STM with toddlers and Dr appts.

kerrigrooves · September 2014

Do you STM's bring your toddlers to your appts.? Is your Dr OK with it? any tips for keeping them distracted? i was thinking the ipad which I only let her have at restaurants and on planes.

Today was my 20 week u/s (all was great!) and I had a friend lined up for care. I got the u/s but still have to see my Dr tomorrow as she was stuck in the OR and had to reschedule. Ive avoided bringing my 22 mo old with me thus far but with appts in the 2nd 1/2 being more often, I think Ill have to bring her with.

bhjones1980 · September 2014

I had to bring him once, but DH was with me and tried to keep him entertained.

It wasn't fun, too much "cool" stuff to touch in those rooms, and too much waiting time.

Smyers2girls · September 2014

I think it depends on what type of an appointment you're having. If it's just a quick vital check and talking with the dr it's probably ok. But when it's closer and you're going through cervical checks and more through exams, I wouldn't want my 2 year old running around the room. It also depends on your dr. I go to a high risk facility and they actually have signs posted saying they would rather you not bring your kids, as how many of us in there have immune system problems. But they realize sometimes you may have to bring them. I usually try to scheduled appointments when my DH can come, or my grandmother and they walk the halls with her or take her to the cafeteria to have some cookies.

wendy46001 · September 2014

DD went to my 20wk u/s to find out if she had a little bro/sis. My Dr. is normally fine with kids, I've seen some holy terrors in the waiting room. DD is over three so she'll just chill with the ipad/phone/book for a good 20min so I have no issues with her just sitting in the corner if for some reason I had to bring her (normally she'd be at daycare)

Angeldcf · September 2014

My doc mentioned he was fine with it and loved seeing babies grow up. I've brought DS to a few appts (one accidentally being my pap smear so that was fun). I have books for him to read since it's usually 15min. I'll get a sitter for the A/S appt - mine's at 24 wks

mamabisme · September 2014

I prefer not to bring my girls. My oldest is in school and my mom is local so she usually watches the little one. I did have to bring her to one appt. They have a little area in the waiting room with books and toys for kids so we played while we waited. When we were called back I read her a book we had packed while we waited for the doctor. Then, when the doctor came in she sat in the a chair and colored. You have to do what you have to do to keep them distracted. With my kids books and color books are favorites but use whatever works best for you.

Oem617 · September 2014

I try not too. I have a doctor appointment today and thought I might have to, but I worked it out. I have seen kids in the waiting room before and I don't think my doctor would mind. But I would just rather not if I don't have to.

HerHighness · September 2014

I have taken her to a few appointments. Usually just the quick in an out vital appointments. I try not to take her if i have an ultrasound or anything that takes more than 10 minutes. She is 4 so things like the Doppler do interest her.

HerHighness · September 2014

And no my dr didnt seem to mind, he told her he delivered her and gave her a bag if candy.

michelle142 · September 2014

I usually don't have to bring him along, but if I do he's so fascinated by everything that he just sits quietly.

tee18 · September 2014

I try not to, but I have brought DS to 2 appointments, but at those appointments I had DH come to help keep him happy. I think it's alright to bring him to appointments for now. I won't bring him to the appointments later on though, since they take more time and are more involved, and I don't think he's allowed during ultrasounds, so he won't be going to those either.

Dani_Love · September 2014

DD goes to all of mine. She is 2. I usually bring a tablet, stroller, and snacks

AF9211 · September 2014

bhjones1980 said:

I had to bring him once, but DH was with me and tried to keep him entertained.

It wasn't fun, too much "cool" stuff to touch in those rooms, and too much waiting time.

This.

Even with DH there she acted up because there was so much going on around her she became overstimulated. She's 18 months.

Now I leave her at home with DH, my mom or MIL.

rebecca20scherrer · September 2014

I have an extremely kid friendly docs office! They even built a portioned off area of the waiting room with a large TV and some books and then every exam room has kid books in them and they are all closed up with nothing for the kiddo to get into
The only issue I have other then paps or cervical checks is going to the bathroom when I'm in an exam room that is not connected to a bathroom but it's not that huge of an issue

acpruchnik · September 2014

I've been bringing my 4yo DS since day one to appts that don't interfere with his school schedule and my doc actually has him "help" with my ultrasounds or doppler checks (she helps him guide the wands where they need to go so we can see the baby). Any time they need to do a trans u/s, the nurses scoop him up and take him for a walk or they play with him on my phone across the room. I've never asked them to help out since he's easy to distract with my phone but they're amazing with him there and actually ask where he is any time I go in without him. I won't go to a doc that's not OK with my DS being there, though. I specifically ask about it any time I have to go to one, even when I was setting things up with my PCP after we moved to AZ a few years ago. My DH is gone a lot so it's typically just me and the little man and my mum can't always take him.

