Realistic Expectations from Daycare

Keeping your children clean is not to much to ask! I had issues with my daughter not being clean when she moved to the toddler room. I told them I wasnt happy with it and that it wasnt acceptable. You are trusting and paying for someone to take care of your son, it isnt to much that they wipe his noise and clean his eyes out. I would talk to them and tell them your expectations, if after a few weeks nothing has changed I would voice your concerns one more time and tell them you will have no other choice than to move your son to a different center. Good luck!

No, they should be wiping his face and cleaning as needed. They should be cleaning his hands each time he is changed and before and after feeding. They SHOULD be using more caution and cleaning. This is why I stooped working in day acre and I will never put my kids in one. More of them are like this and when you find a good room they will just more out of it plus you don't know who is coming in through out the day or when the teacher is sick.

My advice is to try to find a better center, good luck to you. Or find someone you can trust to watch your child. Good luck to you whatever you decide!!

I would say definately not un-realistic!!you are paying alot of money to go there.they get busy but wiping a nose thats gross..maybe you can find in-home day care where he can get more attention or smaller daycare ...you go girl get what your son deserves..if you complain my fear was alway that they would be mean...consider your options and pop in to a few places un announced and see what happens

First and for most, he is your child. You are paying them to care for him the way you would. They should be cleaning him as needed. Hands washed all the time, boogie free, and clean! Period. I have heard stroies upon storied of daycares, and I know that not all are the same, but reasons that you listed is why I am a SAHM who watches other children in my home....I could not place my child in someone elses care knowing that there boogie needs and additional needs are not being met. I would contact the director, and express you disapproval. I would switch if it does not improve within a week.

No that is NOT acceptable! I would want my child to be clean and boggie free! As far as the eye infection, is it Pink Eye? That is SO contagious! They should have called you ASAP and get him as comfortable as possible without him being near the other children. I would say something to the director if I were you. I had my son in a big daycare and it didnt last long. I didnt like how they took care of him and I moved him to a church day care whick is the best thing I ever did for him. It was a smaller child/teacher ratio for one and they took personal care with each child. He learned so much more from them too, from computers (he was only 5) to all the other basics they need, ABC's, numbers,etc..he was ready for Kindergarten and knew more then I thought he would have been taught. Im not sure where you are located, but I would suggest a more private daycare with fewer children. Church daycares seem to be great from what I hear and are more pocket friendly too! Or a private stay at home Mom, like me...I have an 11 month old now too (and a 13 yr old) and am looking to take on another one. If you are in my area, contact me! Christiana PA

Good Luck,
L.

Your expectations are not too high. You want your son to come home the way you sent him right? I would mention your concern to the person in charge of the daycare or definately consider switching. I know daycares are not cheap but there are some really good ones out there. By them not cleaning up your child or other children thats what causes them to get sick and some crazy infections like pink eye. You have every right to be concerned.

OK, I'm not disagreeing with the other posts because they are right, you are paying to have your most prescious child cared for in a loving, sanitary and human way, expecting them to be clean and well cared for is not too much.
That being said, I would have researched centers before i placed my child initially. Are there other options in your area?? Have you recently checked them out?? Are they any better?? I would hate for you to threaten to pull him and not have another Better option set up. Especially since there are often waiting lists for the young ages.
In your situation, in-home care might be the best. In Pa, the state allows daycares to have 6 one year olds per adult. Infants are only 4 per adult. When you transitioned him, i'm sure you noticed how much busier the one year old room is, they are mobile, non-verbal for the most part, still in diapers, and BUSY, BUSY, BUSY. Ones and Two's are really really tough ages for daycare, they have their own individual needs and don't fit into the "daily schedule" of events as nicely as older children or infants do.
If you have concerns, pop in for 15 mins during the day, or have a family member do it. don't let your son see you but, check out what his over all day is like. Often times, the regular staff that spends the majority of the day with your son, goes home at the end of their shift and a "fill in" is with the children for the last half hour or so before pick up. Perhaps his nose has been wiped constantly for 8hours and now for the last 30 mins the fill in staff has let it go, because she' trying to entertain, cranky kids and speak to parents as she releases them.
If you have already talked to the director about a special snack, I would start with addressing the nose wiping directly with the staff, and if there are different teachers there during pick up than drop off, YOu have to address it with all of them too. If there is any hint of an eyeroll, or a too bad lady, instead of an " I"m so sorry we certainly try our best, I'll do what ever i can to make sure it doesn't happen again" Then I would go right to the director, because maybe that staff person shouldn't be working in that room. But at that point be prepared to remove your child.
I hope you find something great. Oh you could always call their liscenceing agent and complain to DPW.

Hi K.,
I dont think your expectations are high at all! I think its important for the children to be kept clean, or as much as possible but it doesnt seem like your caregivers are really trying!
My little girl is 27 months as has transitioned from infant, to Ones to Twos and the care has been excellent. I hear a lot of moms who complain about their children coming home w/ dirty clothing or like your complaint. Im not saying my daycare if PERFECT but it is close to it! I had a very bad experience with one day care when my little girl went there at 6 months and ever since then, we have been at this other place and it has been WONDEFUL! My sisters little girl goes there, my neighbors son goes there, all recommendations from me and they too love it. If you are considering switching, let me know and I can give you the name of the place my child attends. Not sure where you are located but it is just wonderful there! Good luck!
K.

I have a home daycare so feel I have to speak up.Hands and faces should be clean and runny noses wiped,that should be a given no matter where you child is.A child with a runny eye,should not be in daycare.You should have been called to pick your child up and see a doctor to rule out infection so it doesn't spread to the other children.I am not blaming you for this,if the eye had junk in it,he should not have been around other children.If you knew it was an infection,he should not have been allowed back to daycare until it stopped running.Eye infections are easily spread.Other parents should have been speaking up about this.I would not be happpy to pick up my child and see another child with his eye covered in junk.

To address one other mom about dirty clothing,more often than not,kids go home in dirty clothing,especially if they have been playing outside.There is no way for kids to be on the floor playing,doing arts and crafts and running around outside and stay clean.Frankly,I would be more concerned if a child was going home looking as fresh as when they arrived.Kids should look like they have been on the floor playing,do stuff and outside in the sand or grass.How can they play,have fun and stay clean? Hands and faces should be washed but you should expect clothes to be wrinkled,and even dirty.Just my 2 cents.