During January 2010 GreenKiddie run a survey about the how our children are being looked after in the UK nurseries. The focus is on eco-friendly efforts, use of non-toxic materials, food, kids’ activities, and hygiene level at the daycare premises. The below statements are based on the 514 answers of parents we’ve collected and analysed.

Only 7% of parents, taking part in the survey say hygiene in their child’s nursery is outstanding. At the same time 2/3 of parents claim they believe kids tend to get more infections when hygiene in the nursery is poor.

Over 80% of kids go out every day during the nursery hours, which keep their parents happy. However there are some 4% of nurseries where kids would never spend any time outside, and about 15% kids in nurseries would go out a couple of times a week, which is unsatisfactory.

Only 3% claim food quality is outstanding. As little as 2 out of 100 nurseries serve organic food in every meal, where 15% of nurseries have never sourced organic produce for the kids. It’s shocking that home-made food has never been served to every tenth nursery, and in these cases processed food is what kids eat on a regular basis. Every third nursery adds sugar and/or salt in kids’ food, and only 4% follow the guidelines for avoiding salt in cooking for kids under 3-years old. Some 16% of nurseries serve junk food often or most of the times. Locally-sourced food is a luxury option for 8% of nurseries; 27% make some efforts to buy local produce occasionally, and only 3% have chosen local markets as a place for their weekly shopping for the kids on a regular-basis.

Eighteen per cent of kids in nurseries are not having their 5 a day portions of fruits and vegs, based on food being served at the nursery. Fish, helping children’s brain development, is being served on a weekly basis in only half of the nurseries, and 17% of kids are not being served the extremely important for kids’ growth high in protein food like meat and eggs. Some 15% of nurseries provide kids with very unsatisfactory amount of milk and diary products during their 10-hour stay at the premises, so kids are not able to get the calcium they need for this age.

There is a certain percent of parents not even knowing what food has been served to their children in the nursery, which is warning. As parents, we are better being informed and making efforts to support nurseries in improving food quality for better children’s’ health and wellbeing.

The eco-friendly efforts are outstanding in only 3 out of 100 nurseries, and are qualified as poor and unsatisfactory in 15% of cases. It looks like great percentage of nurseries are doing great when it comes to recycling, reusing and using eco-friendly craft-materials (42%), although improvement others is needed. When it comes to soaps, washing powders and cleaning materials about 20% will not even try to be eco-friendly. Most of the above soaps, cleaning sprays and washing powders contain harsh chemicals which not only reflect the environment, but are also toxic and irritating for the sensitive kids’ skin. Around the same percent of nurseries (20-25%) are not making any efforts to use BPA-Free baby/kids food equipment, biodegradable or cloth nappies (although in most of them parents are advised to provide nappies in their choice). About the same percent of nursery staff are willing to “go green”, but don’t seem to have enough information and knowledge on how to do that, according to parents.

Over half of the parents filling-out the survey say they are concern about the chemicals being used in the nursery, mostly being worried about soaps, nappy creams and cleaning materials, followed by bottles and food equipment, food and toys.

When asked what would parents do if they had power to change things in the nurseries, half of them would concentrate their efforts on helping nurseries become more eco-friendly, increase quality of the food being served to their kids, and also improve hygiene level at the daycare premises. Around 38% would prefer the nurseries to start using non-toxic materials and equipment only, as well as natural baby/kids care cosmetics (such as nappy creams) and soaps. Some 40% of parents believe using more eco-friendly toys and craft materials is also very important for their kids’ wellbeing.