Cloth Diapers at Preschool

[AnalogWife]

My 3.25 yo DS wears Fuzzi Bunz and his preschool reports they've never had any students with CD's before but they have been very open about allowing us to use his.

Every day I pick him up, the top half of his bottom is showing. They have told me that they put diapers on with the child standing up, a measure to prepare for the potty, so I can see why it's a little difficult to get it to fit right, but.

I also think that this might give CDs a bad name, as though that on top of the work some teachers and parents may also believe that they are also ill-fitting, which is NOT TRUE.

Would you tell the teachers how to put the diapers on? Like, in the communication notebook? We have an IEP meeting TOMORROW, should I say anything? Or just let it slide, I mean, he's being well cared for otherwise, why bother implying that special ed teachers don't know how to put on diapers.

TIA

[VocalMinority]

I think you should say it similarly to how you've said it here. Wait until you cover all the important stuff at the conference, then bring it up, emphasizing that you feel your child is well-cared-for, you appreciate their willingness to allow CDs at all, and this is not a complaint. Explain that if you take a minute to demonstrate how to put it on, both your son and the staff will be more comfortable (surely they don't like having his rear hanging out...and worrying what might spill!). Then you can laugh a little and say, if you're the school's CD pioneer, you don't want to give CD's a bad name and leave people thinking they never fit right!

[khaoskat]

I would politely say hey I noticed that DS's diapers are not on quite right, and would be more than willing to show you and anyone else who helps with the diapering, how to put them on correctly so his little bum is not showing. I am so thankful that you are willing to allow CD'ing and will gladly answer any questions you have about them.

[Areia]

I've never used cloth diapers so I'm not sure if this is a stupid question, but are they easy to put on the child while he is standing? Maybe they are having a hard time getting the right fit with him standing....

My DD's preschool requires that kids still potty training use pull ups rather than diapers - one reason they note that they don't have a changing table on site. The school's bathroom is small so there wouldn't even be a place where they could lay down a pad and towel to change him away from the other kids (even if changing him on the floor would be OK w/you).

[kathteach]

I can change FBs with my son standing up but it's not as easy as a pullup for sure. I'd give it time, they may be going through a learning curve. If they're not fitted correctly after say 3 days they need help. But I'd say give them a chance to work with it.

[JudiAU]

Usually there is a designated diaper-changer because most states require regularly scheduled diaper changes under daycare laws. I would change the diaper in front of the primary diaper changer in the school, making sure they understand what is the current correct snap settings. The key I think would be making sure the person understands what snaps should be used. Be friendly, and don't make it a complaint issue.

We do cloth at our preschool and it isn't a big deal. We just provide an attractice wet bag. DS is in training pants now but still...

[AnalogWife]

Thanks all. So far DS has been getting rotating 1x1 aides, and it appears that the aide is the person who changes his diaper, and there's been a number of them since he started services last summer. The IEP meeting has come and gone without me saying anything about it. It is my hope that they notice that the diapers *fit* when DS shows up every morning, I think it was my own mistake that I did not address this on Day 1, I just wish they'd ask if there was a better way (but in their defense, I always put the diaper on lying down.)

One of the big things on his IEP and a request for my action is to get him more into taking off his own clothes, this is apparently part of the potty process, I guess we'll just take things as they come. Thank you for your input.