Daycare retraction?

[eightyferrettoes]

I registered my 10 month old at a daycare center for about 6 hours a week starting in January.

The staff turnover is high, the circ rate for the kids is ridiculously high, and the center is quite large. I'm really afraid some random caregiver will miss the boat and retract at a diaper change in spite of my best efforts to tell them NOT to.

Would I be able to tell if that happened? Any tips would be appreciated.

[daekini]

I really don't know - the only tip I have is *Don't Let It Happen!!!!*

So what if you can tell if it happened or not - by that time it's too late.

I know that may not be much help, but I'd write "do not retract foreskin" in indelible ink just under his navel if I had to.

Honestly, from what you've said already about this place, I'd never leave my son there.

High turnover rate? Large center? Random caregivers?

I'd start looking for another daycare center ASAP.

[LuAnn]

[QUOTE=daekini]I really don't know - the only tip I have is *Don't Let It Happen!!!!*

I know that may not be much help, but I'd write "do not retract foreskin" in indelible ink just under his navel if I had to.
QUOTE]

That would be my advice, also, and I am not joking at all. Suppose they retract, and it gets stuck behind the glans, and then it swells, baby is screaming, they take it to the hospital, and you know the rest. They might not even bother notifying you that they've taken the baby to Emergency because "it" looks so bad and the baby is crying so loud. With intact children in the care of others, I always plan for the worst, because babies cannot speak up for themselves.

[Frankly Speaking]

Originally Posted by eightyferrettoes

Would I be able to tell if that happened? Any tips would be appreciated.

Most likely. There should be swelling, redness and maybe even bleeding. It will probably be tender to the touch and would also probably be painful when urinating.

I recommend printing out the AAP's guidelines on intact care to give them and warn them ahead of time that you will recognize the symptoms of him being retracted and that you will be willing to pursue legal action. This should get one of two responses. Either they will not take your son in or they will institue a policy of not retracting boys and make all aware of it.




Frank

[A&A]

I just talked to any and all staff members who might change my son. I said, "He's intact; that means he's not circumcised. Don't retract or push back his foreskin at all to clean it. Just wipe the outside of his penis off like a finger." They've been great!

Doctors are more likely to retract against your wishes because they have major egos. Daycare workers generally don't have those kind of egos.

[AntoninBeGonin]

I worked as a daycare infant teacher for a year. Here are some reasons I wouldn't worry too much:

1. Daycare teachers change so many diapers that all they care about is finishing, they don't spend time searching under skin for hidden poop.

2. Honestly, there were times when I couldn't tell if a kid was intact or cut. And I don't think the other teachers even thought to pay attention.

3. Here in IL the staff to infant ratio is 4 babies per 1 teacher. Our goal was to get through diaper changes as quickly as possible.

~Nay

[Leiahs]

If you're worried about it, you can also take the advice I got in an email from Doctors Opposing Circumcision:

We have available colorful diaper stickers that say *I'm intact; Don't Retract!* if these would prove useful to you. They are meant to give a no-so-subtle warning that is non-confrontational for mothers to use to raise the issue, and establishes a legal duty to protect the child from harm. They will be on the web soon but are not now.

Please send your snail if you 'd like a sheet of these, no charge.

John V. Geisheker, JD, LL.M.
Executive Director,
Doctors Opposing Circumcision
www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org

You could put these stickers on the diaper your son wears to day care, as well as on every diaper you send with him. Hope that helps!

[~Megan~]

Can you find another daycare with less turnover. I'd imagine that a place with long term employees would provide better care for the children. And he'd have an overall better experience and be able to bond with the people there.

[eightyferrettoes]

[QUOTE=mamao'two]Can you find another daycare with less turnover.QUOTE]

Not really, unfortunately. University tuition is about to break the bank as is, and this daycare is subsidized through DH's work, so it's really all we can afford right now... considering it's 5 or 6 hours a week, I'm okay with that. Shoot, getting a slot anywhere, period, for part-time care isn't a picnic.

Another mama warned me that this might be an issue at a big center, though.

Thanks, guys. I'll print off the AAP sheet and go talk to the head teacher about it this week.

[Fi.]

Make the person enrolling you sign an intact care agreement, and if the agreement is broken, take legal action and let them know you won't hesitate. Let them know the signs are VERY obvious as well.