Dirty Faces!

[MunchkinWrangler]

Does this bother you? And is it something everyone deals with?

Every kid, EVERY. SINGLE. KID. Comes in the morning with a dirty face....from breakfast to the crusted on runny overnight boogers on their face. I honestly almost feel like making a big deal about cleaning up every baby and toddler's face when they walk in the door.
I'm not perfect but I always wipe up my DS' face after eating and in the morning. It makes me wonder if they even noticed(which is sad) or that they just don't care(which is still sad.) Everyone has a runny nose so during diaper change after naps, everyone gets their face wiped. After meals, face wiped and hands wiped.

This is a vent but has anyone mentioned it or made a point to make a show of wiping a kid's face to make the DCP's realize they're missing a parenting step?

[Josiegirl]

I don't mind if it seems to be a spot of toothpaste or peanut butter that gets missed, I do that too. But if they've got crusted on boogers, ick. I know if kids have colds and wake up from quiet time with it all a mess again, I clean them right up.
I haven't had to deal with it a lot, my dcps are really good.

[Josiegirl]

I have to add that I have a dcd that always lets me know if one of my charges has a nose that needs to be wiped. Honestly, I could have wiped it right before he walked in the door and it's still runny. Ya can't just turn off those faucets sometimes and it's not like I've only got 1 child. That kind of makes me angry because I end up feeling like I'm not doing my job well enough. But crustiness is a different story.

[lovemydaycare0912]

Haha yes. I have 1 dcb who comes in with crusted eyes every morning and the parent says the same thing every single time, "oh wow dcb, I didnt see all ththat" Then tries to clean with own saliva.

Its annoying because I know if I had children I wouldnt let that happen but what can you do. Dont think it's worth stressing over. Same goes for dirty fingernails.

[Baby Beluga]

Yep, have one of those too. Every single morning he comes in with dried on milk, a nose crusted shut and breakfast crumbs on his face. I go through so many wipes for this one cleaning his face each morning.

[Blackcat31]

I've had a couple now and then. I keep a box of wet wipes by the door (hand sanitizer, tissues and boogie wipes too) and if I see someone has a dirty face upon entry I will say to the parent "Oh-oh, looks like someone didn't get their face washed this morning. There are wet wipes right there (pointing) so you can wash it now so they are ready to come on in" then I turn away.

If I had a parent disregard what I said and not wipe thier child's face I would call them out..."Hey JoAnn, you must not have heard me. Please wipe off Trevor's face before sending him in the gate. Thank you"

[MunchkinWrangler]

I totally get the morning rush, I do it too. The parents are obviously dressed up and ready for work, dressed to the nines. Most dcks are dressed nice and always have fresh diapers but the one thing missing is the yuck on their faces. I guess they all fit in with one another and I don't lose sleep over it, but the parent part of me is going 'C'mon, get your life together!'

BC, I don't know if I'd have the guts to do that! :: But I do think about it. I keep them clean throughout the whole day, they can't do it once in the morning?!? On the other hand, it took many verbal reminders that the Kleenex provided for them right by the door is ready to use for them and their kids. How many dribbly noses and a wide eyed parent looking to me for a Kleenex and me going, there's the tissues, that's what they're there for!!

[Blackcat31]

I totally get the morning rush, I do it too. The parents are obviously dressed up and ready for work, dressed to the nines. Most dcks are dressed nice and always have fresh diapers but the one thing missing is the yuck on their faces. I guess they all fit in with one another and I don't lose sleep over it, but the parent part of me is going 'C'mon, get your life together!'

BC, I don't know if I'd have the guts to do that! :: But I do think about it. I keep them clean throughout the whole day, they can't do it once in the morning?!? On the other hand, it took many verbal reminders that the Kleenex provided for them right by the door is ready to use for them and their kids. How many dribbly noses and a wide eyed parent looking to me for a Kleenex and me going, there's the tissues, that's what they're there for!!

There is no "guts" required... its not confrontational or rude...its just clearly stating the issue or what you need the parent to do.

Said with a smile on your face and message isn't mean or rude....think of it the way you would if a child's shoes were untied when the parent was walking out the door.....

"Hey JoAnn, Trevor's shoe is untied."

It's more or less an informational message; an FYI.....NO different than "Hey JoAnn, Trevor's got some stuff on his face."

