1 year old and waiting room..tips please!!

[Wallawallakoala]

This month (for quite outing reasons) I will be confined to a waiting room for unspecified amounts of time with my DS1.

I'm really worried that the snacks won't cut it. Has anyone got any ideas for keeping him entertained

Thank you!

Something you don't let him play with at home.

stickers ( the cheap coloured round dots) and an empty exercise book.

Loads of story books..

Something you don't let him play with at home

Absolutely this. New lift the flap book, or car. maybe? Those fidget toys that are like popping bubble wrap are good. Will he be in the buggy? Can you clip a bunch of pram toys to it?

If it's a really long time then something like Hey Bear sensory videos on youtube (with the sound off). You'll get a few judgy looks but needs must.

Or a good bit of performance parenting - walk him round the waiting room and talk to him about what is there - the cars, the posters, look out of the window etc. Amusingly you'll probably get a few judgy looks for this as well.

Phone or tablet if it's really a very long time. My DD usually amuses herself in waiting rooms pretty well (we used to go each month for her vaccines and wait an hour or so each time - not UK). If it's a children's waiting room then it's easier as they might have some toys and other children to play with.

Is it a hospital waiting room? If on a children’s ward or clinic they will probably have lots of new to him toys etc there, plus other kids to engage with.

when mine were that age we also walked the corridors a lot

Hospital waiting rooms almost always have toys

I love the colouring books where the pens only work on the paper so they cant cover a wall with ink

One new toy and one familiar

Let them explore the room - leaflets, chairs etc

I absolutely would not be against whacking my phone out for screen time if they started kicking off.

Go for a walk an hour before and walk them until they drop, they will hopefully sleep through.
We do this in airports before flights and it’s never failed to work.

Thank you absolutely brilliant suggestions and will be using all of them! Not a children's ward but I think everything you've all said will do the trick.

Happy to put up with judgy looks if ds is happy better than the looks for him fussing non stop but even if he does it's just one of those things unfortunately and it can't be helped

Those colouring books are a great idea! It's a Cancer centre it's all brand new everywhere so if it's quiet I might let him crawl round a bit too because he hates being in his buggy. Will not hesitate to get my phone out if a distraction is needed, and I've just bought a fisher price baby phone!

Also, could you ask if it would be possible for the receptionist to ring you on your mobile when the appointment is ready for you, just in case you're outside of the waiting area? So you could get some fresh air, but be nearby, ready to rush back in?

My DS (1 too) loves watching videos I've taken of him on my phone.

My DS (1 too) loves watching videos I've taken of him on my phone

That's a really good one, mine love doing that. They also like taking selfies!

With the buggy, keep him in there as long as you possibly can, then take him out once he's really done with it. Once he's out he's definitely not going to want to go back in.

Last time we went they were funny about me going in and out so l will see what they say. Yess he loves seeing himself haha so selfies and videos are a great option.