Oates Spin & Clean Compact Spin Mop & Bucket Set Product Review

Hello!

Average Ratings (from 77 ratings)
Overall star Rating
I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again
Oates Spin & Clean Compact Spin Mop & Bucket Set :
4.62 out of 5 based on 77 reviews.

Do you need a mop that gives a thorough clean, but you live in an apartment, townhouse or a home which has limited storage? The Oates Spin & Clean Compact Mop & Bucket Set is the mop for you!

The Oates Spin & Clean Compact Spin Mop & Bucket Set, is Oates’ first spin mop and our MoM’s love it.

Life gets messy, and most of the time, the mess ends up on the floor. Whether it’s your baby exploring solids, teenagers walking through the house with muddy sports shoes or the pets fur shedding all over the place, Oates want to help you #LaughAtTheMess, by making the clean-up easy with the Oates Spin & Clean Compact Spin Mop.

10 reasons we love the Oates Spin & Clean Compact Spin Mop & Bucket Set:

  1. So compact & convenient – the mop and bucket set is easy to manoeuvre and the handle of the mop disassembles making storage a breeze!
  2. The unique scrubbing roller keeps your home cleaner by agitating and removing dirt and hair from the pad and back into the bucket while rinsing – leaving the mop head ultra clean minimising dirt being transferred back onto the floor
  3. The special locking mechanism means the pad can remain static if you prefer the mop head to remain static whilst cleaning
  4. The circular mop head is foldable along one side which means getting into corners and close to skirting boards is so easy
  5. The Oates Spin & Clean Compact Spin Mop & Bucket Set is suitable for all hard floor types
  6. Dust, dirt, hair and grease are whisked away in seconds
  7. No bending required – the handle-driven system allows you to control the amount of water required in the microfibre mop
  8. The mop head is machine washable
  9. The Oates Spin & Clean Compact Spin Mop & Bucket Set comes with an additional refill – so you’ll always have a clean mop head ready to go. Additional refills can also be purchased separately.
  10. The design is ergonomic and durable – so when it comes to cleaning, Oates will make it easy!

Oates Spin & Clean Compact Spin Mop & Bucket Set Product in and out of box  - Oates Spin & Clean Compact Spin Mop & Bucket Set review

Where can I buy the Oates Spin & Clean Mop?

The Oates Spin & Clean Mop is available at Bunnings and Woolworths

Watch reviews from our MoM Review Team.

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Published 18th September 2023


  • Best ever

    Simple yet very effective
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • Easy to use to

    Easy cleaning mop

    @oatescleaningproducts spin and clean compact mop and bucket, is so easy to install and use.

    It is so compact that you can literally store it in a small section.

    Oates Spin & Clean Compact Mop and Bucket Set is fast, easy and thorough! This ensures your floors are left sparkling clean every time!

    Thanks @mouths_of_mums

    For sending this through ????
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • Clean and Convenient

    I have recently been reviewing the Compact Spin Mop and Bucket Set that I purchased.

    We have a fully tiled house and 2 young kids so our house requires very regular sweeping and mopping.

    The compact Spin Mop and Bucket Set is an affordable, compact solution to mopping and works brilliantly. I love that I can store it under the sink when I'm not using it and that it can be assembled again in a few short seconds.

    It cleans really well and the spinning feature leaves the right amount of water to mop with, without creating puddles on the floor. The mop head removes easily for washing and is also replaceable when the time comes.

    Overall it is a great addition to our household cleaning routine and will be very well used from now on!
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • This mop does all the work

    I hate mopping!

    The many reasons are because I haven’t been able to find the perfect mop for the job!

    So call me sceptical. . .

    I was pleasantly surprised, the mop did all the work. I didn’t feel like I had done a workout after mopping, so there is really nothing more to say.

    The mop was so easy to manoeuvre & glided smoothly over my floors.

    The microfibre pad lifted grime off the floorboards with ease.

    The roller removed dirt & dust from the pad after spinning leaving my floors clean & streak free.

    The flat & thin design of the mop made it very easy to get under hard to reach areas like the fridge & oven.

    The bonus feature

    The mop head is foldable along one side, so you can clean your skirting boards & corners.

    It’s a big thumbs up from me ????
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • So easy to use!

