What do you do?

[sunlver]

Do you take your kids to your dr appts, or do you find somebody to watch them?

We dont use real babysitters. If I need to go somewhere without my youngest(which doesnt happen often). I will ask a friend in the neighborhood to stay with her, or mostly I just ask my husband too. I try to plan appts later in the day when my husband can come home.

I dont mind bringing my 3 yr old with me to the regular dr(like for sinus infections and stuff), but when I have to go to a specialist I prefer her not being there as it distracts me.I do take her to the dentist with me for cleanings as well, she sits and plays or colors, or just chatters away to me.People think its odd I take her everywhere, but what am I suppose to do with a 3 yr old?
Today I am going to the neurologist for the first time, so my husband will stay with her, because I feel I have a lot to cover in this appt.

I took my 8 and 3 yr old with me to a follow up appt with the ENT to discuss my ct scan of my sinus's(it was all clear, nothing wrong ). The nurse gave me one of those "looks" when she saw I had to take my 2 kids in with me. It was not anything she said, but it was the "look"....When the dr came in I said I had to bring them with me, he asks "Are they yours?"....DUH...yes they are mine..Lucky the appt was short and we were in and out...

So what do you do with your kids (well the ones who are not in school)when you have a drs/dentist appt?

 

[WishingOnAStar]

I always took mine with me- sometimes all 3. (They are less than 3 years apart.) We were/are in the same situation as you. We've never needed/used a "real babysitter". My kids were always well behaved- I never had any problems bringing them with me.
Don't let "the look" bother you. As long as you child is not being disruptive, I don't see it as a problem.

 

[My2Cinderellas]

I belong to a babysitting coop with other stay at home parents. Some work part time but we are available to watch each other's kids during the day. We have a coupon system, based on time/number of children being watched.

I joined when my oldest was 10 months old, and now that the girls are in school all day, I use it mostly in the summer.

It's how we get to go to the dentist, personal doctor appointments, hair appointments, take just one child to the doctor, or even meet our spouse for lunch.

These ladies (and guy) are my support group, and it goes beyond childcare if necessary. I can't imagine how difficult it would be if I didn't have a group like this.

 

[Beth76]

I've only had to take my son to one appt. He was supposed to be in school but school was cancelled due to bad weather. The weather cleared up by the time my appt came around so I didn't want to cancel. And I couldn't find a sitter on short notice. All other times I either find a sitter or schedule them during school hours.

 

[mommasita]

When mine were those ages I brought them everyone. They were very well behaved, and I never remember getting 'those looks'...Not everyone has an option..

Good luck at your appointment today

 

[sunlver]

When I take my 3 yr old with me, well she is a typical 3 yr old. She is not bad, meaning, she doesnt cry or throw fits when with me. She will color or play with small toys or eat a snack. Then she stands up, and looks at me, "tries" to ask me questions..."<mommy, does that hur" "mommy what is the dr doing?"...things of this nature. When she starts talking to me, it gets a little frustrating, as she really isnt doing anything wrong. I mean she is only 3, and I can explain that mommy needs her to be quiet to talk to the dr, but sometimes its hard for her to "get it".

 

[Mkrop]

I guess it depends on the child. I didnt but I could have totally brought my older guy anywhere, now DS4 is another story, sometimes he is good and other times he is typical for his age and he wants to ask questions, he is a mommas boy so very clingy, which doesnt help when you are trying to actually listen to what the Dr has to say. I do whatever it takes to schedule these when the kids are in school, I ask my mom, although she is sometimes busy, or I go on weekends (although they are near impossible to get for some Drs). I really dont feel I can concentrate on what I need to accomplish with DS4 there.

My BF takes her kids everywhere even though I have offered to watch them. And I dont think that she doesnt trust me bc she has left her son with me before, a couple of times. She just doesnt see the big deal to bring them to meetings or anywhere else.