[Controlled Chaos]

Nope, because MY kids often still have oatmeal faces ::

Have a 2, 4 and 6 year old, getting everyone up, dressed, breakfast and 1st snack made, opening the daycare room (lights, sign in sheet, space heater running), load of laundry going, pretend to listen to Dh tell me about his dream, feed and let dog in and out several times, empty dishwasher, load dishwasher etc all by 1st dck arrival at 7:30...sometimes I miss a sticky face. I try and I know the parents do to. But sometimes it happens. Not a big deal IMO

[MunchkinWrangler]

Bc, I didn't look at it that way and it makes sense to see it that way.

Chaos, I applaud you. I only have one kid and no dog or dh. I guess it makes me wonder because my families have a 2 parent household and 1 kid each, not meaning to sound judgemental but yes, I'm judging a bit regarding their circumstances. Yours are understandable.

[daycarediva]

Nope, because MY kids often still have oatmeal faces ::

Have a 2, 4 and 6 year old, getting everyone up, dressed, breakfast and 1st snack made, opening the daycare room (lights, sign in sheet, space heater running), load of laundry going, pretend to listen to Dh tell me about his dream, feed and let dog in and out several times, empty dishwasher, load dishwasher etc all by 1st dck arrival at 7:30...sometimes I miss a sticky face. I try and I know the parents do to. But sometimes it happens. Not a big deal IMO

We go straight to breakfast from drop offs, and I am SOMETIMES handing my kids wipes for their own faces as they are running out the door to school.

I am up at 4:30, open at 7 and have cooked breakfast, lunch, snack, worked out, done a load of laundry, vacuumed my house,picked up, prepped anything for the day, got 4 kids up, dressed, fed and out the door, fed the cats, the lizard, checked the snake cage and the spider cage etc etc. I literally RUN for 3 hours in the morning.

I pick my battles and this isn't even worth it to me. If the kids are there on time, healthy, dressed for the weather and the parent is picking up on time, paying on time and respectful of me- I don't even care.

[MunchkinWrangler]

I guess to each their own. To me, I feel my child's appearance is a reflection on me. I take care of myself too but I just feel like wiping a face is a thing that literally takes 10 seconds to do. Who doesn't have 10 seconds? Anywhoo, it's something that isn't THAT big of a deal but it just makes me wonder why no one seems to care that it looks like Suzy and Billy were rolling in a pile of dirt and boogers before they started their day. Oh well!!!!

[daycarediva]

I guess to each their own. To me, I feel my child's appearance is a reflection on me. I take care of myself too but I just feel like wiping a face is a thing that literally takes 10 seconds to do. Who doesn't have 10 seconds? Anywhoo, it's something that isn't THAT big of a deal but it just makes me wonder why no one seems to care that it looks like Suzy and Billy were rolling in a pile of dirt and boogers before they started their day. Oh well!!!!

My kids arent' booger covered. They get morning showers, they are dressed well, hair combed and eat a healthy, filling breakfast. Breakfast crumbs are the least of a teachers worry. You're right though, to eat their own.

[MunchkinWrangler]

My kids arent' booger covered. They get morning showers, they are dressed well, hair combed and eat a healthy, filling breakfast. Breakfast crumbs are the least of a teachers worry. You're right though, to eat their own.

I am honestly talking about caked on syrup that has had enough time to collect dirt/dust on their face. Almost like it was last night's dinner. A face of crusted bottle milk. A thick crusty layer of overnight booger that is so thick it takes 3 wipes to wipe off. I'm not talking about a couple crumbs. I'm sure you are a very on point mother, it sounds like you are. If it was a couple crumbs, I wouldn't have even bothered to post. This is way more than that. The kids actually give me their faces and the babies jut out theirs too because they are uncomfortable.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Does this bother you? And is it something everyone deals with?

Every kid, EVERY. SINGLE. KID. Comes in the morning with a dirty face....from breakfast to the crusted on runny overnight boogers on their face. I honestly almost feel like making a big deal about cleaning up every baby and toddler's face when they walk in the door.
I'm not perfect but I always wipe up my DS' face after eating and in the morning. It makes me wonder if they even noticed(which is sad) or that they just don't care(which is still sad.) Everyone has a runny nose so during diaper change after naps, everyone gets their face wiped. After meals, face wiped and hands wiped.

This is a vent but has anyone mentioned it or made a point to make a show of wiping a kid's face to make the DCP's realize they're missing a parenting step?

Honestly...do it.