Argh what to do??!

[TwoLittleMen]

DS1 goes to daycare and he LOVES it there! DS2 will have to start 1 day a week in January due to work .

My problem is DS2 can't wear disposable nappies for very long, he gets a terrible rash from them yet the daycare can't use cloth due to health regulations (something to do with handling body fluids and storage).

Grrr what do I do? Will they have to use them if I get a doctors certificate? I have thought about going somewhere that will use cloth but that means I have to move DS1.

I find this absoloutly rediculous They still have to wear gloves to change a disposable, what's the difference? It doesn't take much to put it in a bag and in his schoolbag!

Do any other bubs go to daycare and had any issues using cloth??

Eeek this is a novel, sorry!

[pip]

what is the diff sossie gets put in bin cloth in a wet bag. There is no extra handling involved.

My day care is more than happy to do clotth as long as you provide a nappy bucket with a lid.

[mum2lucas]

Have you asked to see a policy document written by the center? They shouldn't be able to refuse you using cloth as long as you provide everything that is needed. It is the same as having a food allergy in my opinion. Have you explained that they are as easy as using a disposible and shown them what is involved - ie no folding, no soaking etc. I am sure there is some supportive documentation on the ANN site or maybe try searching here for similar topics as this issue has been raised by others before. Good luck and don't give up without a fight

[bilbylove]

if your child is lactose intolerant - CCC can handle that

if your child is wheat intolerant - CCC can handle that

if you child needs cloth nappies - CCC can handle that - if they want to.

the guidelines seem to be a bit of a "gray area".

i initially got told NO WAY, and when i said i had read the relevant section of the Children's Services Act for my state, they did a complete backflip. "of course, anything that your child needs, we can accomodate etc etc".

i looked up the info from the Bubblebubs website, on "cloth and childcare".
i printed out the info from the Nurture Nappies website on "what is in a disposable" too.
DIdn't need to end up showing these, but i was glad i went in prepared.

my child is in her 2nd CCC now, both places have been fine about using MCN.
You need to show the team leader for your child's room
- how to put mcn on
- that flushable liners are FLUSHED down the loo
- to put used nappies in the wetbag, not to wrap up each nappy in a plastic bag
- supply nappy rash cream

I supply 7 MCN per day, all with flushable liners laid inside already. I have had no resistance (apart from teh initial NO WAY - and that was from an admin person).

CCC handle poo all day long with sposies, what is the difference?

i've only got one child, i was so steamed up about this topic, if either centre had told me no, i would have moved her. But i can see that would be such a pain to do, when you have two.

i wish you well, maybe ask ANN (Australian Nappy Network) or Modern Cloth Nappies website for advocacy help?

Even ABC Centres are using MCN now (for ages, they were the one centre that wouldn't).

good luck

and i WOULD get teh doctor's letter to back you up too. the more you have on your side, the better. it IS a health issue.

My child is about to move into the Pre Kindy Room in Jan, and i've already spoken to the bilby's new Primary Caregiver there, about the MCN and cloth trainers for TT-ing - the new person is fine with it all too. She was responsive to the idea of bilby wearing only fitteds, in hot weather - if TT-ing starts then (so she gets changed more frequently).

[Lousmum]

yet the daycare can't use cloth due to health regulations (something to do with handling body fluids and storage).

that's rubbish.

they handle bodily fluids even if they are changing a disposable.

they store disposables too.

storing cloth in a wetbag, or a bucket with a lid, is no different to putting a disposable in the bin.

it's not like the nappies will be there indefinitely - you'll be taking them home each night to wash, and bringing plenty of clean ones each day to wear.

afaik, they cannot refuse to use cloth with a reason like that. ask to see their policy document, and see if you can find some general ones relating to it yourself to show them.

[Nadine]

i would be asking a few more questions if i were you - plenty of CC's use cloth (mine included)

i thought there were policies about continuity of care between home and centre etc

they can do it if they want to

[BOB]

DS wears MCNs to day care.. I just send him with a wetbag and nappies and flushable liner. They just flush the liner and contents and put the nappy in the wetbag and either lock in in a cupboard or leave it out of reach.

I was told after the first day that he couldn't wear them but that was the director with old info.

If their nappy policy doesnt state no cloth nappies they CANNOT stop you bringing them to be used on your son.

I called the relevant health deptartments and child care places and was told there is no health and safety or hygine reason for them not to be used as long as the soiled nappies are out of childrens reach.

I showed them how to use them etc...and seeing as the SHOULD be flushing poo from disposables aslo its not really any extra work on their part. none of the girls mind using them, and as most centres have a 2 hour change policy DS is usually in them for a shorter period of time than at home (if they follow their policy...but thats a whole nother issue)

I would think it is probably a form of discrimation if they have no valid reason for saying no (and can't think of a valid reason)

[BOB]

My problem is DS2 can't wear disposable nappies for very long, he gets a terrible rash from them yet the daycare can't use cloth due to health regulations (something to do with handling body fluids and storage).



Eeek this is a novel, sorry!

This was acutally what I was told by the director of my centre and when she did some investigating (shes been in CC 25 years) she foudn out it was an old policy and no longer applicable or valid. She was more than happy to allow MCNs once she knew there were no regulations against it.

Call the child care hotline in your state and they should be able to give you the relevant numbers of people to call and get info from.

[MichelleP]

There is NO valid reason for excluding cloth from CC. If their hygiene standards are so poor that they cannot deal with cloth hygenically then that is something that the centre should be addressing. The ANN has a fact sheet here Australian Nappy Network® Ltd arm yourself with info on your states regulations, accreditation (links to this info are in the fact sheet) and then go back to them. The fact that your bub reacts to disposables should give you even more ammunition.
Cloth in CC is one of my key areas so if you need any help (helped someone earlier this year in Qld get their centre to accept cloth) feel free to PM or email me. If they need assistance with how to implement cloth again happy for them to contact me.

[TwoLittleMen]

Wow thankyou everyone for your responses! I now realise how rediculous the centre is being. Will definately pursue it on Wednesday when DS1 goes.

The problem I think when I asked last week, the director was on leave and I was just talking to one of the carers, who obviously doesn't want the hassle of using cloth!

Again thanks! I will let you all know the outcome on Wednesday.