My appts with my MFM always wind up being the same time he has to leave for school so he hasn't gone to those but he's coming with my mum and I to my a/s next Tuesday. He loves getting to see his little brother and actually gets really mad at me when he finds out that I've gone without him lol

cosmama · September 2014

My 2-year-old daughter has come with me a few times and usually does pretty well. The staff knows here so she likes it because she gets stickers and everyone visits with her. I had an unexpected ultrasound that she had to go with me to and she did great. The tech actually turned on a television for her, so that kept her busy.

CatLadyTX · September 2014

I try to schedule my appointments when DH can come and help occupy DS.

lizzybean · September 2014

At my appts DD gets her fave snacks (blueberries and grapes) and her toddler tablet to play on.

At ultrasounds DH usually goes into work late and comes with us, and sits with her and feeds her snacks and hands her toys to keep her happy.

For the A/S, if he isn't able to come with me, I think I may drop her off with DH's secretary for a couple of hours. It's a long appt and I won't be able to jump up and help with toys, etc.

jmcgra06 · September 2014

DD comes to all of ours, and DH comes in too. She does fine, and usually sits on my lap while they do the BP and talking. DH holds her when they use the doppler or do the ultrasound. All kids are so different, though. DD would suck at sitting quietly alone or with the two of us, but does well and is distracted by/tries to impress strangers. I hear "what a sweet angel!" frequently. HA.

RedGiant · September 2014

I have not brought DS to my appointments. I have gotten a friend or sitter each time to take care of him. He is very rambunctious and even if I could keep him entertained in the waiting room (they have a few books and toys there), once in the exam room I don't think he would be very patient. Sometimes the wait time is ridiculous, (30-45 min after my appointment time, even for a morning appointment) so I don't think he would stay happy that long.

The doctor's office says it's ok to bring kids, but I dread trying to keep him happy strapped in a stroller while I get checked by the Dr.

krispy83 · September 2014

I try to schedule my appts when I won't have to bring him, but sometimes it's unavoidable. He came with me to the appt to confirm the pregnancy because I knew it would just be a quick urine test and getting the referral from my GP. He came to another appt (that DH was at as well) because we had somewhere to go immediately after. He's coming to my appt tomorrow because it was a million times easier to schedule it for the morning.

As long as it's a quick check (bp, measure, Doppler) I don't really mind. I wouldn't bring him to anything longer like an ultrasound because that feels like I'm just asking for trouble

t8keepr03 · September 2014

I don't bring my DD. I make sure she is at daycare. She is 13 months and never sits. Nothing entertains her where she will sit. It would be a nightmare taking her by myself. It would be a nightmare to take her even if my DH went. I am already visualizing her meeting her little sibling in the postpartum room. HA!

Beth.1212 · September 2014

I haven't taken DS (21 months) to any of my midwife appointments yet, though I know that they'd be okay with it if I needed to. I did take him with me when I went to see a podiatrist, and it worked out. I kept him strapped into his stroller while we were in the exam room and gave him some toys and books to keep him a bit occupied. Most ended up on the floor, but he made it through the appointment.

maryxc1 · September 2014

DS is two and he has come to almost all of my doctor/dentist/optometrist/etc appointments since he was born. I am a SAHM and my child care options are very limited, so you just do what you have to.

I didn't take him to the first appointment because he didn't know I was pregnant and didn't take him to the A/S because I knew it would be the longest one. The only other one I will get a sitter for is the glucose because it is another long one. I ended up taking him to one that took 1 1/2 hours (didn't know it would) and while it took a lot of effort on my part, he did fine.

I definitely put him in the stroller. He is getting to the age where he isn't a big fan of it, so whenever I have the oportunity to take him out I do. That is sometimes in the waiting room if he will stay put in the chair and always while we are in the room waiting for the doctor. I bring plenty of toys (stickers and magna doodle are good ones) and some snacks for when the toys loose their effectiveness. As for the exams, if they are going to look internal, I just point his stroller towards my head.

HailsMom · September 2014

I have taken Hailey with me to a few appointments. I usually just put her in the stroller and try to keep her in there so she is contained. I will bring a book or the ipad to entertain/distract her. The midwives love seeing her when I bring her to those appointments, the love seeing the babies they delivered growing up.

Cohensmommy16 · September 2014

Yes we bring him along. We don't have an option really. Usually DH keeps him distracted. I suggest snacks and toys!

KMommytobe · September 2014

I always plan for a sitter. I've had them fall through but usually am able to get someone before the appointment. My OB does a lot of ultrasounds and the building isn't very stroller friendly so j really need to have a sitter.

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