just pooped. I told her teacher, as she has a rash and I didn't want her to sit in it.

The teacher told me it was policy that I had to change it, as that is how it works if parents drop kids off with messy diapers. That's cool, but I had NEVER seen that policy anywhere, and I was already really, really late for work.

I guess I was really pissed about her attitude over the whole thing, and the fact that my daughter had just pooped. Its not like we left the house that way.

Anyone else's daycare have this policy? Would you have been ticked off?

[Anonymous]

our daycare had a policy (in the handbook) that the parent had to change the child--or take to the bathroom--before leaving. Had to "change" the diaper regardless of whether it was wet, dirty or clean & dry. Seemed a little silly to waste a diaper if it was clean (and the time it took), but from the daycare perspective, it means the teachers are more available for helping the kids transition into their day rather than changing diapers.

It would have been nice if she had offered to change it for you this once though.

[Anonymous]

My day care center recently sent out a form with some policy reminders and changing a poop at drop-off was one of them. I had never known it was a rule before.

[Anonymous]

I haven't heard of this policy and it doesn't make sense to me. If you're dropping off your child within the hours the daycare is supposed to care for the child, wouldn't this be their responsibility? Am I missing something?

[Anonymous]

This does sound ridiculous. At drop-off, I've offered to change DS's dirty diaper, but the caregivers cheerfully take him and say that they will take care of it. They know where all the cleaning supplies are (they wipe down the diaper changing pad after each change) and what the proper cleaning procedures are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This does sound ridiculous. At drop-off, I've offered to change DS's dirty diaper, but the caregivers cheerfully take him and say that they will take care of it. They know where all the cleaning supplies are (they wipe down the diaper changing pad after each change) and what the proper cleaning procedures are.

This is the OP, and a similar scenario I have heard from others at different day cares. My gripe wasn't with changing her diaper, although the timing sucked. It was the way it was handled.

[Anonymous]

I am having a hard time swallowing why this is so terrible... it's your child, correct? I understand that it may be inconvenient, but to assume that is someone else's responsibility simply because your child pooped after you left the house... ?

[Anonymous]

Above poster again - I should also say that it would have been nice if they would have offered, but I don't think you should assume that is their responsibility since it is within daycare hours (not directed to OP, but another PP).

[Anonymous]

I was told the policy for this at our daycare is because sometimes there are not enough teachers during drop off to watch the kids and another to go change a diaper.

[Anonymous]

I agree as a provider (it's nap time here) that it's nice as parents if you will change your child if they poop on the way to daycare. It's difficult in the a.m. as the transition is happening if you drop off a hungry child with a dirty diaper. I do have one child in care who is always dropped off ready for a bottle and poopy. It's difficult when I have parents coming to my door for drop-offs. Our attention needs to be on transition at that time and children in my policies have to arrive clean and fed and dressed for the day.
I am not agreeing with how it was handled at all, but it is helpful to your providers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't heard of this policy and it doesn't make sense to me. If you're dropping off your child within the hours the daycare is supposed to care for the child, wouldn't this be their responsibility? Am I missing something?

So by your reasoning, as soon as it hits 7:30 a.m. if you brought your child with poop in their pants, still in their p.j.'s and not having breakfast, it doesn't matter cuz WTH it's daycare time, so it's the providers problem?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am having a hard time swallowing why this is so terrible... it's your child, correct? I understand that it may be inconvenient, but to assume that is someone else's responsibility simply because your child pooped after you left the house... ?

But it IS someone else's responsibility at this point in the day. Not the OP, but I understand her consternation. Part of the reason for daycare is because people need to be at work and need help with their kids!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was told the policy for this at our daycare is because sometimes there are not enough teachers during drop off to watch the kids and another to go change a diaper.

OP here. This was another issue I was curious about. The teacher to child ratio was WAY off this morning. Wasn't going to make a fuss about it, but if they are all about policies. . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven't heard of this policy and it doesn't make sense to me. If you're dropping off your child within the hours the daycare is supposed to care for the child, wouldn't this be their responsibility? Am I missing something?

So by your reasoning, as soon as it hits 7:30 a.m. if you brought your child with poop in their pants, still in their p.j.'s and not having breakfast, it doesn't matter cuz WTH it's daycare time, so it's the providers problem?

OP again. My child was bathed, dressed, fed, and in a clean diaper when we left the house.

[Anonymous]

Our daycare has a policy that you change/check your child's diaper at drop-off. I don't find it to be a big deal. My child's caregiver often changes him after I arrive to pick him up if she knows he needs it, presumably because she wants to give him back to me clean. (I usually protest and just do it myself because I know she has other kids and I feel bad having her do it while I'm standing there watching.)

If she really gave you attitude about it, I can see your frustration. And it would have been nice of her to offer. But if it's their policy, they have to tell parents sometime or else they'd be changing diapers for every kid as they arrived.

You might have said that you know you're supposed to do the change and that you're really sorry, but could she please do it just this time because you were really late for work.

I definitely go out of my way to try to avoid ticking off the caregivers.