I babysit for a 16 month old boy. He wears overnight diapers so I don't know if that means this is okay...but...he goes to bed at 8. He leaves for my house at about 6:30 and gets here about 6:45. His parents don't change his diaper before they bring him because he is "tired". I think it's odd. It's very cold out, snow on the ground and he's outside with a wet toosh. I've tried to hint. When they come to pick him up I say,"Let me check to make sure he isn't wet. It's so cold out and I know I'd hate to be out there with a wet diaper on." But it hasn't helped. Maybe I'm making a big deal out of nothing?
2007-11-26 06:23:44 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
I have provided child care in my home for 20 years. Most parents bring their children to me with a fresh diaper and usually dressed for the day. However, there is always the occassional parent who seemingly has just whisked their little one out of the crib and into the car before coming. Some parents, like some children, simply aren't morning people so I'd have to guess that the tired one is not the baby, but the parents in this case. As the child care provider, you can feel confident just saying your expectations outright as some parents either don't get hints or choose to ignore them. If you want the baby to come to you dry and dressed I would say this to the parents directly, in writing if need be. If you don't mind making a diaper change and getting dressed the first order of business, I'd let it go. I don't require dry diapers and come dressed for my kids, but I do know some child care providers who do.
2007-11-26 06:41:55 · answer #1 · answered by sevenofus 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
if he's in his pjs when he comes and eats breakfast with you, i'd say they probably pick the sleeping baby up from the crib and put him directly in the car, and he wakes up somewhere on the way. in that case maybe they think it's best for him to get the extra half hour or whatever of sleep rather than waking him up to change his diaper (it wouldn't be odd for a 16-month-old to still be asleep at 6:30 if he goes to bed at 8 ... my son goes to bed at 7 and wakes up around 6:15). i have to wake my baby from an (unfortunately short) nap so i can pick up my older kids at school (my preschooler has a different pick-up time and the baby's nap unfortunately gets a little shortchanged in the middle), and i don't change him till i get back from the pick up because he gets a little more (much needed) sleep in the car if i don't change him when we go. diapers are pretty absorbent nowadays, and just because the diaper is wet doesn't mean his bottom actually feels wet (which is why some kids take so long to potty train these days ... they don't feel wet at all).
on the other hand, if there's snow out, presumably they're waking up baby to put his snowsuit on anyway, in which case they should really be changing his diaper. same goes if they're changing his clothes and/or feeding him before he gets to you. i would be concerned enough to say something if he has any diaper rash or if there are any other signs of neglect. otherwise i'd just change him when he gets to you and let it go.
2007-11-26 07:00:49 · answer #2 · answered by ... 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I have never had this particular situation, but seems like you have a problem saying things staright up. I have the same problem. Sometimes hinting just doesn't work, but maybe try "I am worried that the baby may get sick with his wet diaper, maybe you could change in the mornign before you come". You dont want to make it sound like you are going over the babysitter/parent border, but make it seem like youa re concerned (which obvisly you are). Hope this helps!
2007-11-26 06:32:55 · answer #3 · answered by froggy6983 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No you are not. He's been in that diaper all night long, it has to be bulging out by the time he gets to you. They probably have him sleep in the clothes for the next day so they don't have to do that either. They only have to deal with him a few hours a day and probably on weekends, so what's the deal. They should change him before they bring him to you. I know it's hard to come out and say it to them, but I think you should! Good luck with that one.... :) Take care!
2007-11-26 06:29:04 · answer #4 · answered by ~Kim~ 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You are the sitter and therefore are responsible for his wellbeing when he is in your care and you need to come right out and tell them that you want him changed before he is brought to you to take care of.
Let them know that you don't send him home in a wet diaper and you in turn do not expect to have him brought to you in one either.
It is your place to tell them. It isn't an unreasonable request from you. Unless you absolutely are totally dependant on the money (if there is any) I would tell them that the next time they bring him to you in his night time diaper that you will not accept him and they will need to find someone else to care for him.
Another option would be to tell him that everytime they bring him to you like that, there will be an extra charge for your time to change him plus the cost of an extra diaper that normally you wouldn't have to use.
Evidently they don't care about the baby's wellbeing so you have to hit them where it hurts, in the wallet.
Good luck.
2007-11-27 14:41:06 · answer #5 · answered by wetsaway 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It IS a big deal! Almost 12 hours in one diaper? Not cool. I would flat out tell the parents that you will not care for the child in the morning unless his diaper (the one he had on all night) is changed PRIOR to him being dropped off. Just tell them that you don't want to be held accountable if and when he starts to develop a severe rash or other complication.
2007-11-26 06:27:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you. This child should be freshly cleaned BEFORE he is dropped off. Next time, try refusing to accept him if he's not clean. This could be borderline child abuse. He goes to bed at 8 and gets up tired? Hmmm...there's about as much truth that as me sending out an email that Bill Gates is giving away money via an email tracking program.
2007-11-26 06:28:57 · answer #7 · answered by Phurface 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
that's over ten hours that he's in one diaper. uh, no. i think you should say something. i know it's not your position or what not, but that's wrong. it doesn't matter is he's tired or not, if he needs a diaper change, then he needs a diaper change. i can change my twins' diapers without even waking them up. sounds like an excuse to me and not a very good one at that.
2007-11-26 06:27:55 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
That is weird! They are lazy. It depends how confrontational you are...I am not, If I were in your position, I would love to say something but probably wouldn't and just change him as soon as he walked in the door. Are they the type of people that would get defensive if you said something?
If you are a confrontational person, then by all means say something!
2007-11-26 06:54:40 · answer #9 · answered by benadair 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds to me like they are a bit lazy.. that's just nasty. The first thing I do is change my son's diaper when he wakes up. I don't think there is anything you can say besides saying it like it is.. and you will just have to be the one to decide whether or not it is worth it.
2007-11-26 06:29:00 · answer #10 · answered by Legs 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