 

[disykat]

Like the OP, I either had a friend or neighbor watch them, or dh took time off work, OR I took them with me. If I had to take them with me, I brought along a box of animal crackers (or anything they considered an exciting treat) and handed them to them right when the doctor came in. They never caused any problems.

When I was pregnant with my 2nd, my clinic came up with this brilliant (NOT) plan to have "same day appointments." The ONLY way I could get my regular checks was by calling in the morning and getting one the same day. They would NOT let me schedule ahead, so I had to bring my two year old to every appointment, strap him in the stroller, and face him the other way during my pelvic exams. Not fun!

When I complained about the childcare issue, the scheduler would give me a blank stare and say "doesn't your childcare do dropoffs?" They couldn't seem to comprehend that there are people out there who don't have childcare prearranged on a daily basis - or that prearranging childcare on the off chance that you would actually be able to get an appointment when you called into the phoneline that morning was ridiculous at best. Fortunately that system only lasted a few months (I obviously wasn't the only person with issues with it), but it was during the part of my pregnancy where I had to have an appointment every two weeks.

 

[HelenePA]

we've never had any of our kids in daycare or taken them to babysitters, had a babysitter who wasn't family. Dh would always take off for my appointments when I was pregnant. His work had no problems with it. He has more than enough time a year (over 5 wks a year) to cover it. The only time any of my kids came to my appoinments was after a bad car accident I was in while pregnant with DD#2. I couldn't drive and we couldn't get a babysitter for our daughter. It was a quick appoinment. She was good no crying no yelling no anything. I'm sure they would be good if I took them to any of my appointments but to be honest I like the quiet time, ah a day out with no kids..

 

[disneyfanx3]

I don't use a "real babysitter" either. I always took all of my kids with me. My girls were always well behaved, but my son on the other hand cries when the DR comes near me so I now have to have my mom watch him.

 

[ducklite]

The gynecologist I used in NJ strictly prohibited kids in their office under any circumstances--and they enforced it.

My dentist here has a sign that says children under ten are not allowed to be left alone in the waiting room, and children not receiving treatment are not allowed in the exam rooms.

When DS was little I used to either ask a friend to watch him for an hour, or schedule my appointment during work hours when he'd be at day care.

 

[LindaR]

This will not be popular.

Unless THE CHILD has the appointment, he/she has no business going to these appointments. YOU may think your child is perfect and well behaved, but they should not be inflicted on others. Lots of folks sitting in the doctor's office are not feeling well or stressed about their visit. They don't need to deal with "well behaved" children. It is a major distraction and a disruption. Taking them into the exam room is a distraction to the medical professionals. Leaving them in the waiting room to "chat" and be "well behaved" is just plain disrespectful. AND you are forcing the staff to "look out" for YOUR child.

This, to me, is just like taking your child to work because you don't have a babysitter that day. Unprofessional AND unwelcome.

Do unto others.......

 

[AllyandJack]

I don't have anyone to watch DD, so I have to take her.

I take her to my OB once a week. Thankfully, the nurses love her and they all take turns with her. All of the doctors in the practice come out to see her and pass her around.

They don't make me wait in the waiting room though. I get put right in a room. But, I think that's because of the hyperemesis, not DD, since I see a ton of people in there with kids.

If I'm having a u/s that's scheduled, DH comes with me. If it's not scheduled, then one of the nurses sits with her.

It's an OB office, so they love the babies and encourage us to bring them in for visits.

 

[rparmfamily]

I've brought my kids when I have no other option. Babies are a different thing, because (TO ME) a baby belongs with it's mother, especially newborns and tiny ones.

Our former military hospital did not allow children at parents appts. That used to make me so mad!!!! Why? Because 1-nearly everyone stationed here has NO family within like 2000 miles. 2-because everyone moves a lot (every year to 3 yrs) so it's hard to find someone you trust 3-the daycares only have drop-ins for certain ages, if you prearrange it. when you have an urgent appt this is not possible. There is no drop-in for infant care, there is a long wait list and other ages also have long wait lists too.