    Honestly, I had doubts on just how convenient this mop and bucket set would be. Even opening the packaging and seeing the handle come in pieces made me doubt just how sturdy it would be. Testing it out with no water made me have a little freak out thinking it will just topple over and spill water everywhere but it just kept surprising me!

    I love that you can basically use the mop and bucket with just one hand, no second hand or feet required! I am so used to the traditional mop and bucket, that having this.mop has been a game changer. Unlike traditional mops, this one is so easy to wring out the excess water, so I am not having to grab a towel or something to wipe it up. I just used the spinning function to dry it so I can keep wiping it up.

    This mop and bucket has made it so much easier to clean and I don't dread having to do this chore as much as I used to.
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • Makes life easier

    I'm absolutely in love with this mop! It has made life so much easier with my cleaning. I've always had one of those old school, heavy mops as having tried various squeeze mops they just didn't clean as effectively as I had liked them to but this one actually does the job and is so much lighter.

    We recently got a couple of dingoes who live in the house and they are quite messy (even though they are toilet trained) so I'm forever cleaning the floors.

    I love how it packs away neatly as we have next to no room in our house for much so having something that packs away neatly is definitely a must.
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • The mop that cleans floors well

    I love products that don’t take up a lot of room. @oatescleaningproducts Spin and Clean Mop is nice and compact. It’s great on all hard floors and conveniently cleans dust, grease, hair and dirt. The handle system means you won’t need to bend down and the mop head is machine washable. It’s an ergonomic and durable design that makes cleaning easy. With a cat, toddler and 5 year old I am glad it cleans up messes quickly and with ease. Definitely a must buy household product that will be used regularly. This mop is available to purchase at @bunnings and @woolworths_au ????
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • Awesome product!

    I really enjoyed trying this product. It was super easy to get from Bunnings and at a reasonable price as well. Not heavy at all really compact so I can store anywhere (specially that I don’t have much room at home to store). Super easy and quick to put together. Easy to use a as well and the system works well, can tell its really good quality. Handy that the mop can be easily removed to put in the washing machine. Being able to get replacement is definitely a plus! Highly recommend it! Note: super super easy for kids! My 5 years old loved using it, so there you go, great way to get the kids to help with cleaning around while having fun!
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • I'VE FOUND THE PERFECT MOP!

    With two little children, our floors can get so dirty. The Oates Spin & Clean mop has been an absolute game changer. I love how it is compact as living in a townhouse, we don't have too much space to store a lot of things. It's so easy to use & I LOVE that you can clean skirting boards & can get into every corner! It will definitely make cleaning the floors so much easier!
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • Love my new mop

    I've thrown out my old spin mop to make room for my Oates spin and clean compact mop. I love how well it cleans my floors, and the fast dry cloth technology is brilliant. Especially with 2 toddlers running around. I found it very easy to use. I also like the helpful lip on the bucket for emptying the water at the end. It takes up much less room in my cupboard but still does an amazing job at cleaning our tiled house.

    Oates is a brand a trust very much and will continue to use their cleaning products.
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • Best ever

    Simple yet very effective
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • Oates Spin & Clean Compact Spin Mop & Bucket Set

    The set is very easy to use, good product if u need mop.
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • Easy to use to

    Easy cleaning mop

    @oatescleaningproducts spin and clean compact mop and bucket, is so easy to install and use.

    It is so compact that you can literally store it in a small section.

    Oates Spin & Clean Compact Mop and Bucket Set is fast, easy and thorough! This ensures your floors are left sparkling clean every time!

    Thanks @mouths_of_mums

    For sending this through ????
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • Clean and Convenient

    I have recently been reviewing the Compact Spin Mop and Bucket Set that I purchased.

    We have a fully tiled house and 2 young kids so our house requires very regular sweeping and mopping.

    The compact Spin Mop and Bucket Set is an affordable, compact solution to mopping and works brilliantly. I love that I can store it under the sink when I'm not using it and that it can be assembled again in a few short seconds.

    It cleans really well and the spinning feature leaves the right amount of water to mop with, without creating puddles on the floor. The mop head removes easily for washing and is also replaceable when the time comes.

    Overall it is a great addition to our household cleaning routine and will be very well used from now on!
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • This mop does all the work

    I hate mopping!

