What do you do?

[MushyMushy]

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.......

Your delivery is a bit harsh, but I agree with you. I had to take my DH to a specialist a while back and the waiting room was fairly crowded. This elderly woman was dropped off in her wheelchair and she was obviously pretty miserable and in a good bit of pain. Next thing you know these parents with 3 kids came in and they were playing around the woman's wheelchair and being disruptive and accidentally bumping her chair. That's not to say they were *bad* -- on the contrary, they were being relatively quiet and just being kids. But I felt so bad for this poor woman.

And why would you want to take a healthy kid into a GP's office anyway? Aren't you worried they'll catch something?

 

[rparmfamily]

I think moms don't bring their kids unless they really don't have an option. I know for me, I'd rather not bring them but I don't have a choice sometimes. (much like flying with them LOL!!)

Not only that, it's other adults that are just as annoying as a child, and they have no excuse!!! Coughing all over me, standing right in the way, talking loudly on their cells for everyone to hear,etc.

 

[LindaR]

Oh, for the poster who said that I had not been in these situations. You are wrong. Maybe I have too much pride. I became a single mother when my daughter was a little over 1 year old. I had no family here (well, her dad lived here but I would NOT leave her with him, not that he would watch her anyway).

I never took my daughter with me to any of my appointments. She had no business there.

As a matter of fact, one of my FAVORITE things to do to relax was not indulged in for several years. Long hot soaking baths. Why? Because there was no one to supervise my baby while I was in the tub and I was NOT about to let her run around the house or outside without supervision!

I know just as much about this topic as anyone else. I just CHOSE to handle it differently.

 

[mommasita]

Your delivery is a bit harsh, but I agree with you. I had to take my DH to a specialist a while back and the waiting room was fairly crowded. This elderly woman was dropped off in her wheelchair and she was obviously pretty miserable and in a good bit of pain. Next thing you know these parents with 3 kids came in and they were playing around the woman's wheelchair and being disruptive and accidentally bumping her chair. That's not to say they were *bad* -- on the contrary, they were being relatively quiet and just being kids. But I felt so bad for this poor woman.

And why would you want to take a healthy kid into a GP's office anyway? Aren't you worried they'll catch something?

I can only speak for myself, but I really had no option. I was not more worried they would catch something in the hospital than anywhere else. Especially in the chemo ward. It was spotless of course. If I would have had any other choice, I would have jumped on it...Today of course, things are much different than then.

I think moms don't bring their kids unless they really don't have an option. I know for me, I'd rather not bring them but I don't have a choice sometimes. (much like flying with them LOL!!)

Not only that, it's other adults that are just as annoying as a child, and they have no excuse!!! Coughing all over me, standing right in the way, talking loudly on their cells for everyone to hear,etc.

I agree at least for myself. I had no option, as stated above..

 

[LindaR]

Let me ask this.......

Would you be so understanding if your doctor brought his/her 3 year old into the workplace and the little one went into each exam room too? Would you feel like that was appropriate? OR would you "expect" your physician to find alternate care???

 

[mommasita]

Let me ask this.......

Would you be so understanding if your doctor brought his/her 3 year old into the workplace and the little one went into each exam room too? Would you feel like that was appropriate? OR would you "expect" your physician to find alternate care???

Are you asking me? I REALLY don't want to argue at all. I see all sides, and believe it is such a personal decision really, and one that may be different for different illnesses. If I were going for a regular check up, then I could re schedule for when I had childcare. In the case of my MIL and her chemo, we had no option...

I will answer honestly. I don't know about the doctor, as I have never been there, and done that. I know that some teachers in my son's school often bring their children to school (who belong to other schools), as the schedule sometimes conflicts. I find nothing wrong with that. It is not on a regular basis, and I guess they have no choice, but miss work.

 

[rparmfamily]

Huh?? Going to the doctor isn't my job?? Am I getting paid? NO, infact, I'm the one paying! I do not see the connection.

 

[Passions71203]

To answer the OP question...
I would try and find another time to go to the doctor/dentist.
I have taken them once with me for my first day of PT for my shoulder (B/C I had no childcare and I had to start that day) Boy, I will never do that again!Talk about stress! So now, I either have app when they are in school (preschool) or I get someone to watch them...
But that is just me..I guess it depends on how your children act.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Huh?? Going to the doctor isn't my job?? Am I getting paid? NO, infact, I'm the one paying! I do not see the connection.

Yes, you are paying. The Doctors and their staff are NOT paid extra to entertain or occupy your child while they do a procedure on you.

I can not tell you how many times someone brings their baby or toddlers to a dentist appointment. Come on....how RUDE!!! They obviously can not entertain or care for the child while they are in my chair and I can't either. I always tell those patients to reschedule.

 

[rparmfamily]

Never once (as I've said before) have I ever had anyone "entertain" or watch my children. I can guess some parents do and in that case you should tell them you guys aren't licensed to watch children. The answer isn't banning children.

And the dentist...I wouldn't bring my children to an appt I'd just forgo the appt because obviously a dentist visit isn't a 10 min appt like the Dr's is.

In all my comments I'm talking about the Dr's, not the dentist. I can totally see not wanting children at the dentist, those are lengthy appts and a lot of equipment in the room as well.

I've brought DD (when she was about 17 mo) to OB appts, when they were just weigh-ins basically. They do nothing at those appts anyway lol. Wasn't my first choice but I've done it.

 

[MichelleVW]

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 am an xray tech and I STRONGLY AGREE with you!! We had someone come in the other day for an MRI and expected us to get a chair for his 3 year old to sit while he had his 45 minute MRI!! "But she's good and she will just sit there" Uh no.....she won't and we are not babysitters!!

