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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Do You Allow Kids To Arrive In Pajamas?
GKJNIGMN 08:34 AM 03-29-2014
If not, what is your reasoning?

Does it matter what time they arrive?

One of my DCMs is moving from 3rd shift back to 1st on Monday. She needs to drop her kids off at 5:30AM and her kids are out of control for her especially if she has to wake them.

I am leaning towards telling her they need to arrive dressed as well as with appropriate outdoor clothing or be turned away at the door but I want to make sure that I am not just making rules for the sake of it.

I seem to remember reading on here a while back that's what most everyone did and I have 3 kids of my own on top of other daycare kids to handle in the morning so it would probably simplify things for me.
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daycare 08:56 AM 03-29-2014
I dont care what you are wearing as long as it fits properly and does not enable the child to play freely.

I have kids come in costumes, PJ, and etc
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nothingwithoutjoy 09:12 AM 03-29-2014
Originally Posted by daycare:
I dont care what you are wearing as long as it fits properly and does enable the child to play freely.
I agree with this.

But it sounds like she wants you to dress them. I wouldn't want to be responsible for that every day (unless they're much earlier than other kids and you'd have time to do it before they arrive).
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craftymissbeth 09:34 AM 03-29-2014
I have two dcb's that arrive at 5:30 and go right back to bed. I definitely wouldn't mind if they showed up in pajamas ( they don't, though), but it would be my decision if I had time to change them or not. Some days are a whole lot more chaotic than others so I imagine some days they'd stay in pj's
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KiddieCahoots 09:39 AM 03-29-2014
I don't allow arrival in pj's.
With the growing threat of bed bugs, it makes me wary. I've even put in my hb, no bedding (blankies) to be brought to the child care.
The center down the street from me just had an outbreak of bed bugs.
Not to mention the explosive morning urine diapers they can arrive in.
Gross!
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CraftyMom 10:19 AM 03-29-2014
The unchanged diapers would annoy me. I went through a period where 3 out of 4 parents would bring their kids with an overflowing diaper EVERYDAY that needed changing within minutes of arriving, and they weren't even wearing pjs, just got dressed without a diaper change. It was a lot of unnecessary extra work first thing in the morning while trying to get my kids off to school.

I would assume they are being plucked out of their bed and put in the car and brought over, no diaper change.

I currently do not allow kids to arrive in pjs UNLESS we are having a pj day, then we would all be in pjs.

IF I decided to allow it, diapers would have to be changed before coming and the child will likely be in pjs all day. I can see this catching on with the other dcp's. Once they see another kid arriving in pjs they would want to save time by doing the same. I WOULD NOT be dressing 5 kids in addition to my own everyday
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CraftyMom 10:20 AM 03-29-2014
Oh and they need to have a coat and proper outdoor gear as well. I imagine parents want to just pick them up blanket and all and stick them in the car.
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GKJNIGMN 10:50 AM 03-29-2014
Rather than fight her on it, I may just let her know she will still be turned away at the door for a soiled diaper and missing outdoor gear as she is now and that whatever she brings them in they will be wearing until she picks them up.

Thanks for the help. I honestly hadn't even thought of the fact that she may find it acceptable not to change diapers because it's the morning lol
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nannyde 10:58 AM 03-29-2014
Just remember that the 5:30 am arrival parent has the same 24 hrs in a day that all other parents have. She needs to get her kids up, dressed, and changed and ready for daycare just like everyone else. There's nothing special about her schedule.
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Leigh 01:16 PM 03-29-2014
I don't care if kids show up in PJ's at all. I just change their clothes at first diaper change.
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Mom of 4 01:33 PM 03-29-2014
Originally Posted by KiddieCahoots:
I don't allow arrival in pj's.
With the growing threat of bed bugs, it makes me wary. I've even put in my hb, no bedding (blankies) to be brought to the child care.
The center down the street from me just had an outbreak of bed bugs.
Not to mention the explosive morning urine diapers they can arrive in.
Gross!
I kinda see this, but if the jammies have bed bugs, couldn't regular clothes? I heard they lay eggs ANYWHERE
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Naptime yet? 03:21 PM 03-29-2014
Only my SAer has showed up in pjs & she just dresses herself when she gets here, so I don't care. I think if one of my littles showed up on pjs they'd be in them all day because of basically what Nannyde said.
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TwinKristi 03:57 PM 03-29-2014
I actually like getting the kids dressed for the day. As long as they arrive in properly fitting PJs and a fresh diaper I'm okay getting them dressed. Some kids arrive dressed every day and some arrive in PJs every day and some are 50/50!
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KidGrind 04:41 PM 03-29-2014
Originally Posted by GKJNIGMN:
Rather than fight her on it, I may just let her know she will still be turned away at the door for a soiled diaper and missing outdoor gear as she is now and that whatever she brings them in they will be wearing until she picks them up.

