Pediatrician's office question.......a little TMI

[Pembo]

I took DD to a new pediatrician last week. It was our first visit there since we just moved. They took her temperature rectally. I commented to the nurse about it and she said they always take babies under a year rectally.

I thought that was a bit extreme. All of my previous drs ALWAYS used the ear thermom and recently those scan the forehead types. Just wondered what the rest of the world is using????

I didn't get a good feeling about this drs office in general but wondered if I was overreacting.

For example-the exam room didn't have any toys and wasn't very child themed. It was carpeted and the carpet looked pretty worn. DD SCREAMED when the nurse came near. (that's not like her at all). And they had the old fashioned slide style scales not the digital kind. DD wouldn't sit still long enough to be weighed that way. I'm planning on calling another drs office tomorrow for a comparison.

The practice we were at before was in a fairly new building but still............

There are only a few pediatricians in our area but I'm calling a Family Practice tomorrow. I bet the nurse will think I'm nuts when I ask if they use ear thermoms.

 

[SuiteDisney]

Go with your gut feelings. I don't use a pediatrician, our family practice is approx. 30% pediatrics.

 

[Serena]

There is nothing wrong with the way the current doctor is doing things.


However, if you aren't comfortable, for whatever reason you have, it's not a good thing. It's a doctor's office. You should be comfortable with the doctors and nurses that treat you, especially your kids.

 

[disneyluvers]

Please listen to your instincts. If you don't believe that this is the best place to take your daughter, then you shouldn't feel strange asking any questions you want. I'm usually an easy going person, but I can be down right rude if I think my babies aren't getting the kind of care I think they should. I feel that you only have one person to answer to and that is yourself. Good Luck!


M

 

[Mjasp]

Go with your gut feeling. I use to bring my own ear thermometer to the peds office if I went to a covering doctor and I didn't know his/her style of practice.

If you are not comfortable then keep looking, and it sounds like you are not comfortable.

Joanna

 

[ripleysmom]

I do have to say that I would much prefer a ped who used a rectal thermometer than the ear one. I don't believe that the ear thermometers are accurate.

 

[Michelle]

I agree with GO WITH YOUR GUT instincts on this one. If you're not comfortable then definitely check out other offices.

My daughter's pediatrician's office definitely has a few toys, sick and well child waiting rooms, and they use ear thermometers. Much more hygienic, IMHO.

 

[disykat]

First off I say go with your gut. But that said, I have a different opinion. Many Drs. offices purposely do not have toys to discourage sick children sharing toys. I always hated when they had toys, because my kids wanted to play with them. Using rectal thermometers for babies is pretty common, especially if they are ill and need to get an accurate reading.

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

I used to use the ear thermometer at home until the dr. told me that it's hard to get a good read on a child because their ears are small. they suggested using a regular digital. I take it under their arms now and feel like I am getting a better read on their temps when they are sick.

I love my kids doc -- they do have the old fashioned scales but they are warm and loving.

 

[Princess_Aurora]

I would definately find another one. My ped. take temps with an oral thermometer but it's a digital one that gets a reading in lie 2 seconds. They also have toys and they are VERY kid friendly...a peditrician's office should be. They have stickers and coloring books...things that really don't spred germs. The toys that they do have in the exam rooms, the nurse comes in with some Lysol after each exam and sprays them down.

You need to find a ped you feel really comfortable with...it's your child's health after all, you want to give her the best care possible

 

[Mjasp]

When I usse to take my kids to the Ped and tell him they had a temp and gave him the reading of how high it was, he use to always tell me, I don't care how high their temperature is, I care if they are lethargic or not. he said you can have a 102 fever and run around and play but have a 100 degree temp and be very lethargic, and that is what is more important. When I thought about it, it did make sense. When my kids layed around and did nothing it was more scary than a temp when they ran around and played.

Joanna

 

[babyblues68]

Both DD and DS had a lot of high fevers when they were young. DS even had a spinal tap because they couldn't get his fever to break over a 2 week time period . He was only 2 months old. Every doctor I came in contact in the hospital including my peds dr, who I'm very good friends with says rectal is the most accurate. I do swear by it for babies.

"old fashioned slide style scales not the digital kind" again your going to get a more accurate reading. Our peds dr has both.
When it comes down to it I rather have the oldfashion way of doing these two things. Digital has every chance of messing up. It's a little computer...and we know how computers can be.

As for toys...I definately would not want my child playing with toys th last kid coughed and slobbered on. As for the atmosphere...you got me here. I believe the place needs to be child friendly..bright colors, murals and nurses in kiddie scrubs. Our peds dr even has little clippy animals down his stethoscope and all his disney pins on his coat.

Go with your gut. If your uncomfortable with this doctor change, but don't let it be because of the digital vs manuel.

Tammy

 

[JohnTBap]

The toy thing wouldn't bother me because we BYOT (never know what those little buggers have got!) BUT I would NEVER trust a pediatrician with carpet!

 

[babyblues68]

Yuck carpet....I didn't think abotu that....that's gross. I use to work in the ER and we did a culture of the bottom of our shoes once ...that was sick!!!

 

[Pin Wizard]

I think the reason they don't use the ear thermometer on infants is because it doesn't fit in their tiny ears properly. If it doesn't fit properly, you won't get a correct reading.

 

[phyllis1966]

Hi - first let me say that as a parent, if you really have a gut feeling that you don't care for this pediatric practice, then find another - your child comes first. That being said, I've worked in the same pediatric practice with 4 pediatricians (with 4 different opinions on lots of things!) for many years. One of the things they always agree on is that those ear thermometers are not accurate, and can in fact be quite inaccurate. We know that 99% of the times that a parent calls and says his/her child has a temp. of 104 or above, they must be using an ear thermometer (it's true!). If you don't aim it perfectly, in different directions for different ages, the reading is way off. The best and most accurate reading for an infant under the age of 1 is definitely rectally, so don't let that sway you.

We have toys and books and a cheerfully decorated office, but toys are germy, and no matter how diligent we are about disinfecting them, people always say that their kids were fine until they came in and played with the toys (honestly, I don't like my daughter to play with them when she's not sick).

We don't have digital scales either, not even in our newest office - they are just not as accurate as the "good old-fashioned" slide scales.

Just a little (hopefully ) helpful info. from a 13-year veteran!

 

[WishingStar]

I feel you have got to go to a doctor you are comfortable with and you agree with the way they practice. My oldest will be ten soon and I have had the same ped since she was an infant. Followed her twice when she changed offices. When you find one that fits follow your gut and see how comfortable your DD is. As far as the rectal temp goes, I don't care for that either. Ears at the office, uder the arm at home. Best of luck in your search.