    The many reasons are because I haven’t been able to find the perfect mop for the job!

    So call me sceptical. . .

    I was pleasantly surprised, the mop did all the work. I didn’t feel like I had done a workout after mopping, so there is really nothing more to say.

    The mop was so easy to manoeuvre & glided smoothly over my floors.

    The microfibre pad lifted grime off the floorboards with ease.

    The roller removed dirt & dust from the pad after spinning leaving my floors clean & streak free.

    The flat & thin design of the mop made it very easy to get under hard to reach areas like the fridge & oven.

    The bonus feature

    The mop head is foldable along one side, so you can clean your skirting boards & corners.

    It’s a big thumbs up from me ????
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • So easy to use!

    Honestly, I had doubts on just how convenient this mop and bucket set would be. Even opening the packaging and seeing the handle come in pieces made me doubt just how sturdy it would be. Testing it out with no water made me have a little freak out thinking it will just topple over and spill water everywhere but it just kept surprising me!

    I love that you can basically use the mop and bucket with just one hand, no second hand or feet required! I am so used to the traditional mop and bucket, that having this.mop has been a game changer. Unlike traditional mops, this one is so easy to wring out the excess water, so I am not having to grab a towel or something to wipe it up. I just used the spinning function to dry it so I can keep wiping it up.

    This mop and bucket has made it so much easier to clean and I don't dread having to do this chore as much as I used to.
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • So easy to use!

    Absolutely loved this mop. Was gifted to them great for people with little storage space too . Easy and quick to pull out daily either for a spot mop or full room mop
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • Makes life easier

    I'm absolutely in love with this mop! It has made life so much easier with my cleaning. I've always had one of those old school, heavy mops as having tried various squeeze mops they just didn't clean as effectively as I had liked them to but this one actually does the job and is so much lighter.

    We recently got a couple of dingoes who live in the house and they are quite messy (even though they are toilet trained) so I'm forever cleaning the floors.

    I love how it packs away neatly as we have next to no room in our house for much so having something that packs away neatly is definitely a must.
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • Better then expected

    This mop was both amazing and average at the same time. Overall it does a great job at cleaning the floors. The bucket system worked very well and effectively wet the mop pad and then spun it all but dry just with a speed variation when submerging the mop head.

    I loved the feature of the mop being able to fold in half to help you get into all your square edges around the house. I did however find the mop didn't square out perfectly so you did miss small corners throughout the house due to its circular shape.

    Overall the mop does a fantastic job of cleaning the floors I'd just recommend you sweep or vacuum first as unfortunately the head pushes larger dirt or food scraps around rather then them clinging to the pad.

    On a side not my toddler was able to pump the handle and remove and replace the mop into the bucket. Super user friendly
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • Awesome compact mop

    I have been trialing the Oates Spin & Clean Compact Spin Mop & Bucket Set and it is a great cleaning mop, I have a large area that needs to be mopped and it's a struggle to clean it as often as I'd like, this mop is really easy to use and I love the ability to clean my skirting boards at the same time it can make an irregular job an easy job. My only issue is I feel as soon put the mop back into the water I'm cleaning with dirty water so obviously I'll change the water regularly to keep everything clean
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • Easy to use

    This spin & clean mop from Oates is worth your money! It doesn't leave wet dirty streaks since you can remove excess water by just spinning it.

    Setting up was a breeze and will only take about 5 mins to put together the stick but even a child can do it. I love using it compared to a regular mop because you don't have to wait long before it dries up. It also cleans the floor very well. I also like how you can remove the mop from the mop head and just chuck it in the washing machine for a quick clean.

    Overall rating 5/5.
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • Cleaning made super easy!