Thanks for the help. I honestly hadn't even thought of the fact that she may find it acceptable not to change diapers because it's the morning lol
I don’t have a policy on PJs. Once it has happened. During pick up, DCPs are ! “Johnny you’re still in pajamas?!”

“You dropped him off in pajamas. So pajamas it is for the day. If you don’t have time to dress him with two children, what would make you think I have the time with 6 other children in care?”


He has never been dropped off with pajamas again.
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jenn 04:58 PM 03-29-2014
I don't want them coming in something that they have slept in. If they come in what they wore to sleep in, their diaper probably hasn't been changed, and their hair probably hasn't been combed, and their teeth probably haven't been brushed. Yuck. The mom needs to get them ready before bringing them. I understand that 5:30 is early, but it takes the same amount of time and effort to get them ready at 5:30 as it would at 7:30.
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preschoolteacher 05:03 PM 03-29-2014
I don't care if they arrive in pajamas, but it's only happened once. I change kids if they are wearing something ridiculous for group care (one-piece jumper with a million snaps on the legs on a 2 year old, for example). I actually think pajamas can be easier to work with than some of the tight skinny jeans and other clothes sometimes!
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Angelsj 05:08 PM 03-29-2014
Originally Posted by TwinKristi:
I actually like getting the kids dressed for the day. As long as they arrive in properly fitting PJs and a fresh diaper I'm okay getting them dressed. Some kids arrive dressed every day and some arrive in PJs every day and some are 50/50!
I actually change one to pjs..lol
My infant always arrives dressed to the hilt (first girl, first grandbaby girl, etc)
I usually change her into a nice comfy blanket sleeper at her first diaper change and change her back to her clothes before she leaves. Easier on her, easier on me.
Older kids, I don't care one way or the other, though they need to have a fresh diaper and they do need outdoor wear. When I have early ones like that and they are going to go back to sleep (anyone arriving before 6:00 goes back to sleep) it is fine. I will change them when they awake again.
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KiddieCahoots 06:04 PM 03-29-2014
Originally Posted by Mom of 4:
I kinda see this, but if the jammies have bed bugs, couldn't regular clothes? I heard they lay eggs ANYWHERE
Yes, you are correct.
In the dictionary "bed bug" is defined as....a small, wingless, biting insect that infests beds, etc
If they primarily fester in the bed, I'd rather try to avoid that.
Also....a year ago, I had a family that I was sure had them. The telltale bite marks were on the children, they stopped bringing their own blankets for nap, started wearing new clothing every day (tags were still on some), and had moved into the grandmother's for awhile.....the whole family that is. I even had them supply me with a doctor's note, but only read bug bites, and was non specific. This was in the winter too. I was in a panic, but thankfully, nothing appeared. That was when I implemented the new policy of "no blankies", hoping it would help.
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Leigh 06:32 PM 03-29-2014
Originally Posted by KidGrind:
I don’t have a policy on PJs. Once it has happened. During pick up, DCPs are ! “Johnny you’re still in pajamas?!”

“You dropped him off in pajamas. So pajamas it is for the day. If you don’t have time to dress him with two children, what would make you think I have the time with 6 other children in care?”


