Is it normal for DCP to only change diaper twice on a 6mo for a full day?

[Ophelia]

My son stayed at this DCP for a few years, but I mostly used disposables and then waterproof trainers. 

I just started DD there part time 2 days week.  She is there about 7-8 hours total and I noticed that she only comes home with 2 dirty diapers used out of the large amount I stuff in her bag.  And the diapers are soaked.  I use Softbums with one smaller insert (I EC so I change her and take her potty a lot at home).  I mentioned that she could use two inserts to soak more and she did, but they are still soaked!  The are the drysoak kind of liner where they aren't supposed to feel wet, but it still stays a bit wet on the top and especially when it's soaked and noplace else for the pee to go. 

I told her I understand she can't change her as often as I do, but twice in a whole workday??  Is it reasonable for me to ask her to change her 4 times?  Twice in the morning and twice afternoon.  I don't know exactly how many kids she has (not a ton and a few are going back to school) and she does have helpers.  IF so, how would I word it?

Thanks!

[Mosaic]

At our center, 6mo are changed every 2 hours and as needed. 4-5 times/day is common and I think very reasonable.

That said, I know that sometimes there are fewer diapers in there just because of timing. If you drop her off clean and dry and they change diapers every 3 hours, then that would only be twice a day and she would be due for a change right when you come pick her up. So, sometimes it can be less, too. So instead of saying x times per day, I'd maybe tell them that it really helps to change cloth diapers every 2-3 hours because otherwise they're so absorbant and don't fatten up like disposies, so it might not be obvious she needs a change.

[LilMomma83]

I'm sorry but I am in shock here. When I worked the infant room of a daycare center we were required to change every 2 hours, in the preschool room we had to do every hour because some kids were potty training. Our home DCP changed our kids like 7-8 times in a 10-11 hour day...sometimes more. REGARDLESS if they were in cloth or disposables that day (I always sent fresh diapers whichever kind I was using and took a count at the end of the day. We always sent in a fresh diaper in the morning and nearly always they were clean or just barely wet when we picked up. I would be really really upset if I was you...that sounds like neglect.

Sorry about the tone of my post, I am just so horrified by that...and I really am quite late back about most things, but, that just really pushes my buttons because it is health and safety related.

[Super~Single~Mama]

Yeah, they should be changing her more often than that - LOTS more. 

[StephandOwen]

Wow. In the daycare I worked at we changed every 2 hours, plus whenever a poop happened. If we knew a kid had a red/rashy butt we would change more often- around every hour. We knew around what time each parent came and would change the childs diaper right before that so they were fresh and clean when the parent arrived. Twice a day? No way.

[lunarlady]

I would just say you expect her to be changed at least every two hours, and more often if needed. Twice a day is not nearly enough!

[WildKingdom]

Yeah, wet or not, my kids were changed every two hours.  Sometimes I was even annoyed a bit, since I felt like I was ALWAYS bringing in more diapers!

[indignantgirl]

The center I worked at changed diapers every two hours, plus any time there was a poop in between those 2 hours.  There is NO REASON that they can't change your baby as often as necessary.  Even disposables would need to be changed more than that!

[Alphaghetti]

Home daycare provider here. I agree with everyone above - for that time frame, she should come home with at LEAST four soiled diapers. I change every two hours, and of course every poop.

[sewchris2642]

What other posters said--way not changed often enough.  The dc I used changed every 2 hours or as needed but never longer than 2 hours unless the child was sleeping.  She was constantly telling the parents who used disposibles to bring more because the parents didn't change the diapers at home often enough.

[JudiAU]

Most states require diaper changes every two hours or with poop. Twice in a day sounds really neglectful personally.

[Ophelia]

Thanks!  I'll mention every 2 hours and see how it goes.  Last time she came home with ONE dirty diaper and an extra dirty insert!  ??  And she was dry when I got there which means she was probably changed not too long before that, so she went most of the day in one wet diaper??

This is all my county law says about changing frequency: 

B. Diapers and clothing must be changed when wet or soiled.

[sewchris2642]

This might help.  http://nrckids.org/STATES/states.htm  Just click on your state to see its child care laws.

[Ophelia]

I went to the new page for the link above and I'm not sure where to look...?  Thanks!

[sewchris2642]

I don't know what's up with the link.  When I click on it on my post, I get page not found and get directed back to the home page.  When I put in the key words interactive map I get the link to that page (http://nrckids.org/sphider/search.php?query=interactive+map&submit.x=10&submit.y=12&search=1).  Clicking on that link works.  Clicking on the link in my bookmarks works and they are all the same link.

Ok, I just clicked on the link in this post and it did take me to the search page that has the link that works.  So I hope it works for you.  It should take you to a map of the US.  Clicking on your state takes you to the child care regulations of your state.

[Ophelia]

Now i see the link, thanks!  it says:

Diapers. Children in diapers shall be kept clean and dry. The following sanitary

procedures must be used to reduce the spread of communicable disease.

A. An adequate supply of clean diapers must be available for each child and stored in a clean

place inaccessible to children. If cloth diapers are used, parents must provide a change of the outer plastic

pants for each fecally soiled diaper change. Cloth diapers, except those supplied by a commercial diaper

service, and plastic pants, if supplied by parents, must be labeled with the child's name.

B. Diapers and clothing must be changed when wet or soiled.

So yesterday the poor girl had TWO diapers with pooh, and I don't know how long she was sitting in it because she has a rash I'm trying to treat and it's WAY worse now where the pooh would have sat :(  I guess I don't expect her to realize right away if she poohs (not like it's usually loud or anything).  So she came home with the two poopy dipes and I think one wet insert, this was for about 7.5 hours there.  I did ask when I dropped her off to change her every 1.5 to 2 hours.

[sewchris2642]

Another thing to look at is what is the ratio of adults to children by age.  Does your dc have enough adults to be changing the diapers without taking an adult away from watching the other babies/toddlers/children?

[LilMomma83]

Originally Posted by sewchris2642 

Another thing to look at is what is the ratio of adults to children by age.  Does your dc have enough adults to be changing the diapers without taking an adult away from watching the other babies/toddlers/children?

Call me harsh, but if the ratio od adults is too low for her to change a baby often enough than it is too low for her to be watching that baby. I just wouldn't tollerate anything that is raising question in your mind...I did that with a former daycare and it ended up that the "red flags" barely scratched the surface....I am not trying to tell you what to do but this just sounds neglectful to me which would really make me wonder what else is being neglected...just my two cents...

[Jules09]

I agree with all of the previous posters.  I would think every 2 hours plus more if they noticed she is wet/poopy would really be needed.  I'm sorry you're going through this, it must be stressful for you to be worried about your DD!

[sewchris2642]

Originally Posted by LilMomma83 

Call me harsh, but if the ratio od adults is too low for her to change a baby often enough than it is too low for her to be watching that baby. I just wouldn't tollerate anything that is raising question in your mind...I did that with a former daycare and it ended up that the "red flags" barely scratched the surface....I am not trying to tell you what to do but this just sounds neglectful to me which would really make me wonder what else is being neglected...just my two cents...

Which is why I posed the question.  In CA home dc (which is what I used) can have a ratio of 1 adult to 2 infants (defined as 0 to 2 years).  There are states where the ratio is 1 adult to 4 children regardless of age.