    After trialling the new Oates spin Mop in our rental and the in-laws, I can say it made mopping the floors and cleaning the walls super easy! No bending needed which was great for the oldies, and having it spin clean the dirty water out I was surprised to see how much dirt was coming out! Bucket is super easy to store away so no more leaving it out to trip over or seeing it left in a corner! Was great to pull out for quick cleans but I loved that I could clean the skirting and walls with it too and it was super easy! Would definitely buy this mop again!
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • Works perfectly

    Love this mop, easy to manage and does the base boards and is a decent size, good price too, hopefully this one doesn't snap on me and lasts me ages this time round
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • Good mop

    I found the mop to be good on my hard wood floors. I fell like the bucket could do with so wheels for the Elderly who can't lift heavy things. The mop was easy to put together. It is easy to use just put your water and floor cleaner in the bucket and fill up to the line and away you go. I did recommend this to my sister and she went and got one for her house
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • Fantastic mop system

    I really enjoyed trying this product. It was super easy to get from Bunnings and at a reasonable price as well. Not heavy at all really compact so I can store it away out of sight! Super easy and quick to put together. Easy to use a as well and the system works well, can tell its really good quality. Handy that the mop head can be easily removed to put in the washing machine. Being able to get replacement is definitely a plus! Highly recommend it to my friends and they’ve already gone and purchased one themselves!
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • Best and convinient mop!

    Where do I even start??

    So convenient and easy to store! I love that I don't need to bend to reach for the hard parts of our house and even our ceiling! This cleans up easily and can be stored quickly. Perfect if you have a small storage or like me, don't want to see it taking up too much space -- less eye sore! Machine washable that saves me time - more family moments! I highly recommend this to anyone who loves to clean but hates the aftermath of cleaning the tools! A must for everyone!
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • My new toy

    Meet my new toy! Oates Spin & Clean Compact Spin Mop & Bucket Set is here to make my life easier! ????????

    It leaves my floor clean and shiny! It is super compact and easy to store away quite easily It's so light and easy to swivel around to mop. Dries so quickly I highly recommend this miracle mop! Corners and architraves are so much easier to manage now! I love that you can bend up the corner of the head to get into the corners of the floor and that you can adjust the handle to mop walls, too! Highly recommended

    .
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • The mop that cleans floors well

    I love products that don’t take up a lot of room. @oatescleaningproducts Spin and Clean Mop is nice and compact. It’s great on all hard floors and conveniently cleans dust, grease, hair and dirt. The handle system means you won’t need to bend down and the mop head is machine washable. It’s an ergonomic and durable design that makes cleaning easy. With a cat, toddler and 5 year old I am glad it cleans up messes quickly and with ease. Definitely a must buy household product that will be used regularly. This mop is available to purchase at @bunnings and @woolworths_au ????
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • Awesome product!

    I really enjoyed trying this product. It was super easy to get from Bunnings and at a reasonable price as well. Not heavy at all really compact so I can store anywhere (specially that I don’t have much room at home to store). Super easy and quick to put together. Easy to use a as well and the system works well, can tell its really good quality. Handy that the mop can be easily removed to put in the washing machine. Being able to get replacement is definitely a plus! Highly recommend it! Note: super super easy for kids! My 5 years old loved using it, so there you go, great way to get the kids to help with cleaning around while having fun!
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again


  • Fun and effective

    Love the spinning action and how clean it gets each time in the bucket. Takes a little getting used to. Love the handy skirting board bend on one side. I found it did a really great job of cleaning my floor. Couldn't believe how dirty the water was at the end! Great, easy pour bucket and with carry handle too. I'm actually happy to do some more mopping soon as it was a lot of fun to use. Even the kids insisted on wanting to give it a spin!
    I would recommend Oates Spin & Clean to others
    Oates Spin & Clean performs better than my regular mop
    Oates Spin & Clean is effective and easy to use
    Oates Spin & Clean meets my mopping needs
    I would buy Oates Spin & Clean again

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Topics

Mother’s instinct is a funny thing. At home, we trust it without question. But put us in a hospital setting with an unwell child, surrounded by doctors, nurses and monitors, and suddenly we start doubting ourselves.

What if I’m overreacting?
What if I’ve got it wrong?

So we stay quiet, even when we know something just isn’t right with our child. I’ve been there myself – when my usually ‘tough’ son was doubled over with stomach pain. I was told in the emergency department that it probably wasn’t his appendix. But I knew he wouldn’t have begged me to take him to hospital unless it was serious. Because I know him better than anyone. Turns out, it was appendicitis.

It’s a really common place for parents to land. You’re grateful for the care your child is getting, but at the same time, you feel this huge responsibility to speak up if something doesn’t feel right.

Here’s the thing though: that instinct you’re feeling? It matters more than you might think.

