I’ve mentioned before that NIkkiZ got moved to the toddler class a couple of weeks ago. This is due to a general restructuring of the classes - so I’ve been just watching as schedules and teachers get settled into new environments. The teachers in NikkiZ’s class have had to make some adjustments with the onslaught of crawlers and they’ve done an okay job so far.
But, there’s this “toy” they have, that I’m sure seemed like a good idea to someone somewhere for some age group, but NOT for this one. It is a big water bottle (maybe 30oz?) filled about 1/5th of the way with glitter and beads with the lid “glued” on. The big kids just use it as a rattle like any other noise maker. But, NikkiZ has been putting the top of it in her mouth and chewing. I saw her with it for the first time yesterday and said, “Um, this toy makes me a little nervous. If she gets the top off, those beads are going straight into her mouth.” The lead teacher, who is nice enough, said, “The lid is supposed to be super-glued on.” I just casually mentioned that it’s not anymore, since I was able to get the lid off, and just left for the day.
But through the night? I found myself thinking - WHAT THE HELL? First of all? No matter what you’re using to stick the lid in place - NOTHING is a permanent hold and that risk alone seems enough to remove the toy for good. It’s not like there’s a shortage of rattles in that room. BUT - let’s just say super-glue would seal it on there forever, who wants their kid sticking something in their mouth that has super-glue on it? HELLO? TOXIC? How is coating a toy with a toxic substance going to make me feel better about that toy’s existence?
Of course, none of these thoughts popped into my head yesterday. I was just like, “Uh - Okay.”
But this morning? I kinda insisted they (there’s more than one of those genius creations…) be removed. The morning teachers are the ones I love and they totally agreed with me (they are in the baby room most of the day, so they didn’t know about those toys) and took them out immediately. But seriously, the more I thought about it last night? The more I got irritated that none of these thoughts had occurred to any of the full-time teachers who are in that room all day watching the babies put that toy in their mouths. BAH. One man’s common sense is another man’s rocket science, I guess.
There have got to be regulations that they are in violation of!
Here in Texas there is a website (http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Care/Search_Texas_Child_Care/ppFacilitySearchDayCare.asp) that you can use to look up all the rules/regulations that daycares are subject to. AND you can see if there have been any violations - when, why, and if/when resolved.
Maybe your state has one too?
You are totally in the right, by the way!
First of all as Leah said, you are totally right on this. Even if you don’t consider the top being able to be loosened, and even if you can get past the toxicity of the glue, there are still choking hazzards in the bottle, and that alone (as if you really needed to get this far) is enough.
It is probably an unfair view to take, but you have to pre-suppose that not all daycare workers are there for their love of kids and their wisdom and that this is just a job they want to make it through the day with, and so your child (the generic your not YOUR) child is just a part of the drugery of the day, and not the special person that she is.
Okay, I know jack all about babies, and even I know that’s a terrible idea. Good thing you spoke up about it.
I don’t know why someone thought that was a good idea. Bizarre.
Dontcha hate it when people make you feel like an overbearing/unreasonable mother for pointing out stuff like that? Sheesh!