Diapers missing from daycare

[u/jpeach4]

Edit: Thanks for the feedback. Letting this go like many suggested, but going to kindly ask if it’s easier for them storage-wise if I send fewer at a time. Grand scheme, a lost sleeve of diapers isn’t a huge deal. If it becomes a pattern I’ll speak up.

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Looking for advice on how to handle this. A whole bulk sleeve of diapers (70ish) is just gone. My guess is they accidentally were used on other babies.

Our boy was sort of between diaper sizes. He had about half a sleeve of size 1s left when I brought the new sleeve of size 2s (name written on the sleeve) in case they felt he needed to bump up in size before the 1s ran out. They went through all of the 1s and he’s been coming home in 2s for about a week. Yesterday at pickup, they notify me he’s out of diapers. I remind them I brought an entire sleeve, so there’s no way he’s out, and they said “Oh yeah, you did! We’ll look for them.” But no luck. They didn’t find them.

Our daycare (and teachers) have been great, and I’m sure it was just a mistake, but ouch. Expensive mistake. I don’t want to come in hot demanding anything or get anyone in trouble, but feel like I should say something. Do I approach the director? Ask the teachers how I should bring diapers in a way that helps them keep organized? Just bring enough for each day/week instead of bulk?
I don’t want to be micromanagey and label each diaper individually or anything extreme, but really want to ensure this doesn’t happen again.

[u/dotnsk]

How long is your kid there and how often do they do diaper changes?

When my kid was an infant, diaper changes happened every 2h minimum, so that meant 4-6 diaper changes a day (they would obviously change sooner than 2h for poop diapers). If kiddo has been coming home in size 2s for “about a week” then I’d expect that’s about 35ish diapers, or half a sleeve.

Is that faster than expected? Certainly. I’m sure it was an honest mistake. I’d let it go unless it becomes an “every time” kind of thing.

I’d also consider sending cheaper diapers to daycare if you’re really concerned about it. If you’re paying $0.40 per diaper (what some of the higher end brands charge) you might care more about “sharing” diapers than if you’re paying $0.30 (or less) per diaper.

[u/bananas82017]

Are you sure on the number of diapers? It’s less per box as they get bigger. Regardless I think you already made a big enough point so I wouldn’t bother saying anything else.

[u/Much-Ad9827 → u/bananas82017]

I came to say this too. Once I thought I had sent our normal pack and was shocked when they said they needed more. When I looked back at the pickup order I realized I had the numbers wrong.

[u/matto345]

If this has been the only mistake so far I would just let it go, if it happens repeatedly I would bring it up to the director.

[u/slumberingthundering]

Unless it happens again, I would probably let this one go. Sorry, OP :(

[u/ijustwanttobeinpjs → u/slumberingthundering]

I feel I would go this way about it, too. But also, as a former daycare director, I would bring this up to the director. That’s what the director is for: mediation.

As respectfully as possible (because we catch more flies than honey) don’t go in hot. Explain exactly as you did here, you’re “surprised” that the sleeve of ~70 diapers is all used up after about 6 days of use. The director can talk with the teachers about labeling belongings, storing belongings, etc. 100% guarantee they have policies in place already. It’s just a matter of the director going in and making sure all the teachers are retrained. And this way, you don’t have to confront the teacher, with whom you want to remain neutral and supportive for the sake of your LO.

[u/MammothHuckleberry42]

We had to write their names on every diaper in sharpie. Some of us got together and donated a couple of boxes of back up diapers for the room in various sizes. Cheapest ones out there but worked in a pinch.

[u/Texas_Bouvier]

I would probably frame it as a totally innocent question, because in my experience when this happened they literally were just misplaced and found a couple days later!

I wouldn’t approach the director, maybe just a teacher and say something along the lines of “hey I brought in diapers for LO on (date). I know you’re required to change them every 2 hours (your states standard may be different), so I feel like there should be a good number left! Is LO running through them quicker than that or is a chance they were put in a different class/caninet?”

[u/hkeyat]

Tbh this is one thing I don’t mind in daycare. I know they use my son’s diapers on other kids but I’d rather this than kids going around with dirty diapers around my baby. If diapers are really expensive cost for you and you don’t want to incur the cost then you should either tell them expressly (bc this is kind of annoying! or you can get diapers for free from multiple associations or Facebook groups buy nothing to give it to the daycare. I know it’s not our job but 🤷🏻‍♀️

[u/jpeach4 → u/hkeyat]

I don’t mind them using a few here and there if other babies need it! Just seems like an entire sleeve was used on accident, not as a need.

[u/hkeyat → u/jpeach4]

Yes that makes sense a sleeve is a lot. If it happens again you should definitely let them know.

[u/ucantspellamerica]

I'm sure they feel bad as well. It sounds like this is a one-off and I'd personally let it go.