That said, mine are in school now, and I have a few trusted neighbors but I've been in a situation where DH was deployed, and we lived 2000 miles from family, I was new in town and HAD to be seen. So my DD came with me. Tough crap from anyone giving me "oh no" looks, walk a day in my shoes doing all that stuff-moving to a state where you know no one and have your husband be deployed at war.

Sorry about my rant, but sometimes you do what you have to do! Believe me, I've NOT gone to the doctor because I didn't want to take my kids and there's times when I've taken both because they were sick as well and they couldn't be at school or preschool either.

 

[SydSim]

I took Dd with me to a few when she was very young. Other times, I scheduled them for when she was in pre-school. Other times, DH had her or my friend. I don't go to the doctor that often for it to be a real issue (maybe 3-4 times a year)

 

[lovemygoofy]

My PCP doesn't even allow children under the age of 13 in his office. I've seen several parents that had to give up their appt when children were brought in. Also the same with the gyno I see.

 

[mommasita]

This will not be popular.

Unless THE CHILD has the appointment, he/she has no business going to these appointments. YOU may think your child is perfect and well behaved, but they should not be inflicted on others. Lots of folks sitting in the doctor's office are not feeling well or stressed about their visit. They don't need to deal with "well behaved" children. It is a major distraction and a disruption. Taking them into the exam room is a distraction to the medical professionals. Leaving them in the waiting room to "chat" and be "well behaved" is just plain disrespectful. AND you are forcing the staff to "look out" for YOUR child.

This, to me, is just like taking your child to work because you don't have a babysitter that day. Unprofessional AND unwelcome.

Do unto others.......

I understand what you are saying, but I believe that we do the best we can. If we must see a doctor and have no other option, then we bring our children...

EVERYONE was a child at one point, so people should try to understand. Nobody does this because it is fun, believe me...

When my MIL was going through Chemo, I was the only one able to bring her. My 2 year old came with me (no other option), and we were repeatedly told that seeing her was better than any medicine given in the Cancer center.

I would never have brought her if I had a babysitter, but I really did not. Times were tough then, and we did what we could. She was never a brat, or left alone. She was rather good, and learned how to behave in a Doctor's office..

 

[HelenePA]

Do unto others.......

how does that saying go?? if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all.
I'm glad you've never been the the position some of us have. Maybe I shouldn't have gone it to get checked after my car accident when I was in labor for almost 20 hrs at 22wks with #2? DD#1 was also in the car with me she had over 60 stiches in her face, head ect ect should I have left her with a baby sitter? NO she needed her parents, DH had to drive and help me into the dr's office what other choice did I have but to take her?? She was also at one of my ultrasounds now that I think of it she would have been about 18 months at the time... sweet lil baby, never threw a tantrum in her life for all she's been thru she is a sweetie pie!

 

[WishingOnAStar]

This will not be popular.

Unless THE CHILD has the appointment, he/she has no business going to these appointments. YOU may think your child is perfect and well behaved, but they should not be inflicted on others. Lots of folks sitting in the doctor's office are not feeling well or stressed about their visit. They don't need to deal with "well behaved" children. It is a major distraction and a disruption. Taking them into the exam room is a distraction to the medical professionals. Leaving them in the waiting room to "chat" and be "well behaved" is just plain disrespectful. AND you are forcing the staff to "look out" for YOUR child.

This, to me, is just like taking your child to work because you don't have a babysitter that day. Unprofessional AND unwelcome.

Do unto others.......

I don't understand why a child sitting quietly in a doctors office next to his/her mother is a "major distraction and a disruption" to other patients. My children learned at a very young age what is appropriate behavior in public. I never had a problem with them at my appointments. None of my children took a bottle, so I couldn't leave my infants even if I wanted to. I also never "forced" staff to look out for my child.

 

[rparmfamily]

I've also not ever left my child with a staff member or out in the waiting room,etc. They've always been next to me, and I've brought things to keep them occupied (snacks, crayons, puzzles.)

Some people are blessed with ready/able/trusted babysitters, especially family but many of us are not.