I am watching 2 sisters ages 4 1/2 and 14 months. Their parents are foreign and apparently don't have the same thoughts as myself on how often their children should be bathed. This has been an ongoing problem for some time now. They also have another daughter wh is in 1st grade that I do not watch. I have been counting the days lately in between their baths...it is very easy to tell when they have been bathed because the knots are gone for their hair and they look and smell clean. I also ask the 4 1/2 year old if she took a bath the night before and the answer is almost always NO. It is really bad. As of right now they have not had a bath in 8 days. Gross. They smell terrible, the baby smells disgusting in her diaper area, the 4 year old is constantly scratching at her bottom and private areas. I cannot deal with it anymore. I tell the mother when she picks up sometimes "they really need a bath, they are really dirty" She most of the time brings them the next day just as yucky as the day before. The mother is gross too as she does not bathe either. I am really considering letting them go, but I do not know how I should do it. I also feel sorry for the kids and do not know how to help them.

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can you give the parents a written notice telling the dcp that you are mandated by the state to turn in child abuse/neglect and that since you have previously told them the children need to be bathed that if they do not start dropping the children off clean you will have no choice but to report them as them being dirty is a form of neglect?
the diaper area stinking could cause an infection and nasty rashes for both kids..

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Since you have obviously brought it to her attention and she still has done nothing, if it were me ( I have been there before) I would first and most inportantly give them a bath. They are giving your family and others germs and that is not sanitary. I would get them all cleaned up, wash their clothes if needed and explain that I bathed them and that if they continue to come to daycare unbathed that you will be terminating their services..be sure you give them a written notice as well.

I know this is a tough subject but you have to consider the risk you are putting on all the other children and your family. But I would most definately bath the kids myself..=)

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I would do the very same.

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I should have also mentioned that I have it VERY clearly written in my childcare handbook that I will not tolerate uncleanliness..period! Just when you think something in the handbook is common sense...someone amazes you with their "different way if thinking"

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Not only would I hose down the little dirtballs, I'd bring it to the parents attention that NEXT time this occurs, there will be an additional charge for the extra services.


I mean, we all get busy and the kids may skip a day of getting a bath once in a while (if they're not stinky or grubby), but a week? I don't think I let the dog go that long without a bath.

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Thank you all for the replies. I am stressing out about the issues with them. It's not only the bath, they also do not brush the children's teeth in the morning. Only at night is what the 4 year old tells me. I have tried to teach her that the dentist says you need to brush in the morning and at night, but it doesn't work. she says "well my Mommy only brushes hers in the night so I brush mine in the night" It doesn't matter what I try to teach them, they will always think that their parents are right. All kids that little do. So I am at a loss at this pioint. As far as me giving them a bath--I am hesitant because I don't know if it appropriate for me to be bathing their children. I have thought about calling my licensing specialist and asking her advice with the situation. I think I am going to do that today.

The other huge problem with them is that the 4 year old sucks her 2 fingers constantly. I mean all the time. She has her hand in her mouth pretty much everytime I look at her. I have tried and tried and tried everything
I could think of to get her to sop. I have made incentive charts with prizes, I have told her about the germs, I have talked to her about how she cannot do it in school when she goes, but all to no avail. I could not figure out for the longest time why nothing was working until one day when I asked her why she was still sucking her fingers and didn't she want to stop and be a big girl, her respose was "when my Mommy stops sucking her fingers, I'll stop sucking mine" I was shocked. This was later confirmed by her husband who says, yes the mother does suck her 2 fingers also out of habit since she was a little girl. I mean what am I supposed to do. everything I try to teach them is thrown out from their parents. Ugh, so frustrating. I truly feel sorry for these kids when they get older. I am sorry, you may get by now, but society will not let you be stinky and gross for long without making fun of you for it. That's what makes me so mad. If they have these issues with bathing themselves, fine. But come on, don't not bathe your children for god sake. Ugh!

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Whoa, whoa! Hold the phone! I agree that this is gross and I'd be tempted to bathe them too, however, do you have PERMISSION to take off all their clothing and bathe them?

I am just looking out for you here. If they are foreign there may be a religous issue at play. There also may be a specific way they bathe, certain soap, etc. You could get yourself into a lot of trouble doing this without permission.

I would have a gentle talk with the parents. If that doesn't work, a letter. If that doesn't work, term them.

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I used to have two little boys come to my home with crusty black mud on their feet--absolutely disgusting! They had to take off shoes and socks outside (where they would stay all day) and hose off their feet before they were alloowed in the house. Mom never seemed to be bothered at all--go figure.

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