Why your gut feeling matters more than you realise

According to Paediatric Nurse Unit Manager, Canterbury Hospital, Leticia Jackson, parents bring something to the hospital that no test or machine ever could.

“Parents often say they ‘just know’ when something isn’t quite right with their child, and in a hospital, that gut feeling is incredibly valuable,” she explains.

Leticia Jackson, Paediatric Nurse Unit Manager, Canterbury Hospital

While medical teams rely on observations, tests and equipment, parents know the little details. The way your child usually smiles. How they react when they’re tired. What’s normal for them.

So when something feels “off”, even if everything looks okay on paper, it can actually be an early warning sign.

“When parents trust those instincts and speak up, this creates a powerful partnership that can sometimes catch a problem before it becomes an emergency,” Leticia says.

Worried about speaking up? You’re not alone

A lot of parents hesitate about advocating for their child.

You don’t want to come across as difficult. You don’t want to question the people caring for your child. And sometimes, you just don’t feel confident enough to push the issue.

Leticia gets it.

“It is completely understandable for parents to feel hesitant,” she says. “No one wants to be seen as difficult or to second-guess the hardworking people caring for their child.”

But here’s a helpful way to look at it: you’re not challenging the medical team, you’re helping them.

Parents are the constant. Staff change shifts, care for multiple patients, and rely on snapshots of information. You’re there the whole time, noticing the subtle changes.

“Our medical team doesn’t view a concerned parent as overreactive, but as a partner,” Leticia explains. “Your voice matters.”

Remember, we know our children better than anyone.

What to do if you’re worried: the Raise It process

If you’re in a NSW public hospital or health service and you’re worried about you or your child’s condition getting worse, there is a clear process you can follow called Raise It.

Raise It is designed to help patients, carers and family members get help fast if they’re worried about a change in their loved one’s condition.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Talk: Start by speaking to a nurse, midwife, doctor or health worker about your concerns.
  2. Ask: Still worried? Ask to speak to the nurse or midwife in charge and request a Clinical Review.
  3. Call: If you’re still concerned, you can escalate further using the Raise It process to get urgent attention from a senior health worker.

You don’t need medical knowledge. You don’t need to be certain. If you feel something isn’t right, or your child is getting worse, Raise It. You just need to speak up.

What should you actually look out for?

Sometimes it’s not one big, obvious sign. It can be small, subtle changes that just don’t sit right.

Things like:

  • Changes in breathing (fast, laboured or noisy)
  • Skin looking pale, mottled, or developing unusual rashes
  • Your child being unusually drowsy, floppy, or hard to wake
  • Confusion or behaviour that’s out of character
  • Pain that isn’t improving with treatment
  • Or simply that feeling that your child is getting worse

And sometimes, it’s just that gut feeling you can’t explain.

That’s enough.

“You are helping us, not bothering us”

If there’s one message Leticia wants parents to take away, it’s that you aren’t bothering the medical team, you’re helping them.

“In my years as a Nurse Unit Manager, I can say with absolute certainty that many critical changes in a child’s condition have been identified first by a parent. While our clinical staff are highly skilled at performing regular observations and interpreting data, parents are the only constant presence who truly know their child’s baseline behaviour, personality, and what is normal for them.

“I have seen numerous instances where a parent’s insistence that their child is “just not themselves” – despite vital signs appearing relatively stable – has prompted a deeper clinical review that uncovered everything from early signs of sepsis to a life-threatening respiratory crisis.”

The Raise It process exists because healthcare teams know how important parents are in keeping children safe.

“Speaking up doesn’t mean you don’t trust the team,” she says. “It means you’re partnering with us to make sure nothing gets missed.”

And if you’re still worried about being judged?

“Whether your concern turns out to be something or nothing, your instinct to raise it is always valid.”

Find out more, visit health.nsw.gov.au/raiseit

Mouths of Mums is proudly working with NSW Health to bring you this important article.

  • As a parent of a child with cystic fibrosis, I’ve learned to trust my gut when something doesn’t feel right. We’ve had a few experiences where we’ve needed to go through different channels to raise concerns or frustrations with the hospital system to make sure our daughter got the care she needed. It’s great to see programs like this encouraging families to speak up, because parents often know when something isn’t quite right.

