Sexist comment about daycare provider

2bWednDec

I feel really bad asking this as I realize it's totally sexist.  But at the new daycare center I am putting my LO into, there is one male teacher.  He is in a classroom with just four kids and one helper.  My baby is not potty trained.  Do male daycare providers usually change baby girl diapers?  and if so, do they usually have a female assist?  Would you be concerned about this at all?

The_Jen626

Maybe I'm totally sexist too, but I wouldn't be comfortable with this either.  I've just seen too many bad stories on the news.  Ask the director what the policy is.

Pesky

I might inquire of the director the policy but I don't know if I would be super worried.  depends on the gut feeling I got meeting the guy.  I know there was a male kindergarten teacher at my DD's daycare who surely had to help in case of accidents but no big deal.  So I think a lot depends on the guy involved.

2bWednDec

Ok now I'll age discriminate but this man was older.  I think his looks somehow had an impact on my negative thinking.  He does have a masters degree and I'm sure when I meet him I'd be fine. 

ETA:  the bumpies on the 12-24 board must think I'm nuts!! I asked the same question there.  I'll state it here too - the reason I ask is because in my area gynocologists are required to have a second person present when doing an exam because people have been violated in the past.  I thought there may be something similar for male daycare providers.

mysticporter

The fact that he's male wouldn't influence my decision.  I wouldn't leave my child with anyone I wasn't fully comfortable with, male or female, or with someone I hadn't interacted with enough to make a decision.

yellowcar

I have a DS and his diapers are changed by female teachers--should I be worried?

I don't know the answers to your questions.  You can talk to your center director, but any limitations that they might make on this male teacher would be flat out discrimination, unless they have the same limitations for females.

My DD has a male teacher and I don't even give it a second thought.  But she is a potty-trained preschooler, not a baby or toddler. I can't say I have any experience to form an opinion on that.

MrsT1209

Regardless of potty training, I wouldn't leave my child with anyone I wasn't 100% comfortable with.  And it sounds like you aren't.

MrsAmers

There is a male teacher in my daughter's room and I'm sure he's changed my daughter's diaper countless times.  I don't have any qualms about it.  He's a great teacher and my daughter is there because I trust the center, and trusting the center means trusting their choice in teachers.

If he gave me any bad vibes at all, I would question it...but he doesn't.  

Carmeltopher

Are there other female providers in the room as well? If so then maybe they are the ones to normally change the girl diapers, you could certainly ask.

Our daycare has one male teacher but he works with the older children who are already potty trained so I won't need to worry about the diaper changes.

I should say though that it sounds like he is very well qualified and I am sure that they do a background check on all of their employees. But you definitely shouldn't leave LO with someone you are not comfortable with, male or female.

14years

Our center only has one male teacher, and he works with the preschoolers, who are potty trained.  We also have a male director.

I wouldn't be worried about this.  To me, it's the same thing as a female teacher changing DS's diapers, which happens all the time.  Or DH changing a girl's diaper.  It's not an issue for me.  If you trust the person, you trust the person.