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Original poster

Children and private appointments

32 replies

Jaxtellerswife · 17/05/2018 07:42

I have two children and I'm extremely overdue for a smear test. Years overdue. I really want to get it done but I have no one to have the children for me. How do others handle this kind of thing? Is there a policy of any kind that children can't attend? I don't want to horrify the kids. They are 3 and 1. Obviously the one year old isn't really an issue but the 3 year old l, I don't know what I can do. This must be a common situation, I'm just wondering what others do?

OP posts:
ILikeMyChickenFried · 17/05/2018 07:44

I'd take the baby without any concern.

My son can woth me when I was 3 for a vaginal ultrasound. I just kept him up my end chatting to me.

ILikeMyChickenFried · 17/05/2018 07:45

When HE was 3, obviously!

KnopeforAmerica · 17/05/2018 07:48

When I had mine, Dd(3) sat the other side if the curtain watching a video on my phone

higgyyellow · 17/05/2018 07:53

You just take them. I honestly can't see why anyone thinks it's a problem to take children along to routine appointments. People do it every day.

PotteringAlong · 17/05/2018 07:56

I take mine with me. I bribe them with gingerbread men BlushGrin

Kidssendingmenuts · 17/05/2018 07:56

My son came who was 4/5 and I just gave him my phone to play with which had a cartoon on while they pulled the curtain and did it. Only takes about 2-3 mins and he was fine, didn't see anything or be nosey x

cindersrella · 17/05/2018 07:56

Would the ladies at the surgery help you? My oldest hates needles so she sure with the receptionists if or when this happens or they site with her

livingthegoodlife · 17/05/2018 07:57

I've taken my three year old, she happily sat otherwide of curtain, played on my phone and chatted to the nurse. Don't make a big deal of it.

TheTurnOfTheScrew · 17/05/2018 07:58

I took mine with me. It's pretty quick. The slight downside was that "checking your front bottom" became a regular feature of pretend play for a while, which raised an eyebrow from FIL when he was babysitting.

jaseyraex · 17/05/2018 08:05

Take them with you and something to keep them busy if nessecary. A funsize bag of buttons to eat usually keeps mine happy enough during appointments!

QueenofmyPrinces · 17/05/2018 08:08

I took my 2.5 year old with me. I just told him I had a poorly leg and the nurse was going to look at it for me with her special light. Although he found it quite fascinating to watch he didn’t question it.

Icklepickle101 · 17/05/2018 08:11

Paw patrol on my phone and a fruit yo-yo thing worked a trick

HellenaHandbasket · 17/05/2018 08:11

I took my 7, 5 and 6 month old for my smear the other week. They just sat outside the curtain and I explained what it was after.

soapboxqueen · 17/05/2018 08:11

I know my local team won't do it with children present. I'm not sure what is supposed to happen if you don't have child care or if they're is an age limit.

higgyyellow · 17/05/2018 08:18

Absolute nonsense they won't do it with children present. Do they actually specify in their literature that children may not attend smear tests? Or is it all appointments which are for the adult, that children are forbid from attending?

Original poster
Jaxtellerswife · 17/05/2018 08:23

Ok Thankyou for the input. I'll just book the appointment and pack some distractions for my nosey toddler

OP posts:
AuntieStella · 17/05/2018 08:27

It depends on the practice whether children are permitted into procedures.

OP: can you find out whether yours has a policy about this or not?

If it's 'no children' - and also for the sake of whatever circumstances might come up next - I think you need to be looking for some kind of sitter so you can have some time to yourself (whether that's for appointments, shopping for DC presents, or just having a couple of hours off).

HecTick · 17/05/2018 08:32

I always took mine, sat in buggy or when a bit older in the buggy with the ipad. Then graduated to sitting in the corner of the room with an ipad and now they wait in the waiting room with the ipad. If I want to be absolutely certain they won't move an inch, I implement a 3 day screen detox previously!

Original poster
Jaxtellerswife · 17/05/2018 08:34

There's zero options for sitters here for us unfortunately. My partner has a job that are beyond unsupportive too so even booking his annual leave is almost a mission impossible. Even if he could get the time off our Doctors surgery is next to useless so it would mean having to align stars and pray to the gods of luck if there were any to actually get in when he's off! I'll call them and ask but I have a feeling they will be unhelpful. They are very much 'call at 8' try to call for 45 mins and be told 'no appointments try again tomorrow' lol. So fun

OP posts:
nursy1 · 17/05/2018 08:37

I don’t know any practice that has a “ policy” on this.
Children often come in when I’m doing a smear. It’s not ideal but inevitable. Usually behind other side of the curtain with a toy or phone game if they are of an age to do so but I’ve also had a receptionist take them out for a couple of minutes for a biscuit. Have also accomplished a smear whilst Mum cuddled crying baby ( heroine!!)

The only appointments where I don’t want a whole family with kids in are for travel vaccinations. I have done it if there’s any urgency however it’s not safe. Travel appointments are quite complex requiring different vaccines for different ages. If one child starts crying after the jab they all set off. Can be a bit of a nightmare so I ask two parents or GP to attend and bring children in one at a time.

WalkingOnAFlashlightBeam · 17/05/2018 08:39

took my 2.5 year old with me. I just told him I had a poorly leg and the nurse was going to look at it for me with her special light. Although he found it quite fascinating to watch he didn’t question it.

Where does your son think your third leg is located? 😂

Darkbendis · 17/05/2018 08:40

It depends. The Sandyford Clinics in Glasgow have a strict "no children" policy so they definitely won't see the patients who bring small children (who cannot be left by themselves in the waiting room) and babies to appointments. Some GP practices are OK with having the kids inside with mum, someone might even come to entertain the children for a few minutes/hold the baby etc. My little one was 5 months old when I had a smear test done, and decided she didn't want to sleep, one of the ladies from the reception was very happy to come and cuddle her while I had the smear test done. So, I would check ahead and see what they say.

ScrubTheDecks · 17/05/2018 08:41

“The slight downside was that "checking your front bottom" became a regular feature of pretend play for a while, which raised an eyebrow from FIL when he was babysitting”

In today’s atmosphere this could become more than a slight downside if the child replays it all at nursery with a friend!

nursy1 · 17/05/2018 08:46

jax
Just book it, preferably early morning one. Explain what’s going to happen to three year old - not in detail obvs 😂 just that you will be behind curtain for a couple of minutes and they must sit on a chair and can have a sweet and watch downloaded CBeebies or whatever. Shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes and you can keep talking to them for reassurance.

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 17/05/2018 08:55

Does the 3 year old not go to nursery at all? I brought mine to my smear test because it was quick and he could sit beyond the curtain with a Bing magazine.

But for my dental/hygienist appointments I wouldn't bring him because they take too long. I book them for work days but your DC must be getting 15 hours now, so it would just be the baby, which is easier.

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