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  • As a parent of a child with cystic fibrosis, I’ve learned to trust my gut when something doesn’t feel right. We’ve had a few experiences where we’ve needed to go through different channels to raise concerns or frustrations with the hospital system to make sure our daughter got the care she needed. It’s great to see programs like this encouraging families to speak up, because parents often know when something isn’t quite right.

    Reply

  • This is so true from my experience over the years.
    No matter how wonderful the medical team is, if you have any doubts speak up as a mother knows her child better than anyone.

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  • Yes and amen to this article ! I agree with always follow your gut, you know your child like no one else does. In fact you are your child’s expert and should never stop advocating for them or speaking up. Sometimes professionals are very good in waving concerns away, all it takes is a human who listens

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  • Even as a healthcare professional, when I took my soon to the ED when I was concerned, I felt awkward about speaking up, worried I was making a big deal out of nothing (even though i would never tjink this about a patient’s family if the roles were reversed). The message in this article is so important. Always stick to your guns. Always speak up and advocate for your kids – they can’t do it for themselves.

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  • And honestly, some medical staff are idiots. I vividly remember the night two doctors huddled over my son’s lung x-rays. I hadn’t been allowed to accompany him to have them taken as I was pregnant. They finally told me solemnly that they were preparing to do emergency surgery as there was something in his lungs – “we don’t know what it is, but it’s definitely man made”. I took one look at the x-rays and asked if they’d taken off the battery packs for his cochlear implants, which were pinned to the back of his shirt, before the x-ray. And of course they hadn’t, and of course that’s what appeared to be in his lungs. Honestly!

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  • We need more articles like this one. It is important for us to advocate for ourselves and our loved ones in any situation and work with professionals.

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  • I have learned many times to always listen to your gut and speak up when you don’t think something is right. This article was a great read, our kids are our world and if we don’t feel they are getting the right help, and we feel it, we need to speak up.

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  • You should never second guess yourself when it comes to yours or your childs health- or anyones for that matter. Go with your thoughts. It is natural to want to protect a loved one especially when it comes to health situations, and the feeling you get when you think you didnt do enough to advocate or fight for them…it is not a kind or nice way to feel. Many people have ended up being heartbroken and picking up pieces for years because of feeling they didnt do enough.

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  • A very good and informative article. I have read so many stories about mums just knowing when things are not right and demanding second and third opinions until they got the right answer. Sometimes mums just know. It is our job as care takers of our families. Listen to your gut!

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  • Years ago, I spoke up for my 14-year-old daughter, but my concerns weren’t fully listened to. I’ve always wished I had pushed harder. She was sent home without much testing, and two days later, she passed away.
    So, if you ever have concerns—no matter how minor—please speak up and keep advocating. Trust your instincts; they are there for a reason.

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  • This is so important for parents to know how to raise it further if they don’t think their child is receiving the medical support they need! I know this article refers to the NSW system but other systems have similar procedures just with different names. I know in QLD it’s called Ryan’s Rule.

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  • It’s so important to follow your gut instincts and express your concerns indeed. I have never hesitated to advocate for my children in various situations and I don’t care what other people think about it. Not all doctors and medical staff appreciate it when you question them, I’ve experienced that it may result in angry indignant responses.

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  • How true this is! While nurses and doctors are the medical professionals doing their job on the daily, we know our children better than anyone and what is ‘normal’ for them. I would always speak up if I had noticed any changes in my child’s health and encourage other parents to do so too. No question is silly!

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  • This really is such an important issue and a good topic to discuss with people, I am often surprised that people are worried about being judged. This is not something I care about; the priority is for the care and health of everyone is my family. Parents know their children and need to work with health professionals for the best outcomes for their children.

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  • This is such an important issue to raise, and no one should ever feel ashamed, nervous or that they are being OTT for advocating for their kids, themselves or loves ones in hospital. In QLD we have Ryan’s Rule. A three step process where your concern will be escalated if they believe the patients condition isn’t improving or is worsening.

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  • I have never been afraid to advocate for my children and partner and extended family and also friends. It is so important to listen and to trust intuition. When people have not listened, I have persevered and kept on with insisting on care and making sure they truly listened and took action.

    Reply

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