Our daycare has a policy they are changed every 2 hours, plus as needed. So every 2 hours they get a change. If one of them has a dirty diaper and is complaining, they'll get a change in between the 2 hours. But this resets the clock. It's not 8, 10, 12, 2. It could be 8, 10, 11:30, 1:30, 2:15, 4:15, etc.

This is a BH school and that is the school policy. Considering the number of daycare institutions that get cited on inspections for children found in dirty diapers, it doesn't surprise me that many daycares err on the side of caution and change more frequently rather than less frequently to avoid any appearance of letting children sit in soiled or wet diapers.

Yes, our twins go through about 1.5 times more diapers at daycare than at home over the same period of time. It's costly, but I'd rather they err that direction than the other.

When my LO was 4mo I changed every 3hrs unless there was a poop. 2hrs seems a little excessive to me, actually.

I do in home care, and right now with the 3 I watch, I check diapers every 2-3 hours. They are not infants and they are beginning to develop their own schedule (we are close to potty training on a couple). A poopy diaper of course is changed immediately. Diapers are expensive and one of the moms I care for is trying to potty train one of her kids (who is clearly NOT ready) just because she is spending too much on diapers. I have had no complaints KNOW that if I were to change them every hour, parents would be griping about it.

You all are going to b laughing at yourselves in a year. FTM are funny.

At our home daycare we change as needed (it could every hour). It just because we have a better ratio 1 to 2 infants. We have time and we put more efforts to provide a personalize care for babies per parents request.

Anonymous wrote:I am appauled at some of these responses! I am an in-home daycare provider and change diapers at least every hour! I cannot imagine letting a child sit in a wet diaper. Not only can it cause diaper rash...which is completely avoidable...but it also teaches children poor hygiene. This may sound a little dramatic but I would rather be guilty of changing too often that not enough. I believe in changing a diaper when it is wet OR dirty...every time. And, I would not by shy about cleaning her diaper area properly...no excuse for that. My daughter is 7 months and has never had a diaper rash and I cannot foresee one in the future. I am glad your provider was open to your request! That is a good sign she is qualified to provide good care.

This is absurd....and wasteful. Dear Lord this is horrible for the environment! Not to mention completely unecessary unless it's a poopy diaper. My DD rarely got diaper rash and I would not change a urine diaper for hours. Diapers these days are soooo absorbant that the urine does not sit on the skin. You are a bit high maintenance.

Ok so I’m a day care teacher, I have ten one - two year olds in my room with myself and my co-teacher. I have one little girl who does get a diaper rash off and on like once in a while , however the parents put diaper cream on the little girl, and they use water and paper towels to wipe her with at home. However at the center they give us baby powder and wipes. She also eats fruit in the morning and in the after new, the fruits are blueberries, oranges and other mixed fruits, in the morning sometimes yogurt, oatmeal and or eggs and tomatoes or fruit. But most days she has a small bowl to two small bowls of mixed fruit a day. Now when the little girl get the diaper rash the mother gets very nasty about it. I have changed this little girl as soon as she has a BM and every hour half to over the past months every hour. Yet she still has diaper rashes. What can I do? As my director will not let me speak to the parents about what I feel may be causing the issue. the parents about what I feel may be causing the issue

Anonymous wrote:I am appauled at some of these responses! I am an in-home daycare provider and change diapers at least every hour! I cannot imagine letting a child sit in a wet diaper. Not only can it cause diaper rash...which is completely avoidable...but it also teaches children poor hygiene. This may sound a little dramatic but I would rather be guilty of changing too often that not enough. I believe in changing a diaper when it is wet OR dirty...every time. And, I would not by shy about cleaning her diaper area properly...no excuse for that. My daughter is 7 months and has never had a diaper rash and I cannot foresee one in the future. I am glad your provider was open to your request! That is a good sign she is qualified to provide good care.

Every HOUR?? that is ridiculous. I have never changed every hour. Are you paying for those diapers? There are parents out there on a tight budget. Heck, after paying $400 a WEEK for childcare in these elite centers, how can one afford diaper changes on the hour, every hour, in addition?

I am appauled at some of these responses! I am an in-home daycare provider and change diapers at least every hour! I cannot imagine letting a child sit in a wet diaper. Not only can it cause diaper rash...which is completely avoidable...but it also teaches children poor hygiene. This may sound a little dramatic but I would rather be guilty of changing too often that not enough. I believe in changing a diaper when it is wet OR dirty...every time. And, I would not by shy about cleaning her diaper area properly...no excuse for that. My daughter is 7 months and has never had a diaper rash and I cannot foresee one in the future. I am glad your provider was open to your request! That is a good sign she is qualified to provide good care.

Anonymous wrote:Every two hours is a LOT! I would not want "strangers" having such frequent close contact with my baby (for bonding reasons). At home, unless it was a poop (which we change soon after it happens), we generally gave our baby one fresh diaper in the morning, and one around noon, another late afternoon, and one for the evening. No diaper rash, and she showed no discontent. With a daycare, you give up a lot of control. I just have to trust that my baby is treated well when I'm not there.

How old is your baby? If I let this one I watch go that long in between he would be screaming in discomfort (only time he cries, when hungry or really wet) or soaking through his diaper and clothes. i think you are being a bit ridiculous in thinking that the person you choose to care for your child as a *stranger*. that isnt what my parents think of my care I provide their child!!

Anonymous wrote:When my kids were infants I felt the exact opposite way. I thought they changed the diapers way to frequently . They reported changing the diapers like 6 or 8 times a day and that drove me nuts - diapers are expensive and bad for the environment. Yes, a poop needs immediate attention, a little urine does not. Those diapers are very absorbant.

the infant I care for is changed every 2 hours, unless he has pooped or is wetter than usual. I too was asked not to change more often due to the diapers costs. And I agree with what others say, as long as there are no diaper rashes. Now if he really starts screaming and he seems uncomfortable he will be changed sooner than that 2 hour time frame.

"Strangers" are not what I call the loving cargivers who take care of my DD during the day!

Every two hours is a LOT! I would not want "strangers" having such frequent close contact with my baby (for bonding reasons). At home, unless it was a poop (which we change soon after it happens), we generally gave our baby one fresh diaper in the morning, and one around noon, another late afternoon, and one for the evening. No diaper rash, and she showed no discontent. With a daycare, you give up a lot of control. I just have to trust that my baby is treated well when I'm not there.

I agree with the PP that every two hours is if anything very excessive. My child definitely gets her diaper changed more at daycare than at home. Also more often than when she was in the NICU for a month--there they were on a schedule of every three hours. If it is not going to hurt a tiny sick preemie to sit in a soiled diaper it sure is not going to hurt a kid who is healthy enough to be in daycare. I would think about what is important to you when they are with your kid--changing every single kids diaper every hour and a half--or spending time with the kids playing, reading, singing, etc.

kboswell wrote:Thank you all for your responses. I spoke with my daughter's daycare and asked for them to check her more frequently if possible. They were very responsive and the next day's report showed that she was changed more often. I think it will help us make the transition to daycare with a little less worrying.

That's great! But please do try to be understanding if they can't accomadate this special request every day. Diapers are changed on a schedule in a center because of the number of children. Every 2 hours is more than sufficient.