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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to expect to be able to take my baby with me to the dentist when my babysitter lets me down?

46 replies

Lucky13 · 14/07/2008 10:04

At the last minute my baby sitter let me down and so i either had to cancel my dental appointment or take DD (7.5 months) with me.

She's a good baby and rarely cries, So i decide to take her with me. i know the surgery isn't big, so i pop her into her car seat with a few toys rather than take a buggy.

I apologised for bringing her with me when i saw the dentist and said i would put her in the corner, so she wouldn't get in his way. To which he said something about it being inappropriate and muttered something about insurance which i didn't catch.

Anyway, he carried on with his work and DD was as good as gold and just slept away happily.

Was i wrong to bring her with me? What does everyone else do when you have a health appointment and you can't get a baby sitter?

OP posts:
JonesTheSteam · 14/07/2008 10:06

God no. I always used to take mine with me, and still do sometimes now they're 7 and 4.

Dentist has never said anything.

McDreamy · 14/07/2008 10:06

No no no you MUST take your baby with you. I have taken DD since she was tiny on purpose and now at 5 she sits in the chair with no problems. The dentists I have had have positively encouraged me to bring my children with me - what a crap dentist

2point4kids · 14/07/2008 10:09

How rude of him!!

Do they really expect you to arrange and pay for a babysitter whenever you have a dentist appt? Unrealistic imo!

I always take both of mine. Its good for them to see firsthand what happens before they get to go themselves.

TheFallenMadonna · 14/07/2008 10:09

Mine have always come with me to most things.

Did leave dd with the recpetionist when I had smear tests though, because I frankly didn't feel like answering the questions...

SSSandy2 · 14/07/2008 10:10

I took my baby everywhere

SSSandy2 · 14/07/2008 10:10

look for another dentist. Would you take your baby to him when s/he is old enough to need treatment? No thanks. Mine always made dd welcome.

MaryAnnSingleton · 14/07/2008 10:10

I always took ds with me from being a small baby - important for them to get used to being in the surgery - dentist positively encouraged it.

OurHamsterisevil · 14/07/2008 10:12

I took DS1 when he was small, and agree that you should take children to get them used to the environment before they need to sit in the big chair

MummyDoIt · 14/07/2008 10:12

Mine have always come with me and my dentist encourages it. They have learnt that a visit to the dentist is a normal thing to do, nothing scary. They've progressed from sitting in a corner watching me to sitting on my lap and having their own examinations. Now, at 4 and 5, they are happy to sit in the chair by themselves and show their teeth. I'd be changing dentists if I were you.

ilovemydog · 14/07/2008 10:13

insurance?

So, they don't treat children?

No, you were not wrong to bring baby. I always bring mine. In fact, the dentist always makes a fuss and as a result DD is not scared of the dentist.

False economy, in my opinion.

fryalot · 14/07/2008 10:15

I don't have a dentist.

But if I did... I would have to take at least two children with me as I don't have a babysitter.

When dd1 was little and I did have a dentist, she always came. Tis the best way of getting them used to going themselves.

Your dentist sounds like a tosser.

(If you do decide to leave because he's a wanker, can I have him instead? )

nametaken · 14/07/2008 10:16

I expect he leaves his kids with his wife when he goes to the dentist.

Misogonistic pig.

SheSellsSanctury · 14/07/2008 10:17

No. Always took my 2 with me, infact surgery arranges appts for DH, DS, DD and myself all at the same time so we have 4 in the room and the dentist, who is the most lovely dentist in the whole world, has never said anything.

My DS who is now 4 was never in the least bit bothered about going to the dentist and I am sure this is why. I am sure DD will be the same.

Sim43 · 14/07/2008 10:18

Definately agree with everyone, I have always taken my DS with me, it would not occur to me to leave him with someone else for a five minute appointment. Prob wouldn't if I was having something gruesome, but for check ups it def gets them used to the dentist. You have a crap dentist I would go somewhere else (that's if you can get in anywhere else with NHS and all that).

Jackstini · 14/07/2008 10:19

YANBU My dentist encourages me to bring dd with me every check up 'to get her used to sounds & smells of dentist' Now age 2 she sits on my knee for a very brief 'open wide - lovely, thanks!'

Kewcumber · 14/07/2008 10:20

my dentist let my mum take DS with her for root canal work!!! Two dentist two dental nurses and a receptionist took turns in amusing him - apparently they were lovely.

HumphreyCushioni · 14/07/2008 10:22

He is not only rude, but is a fool to be alienating the parent of another potential client.

Change dentists.

Original poster
Lucky13 · 14/07/2008 10:22

Phew - glad you all do. It was a locum dentist, so i hope my normal one will be fine.

Is that the same then for all similar appointments like the GP and Opticians etc. Where does everyone consider is wrong to take her?

Everything until now has been all baby related, so i'd never even thought about it!

OP posts:
Alderney · 14/07/2008 10:24

I have to take mine with me....and its helped them both become acustomed to the dentist and what they do so they see it as an ormal thing and they are happy when the dentist has to look at their teeth.

Mind you, my dentist LOVES children - he is swedish and when he is in Sweden is doesn;t get to treat children as they are in private practise and all children are done on the swedish equivilent of the NHS, so when he is at home he never gets to treat children so loves doing it when he is here,..

Flibbertyjibbet · 14/07/2008 10:24

I rang up my dentist a few weeks ago saying 'sorry I'll have to cancel appt as I will have my 21 month and 3yo boys that day and they will trash your surgery while I'm having my checkup and polish'.

Receptionist said 'oh we will just bring forward ds1s checkup, give ds2 his first checkup, then they get stickers and the hygenist will pull faces at them while you are being done'

Honestly I've never seen them so still, quiet and not fighting, for a full 10 mins but they were! Dentist said they need to get used to coming.

My friend did once take her 2 and 3 year olds to her dentist and was expected to just leave them in the waiting room unattended!

Some dentists are ratbags, you need to find one that has kids!

lou031205 · 14/07/2008 10:36

I agree with everyone! DH and I took DD1 2.7 and DD2 11mo to the dentist in their double buggy last week - we all went in together.

MummyDoIt · 14/07/2008 10:56

Mine go almost everywhere with me - not just dentist but doctor, optician, giving blood. Sometimes they have to come when DH has his chemo though I try and find an alternative as that can be quite a long time. They are very matter-of-fact about things and very good at sitting quietly with a toy or a book. The only times I've left them with friends are for smear tests and having a coil fitted. I just couldn't face the questions!

Chequers · 14/07/2008 11:01

Message withdrawn

RubyRioja · 14/07/2008 11:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MaryAnnSingleton · 14/07/2008 11:04

I did consider taking ds,who was 10 at the time, with me to have a minor op done in doctor's surgery but am quite glad I found someone for him to stay with while I went - I was quite wobbly afterwards and ds might have found it a bit distressing. He has already observed me fainting once at his blood test