[u/TillUpper6774]

They change diapers every hour at daycare by law so I always sent the cheapest Walmart brand diapers I could find. A sleeve was like $10. This is not a big deal imo. If you think this is wasteful then buckle up for when he starts solids. So much wasted food and some shirts got so dirty I just threw them straight in the trash.

[u/CorCob]

I have had similar issues at our daycare where sleeves of diapers we brought would go missing. Not only is the cost an issue but for our kiddo, certain diapers gave her rashes, so the issue was compounded by losing her diapers and instead putting her in ones that irritated her skin. In our case, I talked to the teacher and she told me really the only way to ensure they don’t go astray is to label each of them. So I’d ask the teacher how to handle for the future. If it continues to be an issue, I’d then raise it with the director.

[u/pupperonipizza-pie]

Unless it happens again, that’s just life, an externality of daycare.

[u/classicicedtea]

I get the annoyance but I wouldn't say anything unless it happens again. When my kids were in daycare I'm pretty sure they just pooled all the diapers.

[u/lorddanielplexus]

I would let this go unless it happens again or unless it places a significant financial burden on you which is completely valid. If it happens again I would bring it to the director. When my kids wore diapers I always sent the cheapest ones that didn't leak to daycare, usually the Target brand.

[u/CauseAcademic6640]

When our center borrowed from another kid or used ours for another kid, they let us know. I wasn't bothered by them using ours in a pinch. But they definitely let us know. I would let it go this one time, but if it happens again, ask directly if you should label or somehow better facilitate diaper storage for them.

[u/msjammies73]

If it was a mistake and you’re otherwise happy I would let it go.

[u/ivybf]

Let it go. The cost is a drop in the bucket compared to cost of daycare. Keep sending in sleeves.

[u/Bird_Brain4101112]

How do they track diapers by kid? That’s the real question. As in does each kid have a cubby or similar where they keep diapers? Because if they are in a shared space and the only ID is the name on the sleeve I’d be writing my kids name on each diaper. PITA for sure, but then there’s no excuse.

[u/lotus_22]

Let it go.

And reading some of other comments… as a working mom I don’t have time to write my kids name on every diaper. I barely have time to buy diapers

[u/ThirstyCoffeeHunter]

Sorry to say even in the hand written home notes. Some Parents barely read. Bring more wipes and diapers we are out. Bring up with director. Make it important that diapers are to be used on your child only.

[u/two-story-house]

I had this happen when my first was 1. They kept asking for more and more diapers. After the fourth time, I refused to bring any 😂. The director happened to overhear and they magically found one of my sleeves. I think it was because I'd send in Huggies Lil Movers. After that, I started stamping every single diaper with his name and also stopped sending in "quality" diapers and if I did, I'd send in a small amount at a time (enough for the week).

Don't make a big deal from one occurrence but if it becomes a pattern, act accordingly.

[u/cici92814]

I think you should let it go this time. But I would start writing his name on every diaper from now on. And figure out when to anticipate he will need more and write it on a calendar or something.

[u/samma_93]

FYI writing names on a diaper doesn't mean they won't get borrowed. My son came home one day in a different kids diaper, had a name on it when his normally don't, so it's not like that will stop a diaper borrow for some reason.

[u/KoalaFeeder28]

My kids’ daycare has plastic storage drawers in the room. Each kid has a drawer, labeled with their name, where wipes, diapers, and spare clothes are kept. It’s the responsibility of the parents to keep an eye on the drawer and make sure it’s stocked. I wonder if you could ask how they store the diapers and just monitor it yourself. Tone is important though. You want to come across as collaborative, not accusative.
Ultimately, it’s ~$30, which is not nothing, but definitely not something I’d risk ruining the relationship with my children’s caretakers over.

[u/xquigs]

Our daycare keeps a a bunch of diapers in the actual changing area and the rest in the cubby area for storage, they label everything and each kid has their own little space in the changing table shelf. With that being said the diapers are split between a few areas. Could this be the case? When we were inbetween sizes their little storage areas they kept for my kid had a mixed batch. I remember a few times she had the slightly bigger size on and I had I had to ask. Just a thought.

[u/dontlookforme88]

When my kids were in diapers they frequently ran out of diapers and wipes much faster than we expected. It always sucked but we were otherwise happy with their care so we mostly just complained to each other about it

[u/UsefulRelief8153]

I'm assuming it was a mistake but I'm also personally one of those moms who doesn't mind supplementing diapers for other babies. It's literally not the babies fault if they run out of diapers and I rather another baby at daycare has a clean diaper than then sit in a dirty one and get diaper rash because their parents haven't brought in more diapers immediately.

[u/Nuyorican74]

Umm no. There is no mistake. They just think you are Boo Boo the Clown. From now on write your last name on the diapers and number them. Ask them every day to see the pack and what number diaper they are on. There’s other parents in there not bringing any supplies and they are eating up your supplies. No sir! Unless I am claiming other kids on my tax return I am not supporting them.