to want to take my pushchair into my doctors surgery?

[gillquil]

my g.p surgery has just banned pushchairs, I've them a letter that follows, is this the norm? or should I just change our G.P.?

Hello,

I would like to make a complaint about the forthcoming ban on pushchairs in the surgery from the first of April. I am a mother of three, my eldest child has just turned four and we have a double pushchair which we normally use for our two youngest. My youngest child has just turned one, and as is typical for his age, he wants to crawl and climb all the time, he definitely doesn?t want to sit on my lap while I wait, he will however normally wait happily in his pushchair, or sleep in it while we wait or during our appointments. My two year old daughter just wants to run around.

If I am unable to bring my pushchair into the surgery I am going to have to let my son crawl over the floor in the surgery which I can?t imagine being the most hygienic thing to do. Or when he is asleep I will have to wake him, and what if both he and his sister are sleeping? do I really want to wait for my appointment struggling with a sobbing two year old daughter and a crying one year old son, my handbag, and changing bag on the floor or on the seat next to me. All of which, toddler, and baby and baggage have to then be carried into the appointment. I would also like to know what is suggested for mothers who need for example to have their young child with them during say a smear test? Should I leave him to crawl around the floor in the surgery during this?

Parents that I know often rely on being able to entertain a young child or children in a pushchair so that they can speak to their G.P. or nurse for a few minutes uninterrupted. Or the child sleeps on through their appointment and waiting time, and the parent can have a proper conversation or treatment.
I don?t have the option of arranging childcare for the times when I need to come to the surgery, especially as we normally ring at 8 a.m to see what appointment we can get if any for that morning.

I asked about the security of the area that has been designated for pushchairs to be left. As far as the lady I spoke to knew, there is none, it seems that the surgery is relying on the area being ?out of sight.? I disagree anyone walking past will be able to see a row of unsecured pushchairs. Pushchairs cost as I am sure you know an enormous amount of money. We live close by and two of my neighbours have had pushchairs stolen from outside their own front doors in the last six months, and we had a child?s scooter taken ourselves. It was suggested also that I buy a bicycle style lock for our chair, but I can?t see what I would secure it to.

While I can see the need for some sort solution to the congestion in the waiting room, as a result of parents and children who are patients at XXX Surgery using pushchairs, I don?t feel that just telling people their only option is to leave their pushchairs outside, in an unsecured area, and carry in their child or children and changing bags, handbags and who knows even their shopping, is acceptable. In fact I think it?s discriminatory. I have spoken to several mothers today who are patients at XXX, as are their children, and they all agree, and have said they will be putting forward their comments also.

I look forward to your reply and hope that XXX can be a bit more creative in finding a solution that doesn?t leave patients feeling unwelcome.

'There is no way I could have lay down to be examined when either of mine were 2, if I hadn't been able to put them in a buggy.'

you give them their favourite snack or a new toy just at the instant you put them down

my 2.5 year old was scared of the ultrasound at first and i had a right job getting examined and keeping her happy but we got there in the end. buggy wouldn't have helped though

Did you meet my children when they were 2, oopsi? It would have kept them entertained for all of 5 seconds before they decided that exploring the room was much more fun.

Oopsi-not everyone has perfect 2year olds thats why it is called the terrible twos .
For the record mine would't sit still with a toy and a snack at that age un

Its probably because you are poor managers of your children - or so I've been told on here before.....

maybe they have many treats if a new toy , or a bag of chocolate buttons wouldn't interest them for more than 5 seconds.

It's quite possible to eat chocolate buttons or play with a new toy while tearing around the room, you know. Frankly having to buy a new toy every single time you go to the doctors is a little OTT, and somewhat impractical if you call up in the morning and get an appointment at short notice.

Ever been to a parent and toddler group and noticed how many toddlers make a beeline for the door even though they're in a big room full of new and interesting toys? Toddlers often get into things they shouldn't, no matter how many toys there are around them.

[ignores fact that 31 pages probably means a buggy-bunfight somewhere in the middle of the thread]

OP, I don't think YABU to be hacked off that your life is going to be made more difficult by the ban, but I do think YABU in your letter of complaint as it comes across as a big list of excuses why you can't manage. I think you need to be far more factual and less confrontational and request that they review their policy and introduce a discretion to waive the ban for those with more than one child under a specific age, for example, or those attending appointments like smear tests.

If they don't have room, they don't have room. Rather than focussing on the negatives, you need to point out the positives for everyone in having discretion exercised - eg more pleasant for other patients to have children safe and comfortable rather than running amok or wailing.