He has never been dropped off with pajamas again.

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Starburst 09:45 PM 03-29-2014
Where I used to work (an FCC) some of the children would come in wearing pjs and she didn't really mind (especially if it was early in the morning) as long as they brought appropriate day clothing for them to change into before preschool time started; but she also had 2 assistants for most of the day.
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Blackcat31 07:12 AM 03-30-2014
As long as the clothing isn't dangerous in any way, I don't care what they wear.

But whatever they come in, they leave in too.
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sharlan 07:55 AM 03-30-2014
As long as the diaper is fresh, I don't care. I don't mind dressing them, brushing teeth and hair.

I have one that RARELY comes with her hair brushed because they know that I'll just redo it.
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Crazy8 08:40 AM 03-30-2014
I don't have a specific policy on it but what they come dressed in is what they stay in. I wouldn't do such an early arrival in the first place but I'd feel like if they are waking them to change their diapers in the morning they can just as easily throw some fresh clean clothes on them so I would expect them dressed no matter what time they arrive.
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MrsSteinel'sHouse 11:38 AM 03-30-2014
If they arrive before 9 am I do not mind if they are in pjs and I will feed them breakfast. If they are after 9 am though they need to be ready to go because who knows what we will be into by then!! I also ask for no overnight diapers. T
I have a 5:30 on and I prefer if her momma just changes her diaper and brings her down. I feed her a bottle and she goes back to sleep until 8:30. Just because momma has to be at work at 6 dd doesn't have to be
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MarinaVanessa 11:55 AM 03-30-2014
As long as they arrive in a clean fresh diaper I don't mind if they arrive in pajamas if they have a drop-off earlier than 7am (I rarely approve earlier drop-offs). I have clients with a 7am drop-off time and their child is ALWAYS dressed and ready for the day, if they can do it then other parents that drop off at that time can too. Earlier than 7am drop-offs that come in PJ's for me aren't a big deal because I can just lay them back down to sleep and wake them later to change into their regular clothes when I change their diaper.

On the other hand ... if a parent is already going to half undress the child to change the diaper in the EARLY AM hours then it's not that much more effort to just put the child's day outfit on KWIM? If the child is wearing one piece PJ's and unzips to pull the legs out for the diaper change then putting on a pair of pants is almost the same as putting the legs back into the jammies and pulling their arms out and putting on a shirt isn't that much more work. If the child is wearing a 2-piece jammie then putting on a pair of fresh pants is the same as putting the jammie pants back on. Pulling off the jammie shirt to put a shirt on is another thing but really not that hard either.
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spinnymarie 12:08 PM 03-30-2014
I don't care what they come in, and if mom leaves a change of clothes that they can change into themselves, I don't care either. But I'm not doing it, and the parents should be prepared for them to come home in Jammies too.
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taylorw1210 12:16 PM 03-30-2014
Originally Posted by daycare:
I dont care what you are wearing as long as it fits properly and does not enable the child to play freely.

I have kids come in costumes, PJ, and etc
I agree - with the addition that the kids at least come with a clean diaper. I've not had this happen yet, thank goodness! I have a few kiddos who come early in the morning in PJs and I happily change them later in the afternoon. Most of my younger kiddos (under 2) get changed most days anyways because my younger group tends to be on the messy side, no matter how much I do to prevent it!
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sahm1225 02:47 PM 03-30-2014
I have it in my handbook that kids must come dressed and ready for the day, but I honestly don't mind if they are in well-fitting pajamas. Most of the time, they will stay in it until I remember to change them (or if they just stay in pajamas). Sometimes I think pajanas just fit better and are more comfortable for playing games, kwim?

I have kids that come dressed but you can tell they were dragged out of bed and them dropped off. They are hungry, teeth or hair not brushed and just out of it. I have a 2 year old that some times dresses herself and comes in in mismatched pajamas, but she comes in so happy and ready to play! I'd take that any day vs the dragged out of bed ones!
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Blackcat31 03:16 PM 03-30-2014
This question comes up every once in a while here on this board and every time, I've though the question but never actually asked so...

