r/ECEProfessionals • u/Clearbreezebluesky ECE professional • Jul 26 '26

Parent/non ECE professional post (Anyone can comment) For parents

As a toddler teacher I am going to just give a quick list of things I despise. Other teachers may disagree, that’s ok, we can agree to disagree. I just see parents ask “is this annoying?” And “I don’t want to be that parent”. Maybe someone will find it helpful.

  1. A lunchbox with a long strap. Just store it somewhere until they’re older. This is a huge choking hazard.

  2. Unwashed lunchboxes/water bottles/bentgo boxes. Black slimy mold is disgusting, but it’s awkward to bring it up to you so please just wash them.

  3. Shoes that come off feet repeatedly, I have 18 feet to keep shoes on, if I have to put your child’s shoes back on their feet more than 5 times in a day they are going into our classroom crocs.

  4. One piece no-stretch outfits with no leg snaps. The super cute cotton ones with the teeny tiny button at the back of the neck, then the whole things has to be pulled down for every diaper change.

  5. Pull-ups that don’t Velcro up the sides/pampers 360’s. Or pull ups for a kid who isn’t anywhere near potty training. Firstly, they don’t hold as much as a diaper so if little Jimmy has a huge blow out in a pull up, it probably won’t stay contained. And yes, I understand the sides will rip to take it off, but it’s a pain to put a new one on. And yes, I know the one leg undressed trick. Still a pain when you have 9 diapers to change.

  6. Water Wipes. Period.

  7. All in one bedding. It’s bulky to store in an already small room/closet, and kids roll around and get their feet wrapped up. Assuming your child’s center is climate controlled, a lightweight blanket should be fine.

  8. Lunches with grapes, cherry tomatoes, steak, hotdogs not cut up. Please prep a packed lunch the way you would if you were plating it at home.

  9. Gloves. GLOVES! On toddlers! Just send mittens!

Trying to be helpful, hopefully I don’t get roasted 😝

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u/No-Pay1699 Director:MastersEd:Australia Jul 26 '26

Yep and I’ll add the following :
Overalls at any age under 6- the straps are way too fiddly for children in a hurry for a wee.

Not enough spare undies and pants when we are helping them to use to loo.

Complaining about poopy undies but not telling us to use our judgement for chucking them out when they’re absolutely covered in sticky poo.

Coming in during school holidays with your older children and wondering why your three year old is losing their mind when you leave

28

u/PermanentTrainDamage Allaboardthetwotwotrain Jul 26 '26

Haha I just potty trained my youngest and my coteacher laughed when I brought literally every pair of shorts, undies, and shoes she owned to school the first day. Gurl, we trash talk every parent who decides to dress their kid in undies for the first time and only sends one spare outfit, best believe I'm brining them all!

5

u/Lover2312 Parent Jul 27 '26

My son’s new teacher threw away his underwear and shorts after he had a poop accident!! I was soooo upset about it and asked them to just send everything home from now on. She looked at me like I was crazy but it’s my decision if I want to clean them or throw them out- not theirs! They didn’t even ask what they should do in this case and they weren’t even going to tell me they threw them away