I can't stand when people bring in the whole family when only one of them have an appointment, you may think your 3 year old hopping around on our chairs is cute, but let me tell you....the staff doesn't.

I love children...I have two of my own, but if the appointment is not FOR THEM, they do not belong there, end of story.

I was a single military mom and I never brought my kids to one of my appointments....you CAN find someone to watch the other kids if you really want too. I have never lived by family and where there is a will, there is a way.

 

[rparmfamily]

I was a single military mom and I never brought my kids to one of my appointments....you CAN find someone to watch the other kids if you really want too. I have never lived by family and where there is a will, there is a way

As a single military mom, then you already had your child in daycare anyway, right? (I'm not meaning that in a rude way--I'm trying to make my point that you already had your child in childcare, and this is different from what I'm talking about)

 

[cybrkitn]

I usually make my appointements in the evening when I know that DH will be home to be with DS5. If DH is on a business trip, I'll have my FIL or my father to watch him so I can go.

The only time I took my son with me to an appointment was the week of Thanksgiving. Both of us were not feeling well so I made his appointment first, then made mine for a few hours after his. Turns out we both had strep throat

 

[HOGFAN]

In our office(mammography center), if you bring your child and he/she cannot be left unattended, you have to reschedule. No, your child cannot come into the exam room with you(its radiation,people!). And no, we cannot watch your child. If,God forbid, the child gets hurt, comes up later with a bruise, or worse, sexually abused(even tho WE didnt do it) you can blame us and sue.

 

[MichelleVW]

As a single military mom, then you already had your child in daycare anyway, right? (I'm not meaning that in a rude way--I'm trying to make my point that you already had your child in childcare, and this is different from what I'm talking about)

During the day yes, but that daycare didn't cover the Emergency room visits, Saturday appointments or things like that.

 

[disykat]

During the day yes, but that daycare didn't cover the Emergency room visits, Saturday appointments or things like that.

This is what people are talking about. On a Saturday or evening it's a lot easier to find a friend or babysitter to watch your child. If you are a SAHM it's often very difficult to find daytime care.

I've never taken a child to my dentist appointments because you make those well in advance and can schedule around them, but for the doctor's appointments I took my child to I was told by the provider it was fine to bring him.

 

[HelenePA]

Its even worse when you are the SAHM that EVERYONE calls when they need someone to watch their kid in the middle of the day, yet when you need someone mysteriously no one is around..

 

[MichelleVW]

This is what people are talking about. On a Saturday or evening it's a lot easier to find a friend or babysitter to watch your child. If you are a SAHM it's often very difficult to find daytime care.

I've never taken a child to my dentist appointments because you make those well in advance and can schedule around them, but for the doctor's appointments I took my child to I was told by the provider it was fine to bring him.

Maybe this is just a touchy subject with me since I work in health care and it's very annoying trying to help one person and they can't concentrate on you because their child is jumping around the waiting room. People also get mad at us because we won't let their 2 year old sit in the hallway alone while we take their xray.

We have so many people that don't even bother to find someone to watch their kids because they know that they will be seen WITH the child there.

I was talking to a nurse friend of mine the other day and she was telling me about someone who brought their child in for a pap smear!!

Find a babysitter, find a drop in daycare, find something so you don't have to bring the child with you. I just don't think it's right.

A little off topic, but I was getting my hair cut last month and this lady brought in two bad little kids while she was getting her eyebrows waxed. She was in the chair and couldn't do anything and the kids were hopping all over the place, playing in the sink, and I thought one lady was going to get sprayed by the water. The whole time the lady in the chair kept saying, "Jonathon, sit down, Jonathon leave that alone" but of course little Jonathon didn't stop anything....

I just believe if you are in a professional setting, doctor,dentist, hair dresser even, leave the little kids at home.

 

[Mkrop]

Maybe this is just a touchy subject with me since I work in health care and it's very annoying trying to help one person and they can't concentrate on you because their child is jumping around the waiting room. People also get mad at us because we won't let their 2 year old sit in the hallway alone while we take their xray.

We have so many people that don't even bother to find someone to watch their kids because they know that they will be seen WITH the child there.

I was talking to a nurse friend of mine the other day and she was telling me about someone who brought their child in for a pap smear!!

Find a babysitter, find a drop in daycare, find something so you don't have to bring the child with you. I just don't think it's right.

A little off topic, but I was getting my hair cut last month and this lady brought in two bad little kids while she was getting her eyebrows waxed. She was in the chair and couldn't do anything and the kids were hopping all over the place, playing in the sink, and I thought one lady was going to get sprayed by the water. The whole time the lady in the chair kept saying, "Jonathon, sit down, Jonathon leave that alone" but of course little Jonathon didn't stop anything....

I just believe if you are in a professional setting, doctor,dentist, hair dresser even, leave the little kids at home.

I agree if it is an emergency then fine, but a scheduled event you need to develop a network of people to help.

I think my kids are perfect and the most adorable things on earth,I know most others dont share my view

 

[mjkacmom]

My parents watch them, I drop them off at a friend, or I hire a sitter, and if I have no choice, I take them with me. I enjoy reading a book in the waiting room without my 5 little darlings, thank you very much. I honestly don't understand why parents insist on being the only ones who watch their children - it's healthy to have some time apart. My kids love having sitters, or going to someone elses house, and I enjoy some adult time (and, unfortunately, most of my adult time is at appointments, not at a spa, but I'll take it). Plus, there are many germs at doctors' offices - I don't even like taking them to the pediatrician.