Clothing & Shoes at Daycare & Preschool
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Clothing & Shoes at Daycare & Preschool
May 2009
My baby has been wearing pedipeds originals and now that she is
walking, her daycare is asking for shoes that will protect her
feet from being run over with a bicycle, wagon etc.(the
pedipeds are completely soft like a sock). They also have
several different surfaces such as tambark, rocks, gravel,
grass etc. They are asking for at least the pediped flex style
shoes and I want to keep her in the orignal style. Am I being
unreasonable?
mom
Yes, I think you are probably being unreasonable. Daycare providers are
responsible
(both morally and legally) to ensure that the children under their care are
physically
safe, and one of the ways they must do this with children who are walking is to
protect
their feet from dangers in the environment (bikes, wagons, adults who do not
happen
to see the child, etc.). Socks (or shoes that are just like socks) are not enough
to do
this.
Think of it this way -- would you be upset if your child's feet were injured by
someone
stepping on them, or by a wagon being pulled over them? If the answer is yes, you
need to get protective shoes.
Karen
If you don't care if she comes home with a broken toe, (and if you won't hold the
daycare responsible) then no, you are not being unreasonable.
anon
Jeez. YES, you are being unreasonable. The daycare has been
clear with you that your daughter's safety is the reason they
want her to have harder shoes. Why are you refusing to listen?
Do you want her to come home with a toe smashed from being in the
way of a tricycle?
I would be so annoyed with you if I was her daycare provider.
Yes, you are being unreasonable. Would you walk down the street
in Pedipeds? Guess what, your child can walk now. Despite what
the soft shoe people say, your baby's little feet will not
shrivel and fall off if they have a thick sole. Pediped Flex look
perfect.
anon
Yes, you're being unreasonable, and putting your child's feet in danger. Just
find some
harder shoes you really like (try the Stride Rite store) and have her wear those
at
school. She can wear the Pedipeds the rest of the time. The school has these
rules for
good reason, and they can't keep your daughter safe without your cooperation.
Berkeley mom
You didn't mention why you have a strong preference for your
baby to keep wearing her current shoes, but I think this might
be an area where it would be OK to compromise a little. No
daycare is 100% perfect for any given child, and sometimes you
will need to make small compromises for group child care if you
otherwise are happy with the child care. (There are probably 10-
15 tiny things I would change about my kids' daycare if I were
in charge, things that would better suit my family's lifestyle,
but those tiny things are miniscule in light of the overall
warm and loving and attentive care they give to my kids. So I
don't worry about them. Besides, if I switched daycares it
would be 10-15 new things at the new place.)
It sounds like the daycare providers are genuinely concerned
about your daughter's safety, and their argument seems
reasonable. I myself would not want to walk over rocks/gravel
in just socks, and babies' feet are even more tender than
adults'. I think it's OK to buy the new shoes, and I suspect
that in a few months time it won't feel like a big deal to you
anymore.
Take care.
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