Intimate Care Policy
Intimate Care Policy: Nappy changing and toileting
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Principles:
At Chingford House Nursery, we expect the staff to be especially respectful and mindful
when supporting the children’s intimate care needs.
Staff understand the importance of having a positive and effective relationship in order for
the children to feel comfortable when they need their nappies changed or when they need
support using the toilet. Our Key Person system enables children to feel safe and secure
with their Key Person and other familiar adults.
Children can become distressed or distrustful if this is not the case and we want nappy
changing and toileting to be an enjoyable experience for all concerned.
Nappy changing is seen as quality 1-1 time throughout the day; this is where the child and
Key Person has time to bond, interact and engage through songs, telling stories or having a
chat.
We want parents to have every confidence in the staff that are assigned to be their child’s
Key Person and as such, all staff who carry out intimate care routines have an enhanced
DBS and have undergone other checks to ensure their suitability.
Safeguarding and child protection is crucial in ensuring that children are kept safe from
harm. Staff new to Chingford House Nursery discuss this as part of their induction process,
so that they understand their responsibility in keeping children safe. To ensure that we are
promoting the children’s welfare, staff must (where possible) change children’s nappies or
toilet the children in the presence of another member of staff; this ensures safety for the child
as well as eliminating the risk of an allegation made against a member of staff.
Supporting nappy changing:
We expect children to arrive at nursery in a clean nappy, although we appreciate that they
may soil it on the way; parents therefore must inform a member of staff on arrival so that
children can be changed immediately.
Children need to have sufficient nappies for the day (at least 3) and barrier cream if
appropriate; staff will not use another child’s cream, which limits the risk of cross
contamination.
There are set times throughout the day when children’s nappies are changed, but we
recognise that children will soil their nappies outside these times; therefore, regular checks
take place throughout the day to ensure that children are not left in a soiled nappy.
Staff must record the times that children are changed as well as whether they are ‘dry’, ‘wet’,
‘soiled’ or whether the child is ‘sore’. If staff have any child protection concerns when
changing a child, this must be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (Yolande
Farrell).
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Staff must wear gloves and aprons when changing children’s nappies; after changing each
child, staff must wipe down the changing mat with antibacterial spray, remove their gloves &
apron and put them in a nappy sack. Staff must wash/sanitise their hands after changing a
child’s nappy. Staff must put on new gloves and an apron before changing the next child
(this reduces the risk of cross contamination).
Staff must keep a log of the nappies brought in by the parents and ensure that they give
them enough notice to provide more nappies (and barrier cream) before they run out.
Where appropriate, children should be allowed to use a small step to help them climb onto
the changing table (this promotes independence and a ‘can do’ attitude for the children as
well as minimising the risk of a back injury for staff).
Children must not be left unattended on the changing table.
Staff must dispose of nappies in a pedestal bin with a lid or a fir for purpose nappy bin. Bins
should be sanitised at the end of the week.
Supporting potty training/toileting:
A Key Person and parent will discuss and agree when potty training/toileting should take
place; this will enable us to work in partnership and ensure consistency for the child.
We generally wait until children know or can tell us that they have done a ‘wee’ or a ‘poo’ as
an indicator that children may be ready to come out of nappies.
Some children feel more comfortable using their potty from home, so we are happy for
parents to bring it in.
- Some children will start their training using the toilet straight away, instead of a potty.
- Where possible, children will be afforded some privacy whilst using a potty (which
might be in the bathroom or a secluded area in the room); this must be balanced with
keeping children safe in terms of safeguarding.
- After using the potty, the waste must be disposed of in the toilet and washed out
using antibacterial spray.
- Staff must ask the children and take them to the toilet/potty regularly; children must
be encouraged to flush the toilet themselves after use.
- Children should be encouraged to pull down their clothes and sit on the potty/toilet
and pull their clothes up after use. Children must be prompted to wash & dry their
hands after using the potty/toilet.
- As the children get older and become more confident, we encourage them to ask for
the potty/toilet independently.
- As the children approach 3.5yrs old, we encourage them to try to wipe themselves
after a bowel movement; staff will also wipe the child to ensure that they are fully
clean. By the time children go to school, we hope that they will be able to wipe
themselves independently as part of ‘school readiness.’
Staff should ask parents to provide at least 3 sets of bottoms (preferably jogging bottoms
that can be removed quickly) and lots of underwear as we anticipate lots of accidents when
children first begin training!
Wet or soiled clothes will be put in a nappy sack and left on the child’s peg; we do not have
the facilities to wash soiled clothing so staff must remember to give it to the parent at the end
of the day.
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As in all matters relating to children, each child is unique and therefore their experience of
nappy changing and toileting is unique to them. Staff will ensure that children are supported
according to their needs during this important milestone in their development.
If parents have any concerns in relation to intimate care needs, or how their children are
being supported through nappy changing or toileting, they can raise it with the Key Person or
the Manager.
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Policy created by: Yolande Farrell Manager
Signed off by: Zarkar Akhtar Owner
Date: June 2024 Date of next review: June 2025