The bottom line is that the majority of parents can manage without the buggy in the surgery, but it would be a lot easier if they didn't have to. You would probably get better results by acknowledging this rather than painting a picture of insurmountable obstacles. Particularly since GP receptionists are often older ladies who may well think "well I bloody well managed in my day"

Tuts @ Kungfupannda, being Reasonable and rational is not required on this thread!

Kungfupanda has hit the nail on the head.

Why don't you think of a better solution and suggest it to your practice ?

No one has answered my question about what if there is literally no space then what do you suggest?

In waiting room Bumbo seats, bouncy chairs and booster seats that attach to chairs already in surgery.
And a highchair in each consultation room

Simples really and also locks so that you can lock your pram up without fear of it being stolen

But pumkin, that will take up space too.

You can easily use a sling as a cloth high chair/booster seat restraint, many can also be used as a walking aid or leash. I've used them as the former but not the latter. And they wouldn't be subject to the same problems as things like booster seats bouncy chairs etc (which are lack of space/availability/again a trip hazard and the main one, infection control).

So you can transport your baby to the surgery in one and use it as a high chair when you get there. Or you can put one under your buggy or in your handbag and take it into the doctors with you, either using it for an older child whilst you deal with the baby, using it for the baby whilst you deal with an older child, or using it to secure an active baby or toddler whilst you're examined. Or you can use two one to secure your walking toddler and one to sling your baby. Or any other combination you can think of.

MissCoffeeNWine- I have read that 3 times and I still don't understand it.

My 2 yo is 2 stone, He is not going in a sling.

It should not be too difficult for you to understand that people use and like pushchairs and that using one is not a crime. Great that you feel so pleased with yourself with your sling and your "leash" idea for obedient placid children etc, but people do things differently to you and that's OK too.

Sling-ing a 2.5 year old i would love to see that
Wouldnt you break your back carrying a large 2 year old or slip a disk therefore requiring more docs apps

god how many times, NOT everyone can or wants to use slings! i do and i love the, but you would also need as suitable chair to tie them to, that goes for the cloth type high chairs, which i have in the past used, my one need a back with no arms type chair and the fabric pulled over the back and then had to be tied, it didnt fit on all chair and tbh they are not that safe, depending on the sise, strength of your baby/toddler they can throw themselves about or wriggle out, ditto the same with a wrap.

not everyone owns, wants to buy or has the money to buy a wrap.

ihad a fantastic moby wrap and also a woven one, the woven one i could possibly have used to tie a baby to a chair, but there arent always chairs available to do, so yes go to drs with baby in wrap and toddler (and maybe older children) excuse me dr whilst i take of wrap and the tie my baby and toddler to a chair and then i will get undressed and you can examine me.....

or wheel the baby and toddler in in a pushchair.

which one is easiest, most practical.

and lol i can just imagine the look on a drs face as i use a sling to tie my baby/toddler to a chair.....

infact waits for next thread i saw a mum use a bit of material/sling to tie her toddler to a chair, god i can imagine the outrage now!

actually it would be more like, go the waiting room, tie baby and toddler so they stay still, then untie them when the dr calls you to go through to their room, then re-tie them in that room...... lovely quick easy practical solution....

Um, why is that funny? I was commuting across London with my 2.5 year-old on my back up to 7 months pregnant.

Proper, good quality slings spread the weight making it comfortable and safe to carry older children.

I'm not suggesting everyone wants to do this, but it's not a ridiculous idea.

I understand it fine. I don't care what you personally want to use. Surely we are discussing options to use in place of pushchairs in places where they are not allowed/too big to go. Why is my suggestion any worse than that of a bumbo, bouncy seat or highchair for your two stone two year old? He's well within the weight and age limit for the sling, not for the bumbo, yet my suggestion is incomprehensible? It is an option. These are all options. They might not suit you personally or your child or your other child or the surgery or whatever but we're sharing possibilities

And I'm really not getting into all the daft ideas and presumptions being bandied about about the nature and future professions of peoples children

yes you arent suggesting everyone wants to do this kungfu some are suggesting slings as the marvellous answer to everything, like you i am a BIG sling fan and used them for heavy toddlers, and babies etc, but not everyone can or wants to.

and tbf good quality slings can be expensive i got my moby for a bargain £30 but have a woven wrap, that i got from germany? anyway it was more like £60 i love it and its great, but dp refers to it 'as that expensive bit of material' not everyone has the money to buy a decent sling and they are trial and error, some work for some people and not others and not everyone has the time and money to do the research and in invest in one that works for them etc, ti can be very hit and miss.

you can see it pumpkinsweetie just go on any sling website. I used a sling at age 2, and 3 and 4 and 5, when required. There are many slings that start being used at age 2, would be too big earlier than that, and many in toddler and preschooler size.