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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

southeastastra · 14/07/2008 11:06

i took my son when he was a baby, the reception staff cooed over him whilst i was in there.

Jackstini · 14/07/2008 13:19

I have taken to dentist, docs, eye exam, solicitors appts, short hairdressers appt etc.
Only place I don't is baby scans. (Hosp specifically asks you not to for concentration reasons and in case of bad news)
Kids are a fact of life - people can't expect you to have an hour's babysitting willy nilly every time you have an appointment somewhere!

Smithagain · 14/07/2008 13:21

I always take both my kids - from babyhood onwards. And the surgery is miniscule. Never had any complaints - quite the opposite.

herbietea · 14/07/2008 13:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

BettySpaghetti · 14/07/2008 13:30

I've always tried to avoid taking the DC with me to dentists appts but thats because I'm a big wuss when it comes to going.

When I've been trying to make appts and said something about not being able to make a certain time/date because I'd have a child with me they've always said that thats not a problem and someone could look after them if needed.

Its only happened once that I had to take DS and on that occasion he was in his pushchair in the treatment room with me munching on some food (non-tooth decaying obviously ) to keep him occupied.

Doctors isn't a problem as each GP has interesting toys in the consultation room that amuses the DC

Cathpot · 14/07/2008 13:38

Have always had at least one child with me at dentist, but not without incident. Had DS1 aged about 15 months with me during a hygienist session. I was hoping she would stay in the back pack next to me but she kicked off big time so she was sitting on my lap as the woman did my teeth. Within about 2 minutes she had made several lunges for the cleaning equipment and then managed to open my shirt and get both boobs out. Couldnt let go of her to grab shirt as the chair was up high and she was a bit precarious. Hygienist lady was lovely but also manically talkative and just kept going with stream of chat, including 'oh dear, goodness, there we are that doesnt always happen' etc etc. When I finally got to regroup and stand up my skirt then fell off and I belatedly realised she had been at those buttons as well.

Caz10 · 14/07/2008 13:41

lol cathpot

i had a dentist apt last month when dd was 6mths, left her with dh. i asked the dentist when she should start coming to get check-ups and he said i should really have brought her that day to start getting used to it! so she is now registered and i've to take her every 6mths when i go

i'd say get a new one too but that is easier said than done these days!

TheBlonde · 14/07/2008 13:42

YANBU, I have often taken a baby or toddler with me

RedFraggle · 14/07/2008 13:46

I take mine with me quite often. In fact I had a whole check up , clean and polish done with DD on my knee once as she was nervous (probably got vibes from me ) She was hanging off me as I tried to sit down and I was trying to get her to sit in her pram and my lovely dentist just said "It's fine, let her sit on your knee if she will be happier" So I did and she was fine (she was about 20 months old at the time). It's never been an issue. Now when I go I take both children and the dentist looks at DD's smile while she sits in the big chair, then she gets a sticker.
As others have said a sensible dentist likes children to get used to the place long before they actually need treatment.

littleducks · 14/07/2008 13:47

pmsl @ cathpot ds's antics!

lizziemun · 14/07/2008 14:19

YANBU

Our new Dentist encourages you to take babies and young children with you so they are not scared when/if they need to see him.

DD2 has went to see the dentist when she was 4.5 mths when we joined.

dmo · 14/07/2008 14:23

the dentist let my boys from the age of 3 poke things in my mouth for him
i'm a childminder now and took a 2yr old last time i went who sat on my knee on the big chair while the dentist told her what he was doing to me
would never occur to me not to take the children

wittyusername · 14/07/2008 15:53

My dentists encourages me to bring 16 month old DD! YANBU.

biscuitsmustbedunkedintea · 14/07/2008 15:55

Have left DD behind with Grandparents before as my dentist is on the 1st Floor and the stairs are narrow and double back on themselves (Surgery is effectively in a house). however last time I had to re-arrange appointment and had to take DD. Went to get her out of the buggy and she could walk upstairs but had 2 receptionists offer to carry her up in the buggy. Dental nurse then helped carry her down afterwards. Felt v. guilty as buggy was filthy from muddy walk the day before and she did get her nice clean uniform dirty.

Doctors she has come with me and the Opticians she loves. There is a basket of books and she drags it under a cabinet and sits good as gold the whole time. I know the receptionist so am happy to leave her out front while I go and get tested.

I'm just gearing up to take her to the hair dressers with me

Weeteeny · 14/07/2008 16:52

Your dentist was very rude, I have taken both my DSs with me in the past, aged 10 months and 3.5, both balancing on my knee as he did my check up. He had a look at my little ones teeth as favour too. In fact he asked me where they were the last time I was there without them. It is a bit less stressful without them mind!

Giraffescantdancethetango · 14/07/2008 17:56

how rude of your dentist

squilly · 14/07/2008 20:49

What an asshole this dentist is.

My dentist looks like something off the league of gentlemen, but is lovely. He always gives DD a sticker, even when she was just coming in to sit and wait for me, and she now sits in his chair sweet as a nut.

We're not due to go again til September, but dd will look forward to it, rather than dread it as she knows League of Gentlemen dentist will be really sweet to her.

myfeethurt · 14/07/2008 20:54

i always take my DD with me, the last time the dentist gave her some gloves and a mask to play dentists at home. Have also taken her when i had a smear she sat at head end chatting to me and was non the wiser as to what was going on, the nurse wasn't to imppressed but we were fine

JammyQueenOfTheSewers · 14/07/2008 21:07

Stupid dentist!

I've always taken DD (1 year) to appointments with me. She's been to the dentists several times with me already, and when I had an appointment upstairs with the hygienist I left her sleeping in her buggy in the downstairs reception office, otherwise she just comes in with me. She comes to my reflexology appointments and sits and plays on the floor until she's had enough then lies on my chest and has a cuddle. She comes to the GP with me, even when I had to have an internal examination. I ended up lying there with the doctor having a "rummage" and DD sitting astride my chest so I was well and truly pinned down! Thankfully she's not old enough to ask questions yet, and she was sitting with her back to the "business end" IYSWIM

ILoveDolly · 14/07/2008 21:08

lol at myfeethurt taking dd to smear, i was panicking i was going to have to do same and that she'd be scarred for life - but at least I am not only one. YANBU about dentist. dd is obsessed with her dentist storybook and was enchanted to visit recently - our dentists has a large selection of toys in waiting room so i assumed they liked kids............

andyrobo237 · 14/07/2008 21:15

I have always taken my kids to the dentist with me, except the time I was having a filling - didnt want dd who is 6 to be traumatised by it - she will sit in the chair and show her teeth now quite happily - anything to get a sticker!

I usually have to take the kids with me when I go to an appt - both have beent o the hairdresers with me - ds sits in his pram and watches the world go by. DD is in school so misses some things, but DS came to the hospital with me today for a consultation with surgeon - he went to sleep in his pram, but before that he was fascinated with all the people and the fish tank!

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