Taking toddler to your doctors appt

[dhxxx]

I have a doctors appointment tomorrow and have been let down with childcare and no other options. My partner is away working this week. I tried to rearrange but the next available appointment was 12th September (aside from emergencies)

I don't want to not go as it's for a breast examination and I'm fairly worried about symptoms I'm having.

Would you take your toddler to a doctors appointment or do you think that the doctor will be annoyed? She is well behaved but I guess it might be distracting

I will have to do the same this week. Child will be provided with a screen & headphones. If you have no other options, you have no other options.

Take her, you need to go to the appointment

Yes I think it's fine to take them with you

I've had to take my children with me to various appointments in the past. Not everyone has childcare available at the drop of the hat.

Yes I take mine to appointments with me. Asthma review / dentist appointment and even a smear test and implant appointment once (they just stayed other side of the curtain, locked room etc ) - no option but to take and it's important to look after your health.

I also used to work in a GP practice for many years and always always always had patients that bought children along. Not a problem at all, do it and make visiting doctors normal for them.

Yeah I take mine with me, I usually take a screen and some snacks to keep her busy!

I went to every appointment with babies/toddlers in tow until my youngest started school.

Totally fine. If you still use a buggy take that to keep her contained in.

I think it’s very common for patients to bring preschool children along to GP appointments. I’ve done that on several occasions. Most people don’t have backup childcare available all the time.

I’d try and bring along something to keep your child occupied if possible - such as the screen & headphones as a pp suggested - but I wouldn’t worry about the doctor being annoyed, particularly if your child is usually well behaved.

I have to all the time. My eldest came to my smear test when he was a toddler. I had him in the pram and when it was time for the examination I put his pram facing my head so he could see me and handed him a snack. He sat and ate it, smear test done. No big deal. My youngest came to my most recent smear a few weeks ago but he just slept through whole time 🤣

My eldest is a lockdown baby and that's the only time anyone has given me grief about bringing him along. Since then they've just always come with me.

I’ve rocked up to doctors appointments with all three of my kids before. I certainly wouldn’t cancel it for want of childcare

I always have to take my 4 year old with me. She came yesterday and was laying on the bed. The doctor just laughed and told her she was being a great patient. Even gave her a sticker.

I think it's very common. Not everyone has childcare. I love watching GPS Behind Closed Doors and what does bemuse me is when mum, dad and about three kids rock up for one person to see the GP. Surely if there are two adults available, one stays at home with the children and the adult (plus the relevant ill child if the appt is for them) goes to the surgery.

Anyway, in your case, I don't think the GP will bat an eyelid.

When I apologized for bringing my daughter along to an appointment, my doctor laughed and told me not to worry. Apparently, she once had to perform a Pap smear on a patient who was holding a wriggled and crying 1 year old.

At least my daughter stayed in her stroller and was happily distracted by snacks and toys! 😂

My toddler came to my smear test a few weeks ago🤣 I've got zero childcare so he's been at every single doctors appointment I've had. I don't think they really mind because they understand there's no other choice. Though I'd imagine a toddler in the throes of a tantrum would be different 😅

I take my toddler everywhere

Thanks all for the reassurance- I will take her and not miss the appt!