What do you consider PJ's?

How about for adults?

I bet there are a million different definitions of PJ's...

I see people in town shopping every day wearing things I only wear at home or things I would never wear.ever. so I was just curious what do others consider pajamas....
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DaisyMamma 03:43 PM 03-30-2014
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
This question comes up every once in a while here on this board and every time, I've though the question but never actually asked so...

What do you consider PJ's?

How about for adults?

I bet there are a million different definitions of PJ's...

I see people in town shopping every day wearing things I only wear at home or things I would never wear.ever. so I was just curious what do others consider pajamas....
I consider pajamas to be whatever the child slept in the night before. Especially if they come with something to change into for the day (clothing).

And to answer the original question, no I don't allow it. I have enough trouble getting myself and my own kids dressed. If they show up in pajamas then that's what they wear all day
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Blackcat31 04:24 PM 03-30-2014
Originally Posted by DaisyMamma:
I consider pajamas to be whatever the child slept in the night before. Especially if they come with something to change into for the day (clothing).

And to answer the original question, no I don't allow it. I have enough trouble getting myself and my own kids dressed. If they show up in pajamas then that's what they wear all day
But how do you know they slept in something?

I have a lot of kids who are allowed to dress themselves every day.

Sometimes it isn't always obvious.
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EntropyControlSpecialist 09:14 PM 03-30-2014
Originally Posted by daycare:
I dont care what you are wearing as long as it fits properly and does not enable the child to play freely.

I have kids come in costumes, PJ, and etc
Me, too. I just do not change kids.
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melskids 02:44 AM 03-31-2014
I don't care what they wear. I usually have bigger mountains to climb.
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Kimskiddos 05:36 AM 03-31-2014
Originally Posted by spinnymarie:
I don't care what they come in, and if mom leaves a change of clothes that they can change into themselves, I don't care either. But I'm not doing it, and the parents should be prepared for them to come home in Jammies too.

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Heidi 07:10 AM 03-31-2014
Originally Posted by craftymissbeth:
I have two dcb's that arrive at 5:30 and go right back to bed. I definitely wouldn't mind if they showed up in pajamas ( they don't, though), but it would be my decision if I had time to change them or not. Some days are a whole lot more chaotic than others so I imagine some days they'd stay in pj's
Ditto this...

In fact, going back to bed would not even be a choice in my house if they arrived that early. It would be whispered "hello's", and right to bed. Then, I'd crawl back into my own bed for an hour (allowed as long as I am not licensed for that time, which I wouldn't be). This is what I used to do when I had very early kids like that. Then, when my kids got up for school, I'd wake them up and get them dressed as well. I'll let you, it made for happier kids and happier me. 5:30 is way too early to be up and happy all day!
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daycare 06:43 PM 03-31-2014
the wet diaper would not be ok with me, but as someone else said whatever they arrive in is what they are leaving in.

It says in my policies that children should arrive clean, dressed and ready to go. That includes wet diapers. I had a parent try to drop off with dirty diaper one time right at breakfast time and I said oh shes wet, her diapers are on the top and I kept on cooking breakfast.

To my knowledge, I don't think that it happened again.
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rebekki78 11:11 AM 04-02-2014
Originally Posted by daycare:
I dont care what you are wearing as long as it fits properly and does not enable the child to play freely.

I have kids come in costumes, PJ, and etc
I agree with this. If they come in pj's though, they may just be in pj's when the parents pick them up. Hey, less laundry, right?
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rebekki78 11:14 AM 04-02-2014
Originally Posted by KidGrind:
I don’t have a policy on PJs. Once it has happened. During pick up, DCPs are ! “Johnny you’re still in pajamas?!”

“You dropped him off in pajamas. So pajamas it is for the day. If you don’t have time to dress him with two children, what would make you think I have the time with 6 other children in care?”


He has never been dropped off with pajamas again.
I love this.
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