To leave my 5 year old in a doctors waiting room?

[BarbaraVineFan]

I have to go to the doctor in a couple of weeks- I made an appointment to talk about my mental health/ hormones, as I am really struggling with my emotions at the moment and don’t feel right at all.

The problem is, I’m a lone parent to my 5 year old Dd , and i don’t want her hearing the conversation for obvious reasons. I don’t have any childcare help at all- no local family, friends will all be working- and I am really not sure what to do with DD for those 10-15 mins. I am pretty sure she will be ok reading a book or colouring by herself in the waiting room, but WIBU to leave her? I’m a bit nervous as of course I’ll be behind a closed door.

Do you have a local Homestart group?
May be worth giving them a call to see if they could help.
Good on you for re looking for help and I'm saddened that such a simple need can't be easily met.

Take your child in with you, they will have no understanding of anything you or the GP says.
I had a smear when one of mine was young and they just sat and played with a toy on the GP room

Headphones and iPad

Just borrow some headphones and stick on YouTube on your phone

No. Not appropriate.

Bring her in with you and settle her with headphones and a cartoon film to watch on a device.

Will she not be at school?
YABVU to leave her in a doctors waiting room. Sorry!

Where does your child go before and after school? I totally understand how hard it can be to get out of school for an appointment, but if you could get one for just after school ends then that could also be a solution? Unless you work at their school and they come to your classroom at the end of the day, you will have some childcare at 3.30?
hope you get it sorted and get the support you need.x

Mentioned already but can you arrange a play date for her? If she’s 5 presumably she’s just finished reception / FS2 so has friends from school?

@MixedBananas so sorry to hear this, whereabouts are you based? If near to me would be happy to meet up. Feel free to private message me 😊

Don't be ridiculous

Unsecured ?!

Then I would speak to your union and get them to give advice! Surely as a teacher you KNOW it isn’t the done thing to leave a five year old alone in a room full of strangers. Could you get an appointment during your lunch break? I’m a teacher and we are allowed those. Failing that, I would just go on sick leave, if your mental health is suffering that badly then I suggest time off work.

yes, I think that's ok - keep her with you, but protect her. Or does she not have a little friend to go and play with? That way she doesn't even need to know you've been.

Tbf personally I'd insist on the time off work to deal with this adult matter in school time, but that's just me.

What?? It’s a Doctor’s surgery - not a pub.
Of course she wouldn’t be reported.

Do you not have a friend? Id absolutely watch my friends child for a Drs appt

So why are you quoting me?

If you have teacher friends I would ask them first they might be busy but if you explain you have dr appointment and won’t be long I’m sure one would help you. The earphones might work but what if she gets bored or nosy it is critical you see the dr without interruption ask a friend first.

I would ask another teacher friend or a parent of your child’s friend if they’d look after her for an hour. I bet if they’re not busy, they’d be very happy to help. Most people would. Just message “Can I ask a favour and can you look after DD for an hour? I’m really stuck for childcare and have a GP appointment and I cannot take her. I can return the favour.” Might need to ask 2-3 people though as it’s a busy time for people.

If no luck, some GP surgeries might be ok with it as people have said, so why not phone in advance and ask? At best they say that’s fine. At worst, they say no and you need to do something different. If they’re say no then might need to say “Well she might have to come into the appointment with me then” they may say that’s not appropriate.

Or change to a phone appointment as others have said. Far easier to sort out distractions at home.

Ideally you don’t want her in the GP with you. It’s not just the words but the emotions that you don’t want her to see. Those might not be heard or seen with headphones and a tablet, but you never know. She could pick up a lot even with headphones and a tablet. You don’t want to worry and upset her.

Appointments are difficult to get hold of at the best of times, so hopefully you can make this appointment and not have to make it in school time which makes it more awkward for your work too. Good luck.

That’s negligence everywhere, no matter what your dentist thinks.

I would do this for anyone in a heartbeat - just drop her off on the way and pick her up on the way back. Bring ice lollies or a cake or something. It wouldn’t be for that long and I would hate to think of someone struggling when there’s a simple solution.

Can you pop some headphones on her and let her watch something on your phone? She could be in with you and the GP and not hear a word.

Headphones and iPad should do it. Pop her on the bed or on a chair near you in the doctors office.

Op call the doctors and see if someone from the admin team can sit with her whilst you are in the appointment? I had to have a smear and no option but to take my baby as I have no support network and they had one of of the admin staff come and hold her so nurse and I could go ahead with the appointment, also I explained the issue a while before booking and they offered this, definitely worth asking. Hope you are ok xx

I have to go to the doctor in a couple of weeks

Why are you going to see the doctor when you are back at school if it's not possible for you to take time off from work??

It won't be long until she is back at school, why not make an appointment for then?

I am not back at school until 3rd Sept. Going to docs on 2nd (they couldn’t fit me in earlier)