To not be able to keep my children quiet

[lazylion]

Just got back from a midwife appointment where I got viciously told off by the receptionist for having noisy children. The midwife was running nearly an hour late, there are no toys or books at the clinic and there was no-one else waiting. My DS (aged 2 and 4)started off quiet with drinks & pencils but I can't keep that up for an hour. The noise was them tickling each other and laughing. When I got told off I nearly cried(I am 25 weeks pg)but now am furious. AIBU? and if I'm not BU how do I keep them quiet for an hour? God help me when I'm supposed to keep 3 DCs quiet.

YANBU. An hour is too long for them to wait.

I would write to the practice manager and say how unchildfriendly the environment is and how you were at 1) being kept waiting for so long and 2) being told off

I would be furious How dare the receptionist tell you off! Next time you go, give the kids something with lots of E numbers in and let them go nuts.

YANBU that is way to long to have to wait, and how dare they tell you off, for something that is basically all their fault. I would complain and def make it clear that there was nothing available for your children to be entertained with. And since when are children not allowed to laugh?

I would write a letter of complaint. What a cheeky cow.

Thanks,I feel better already. I thought I was just crap.

Stupid woman! You should definitely complain about her, that's appalling.

I am not sure why it is the MW's office job to entertain your kids. Surely you could have brought toys with you? Even just some books?

I think providing drinks & pencils for her dc was adequate as she would not expect to be waiting an hour!

Oh please, I have never gotten out of my MW's office in less than an hour.

You've had to WAIT and hour before they even saw you? That is utterly ridiculous. Of course YANBU.

'I am not sure why it is the MW's office job to entertain your kids'

crumbs i thought it was the norm to have a few toys and kids books at midwife clinics and doctors and health vistors. they certainly do at hospitals

They don't have any toys in the waiting area at our doctors either......due to H&S

'tickling each other and laughing'

oh yes, thats the end of the world that is

FFS of course YANBU

Yet another child-unfriendly thread

receptionist sounds like a witch.

I was never kept waiting an hour by my midwife, that is ridiculous.

i wouldn't have expected toys and stuff. But I would expect some tolerance and understanding about how difficult it can be keeping kids entertained in a sterile waiting room!

I think you should complain, what a miserable witch that receptionist was

I got in trouble last week for making balloon animals out of surgical gloves in an attempt to entertain my 2 DS's (4 and 1.5) in a peadiatric consultants.
I did point out that
a) we were waiting over 2 hours.
b) there wasn't a toy or book, or even a bloody radio in the place
and c) it wasn't even a waiting room, it was a corridor!
You try keeping 2 boys that age sitting down and silent for that long!

YANBU.

JoPie - it can't be done!

There are play areas in my hospital thankfully, as we've waited hours there to see the optometrist and the paediatrician. But nothing in the Dr's surgery, and even if there were no toys and you took a bagful, an hour would still be pushing it, let alone 2.

Unfair on you, and adding insult to injury to complain about your kids

I would write that letter too.

RCBxx

Im lucky so far im in and out at the MW's, although I get the long wait when waiting to see a dr. I think YANBU as its far too long for children to wait. I do try and get my parents or Ils to have ds just in case he plays up and so I know he wont be bored but i do appreciate that this is not possible for everyone.

Op didn't ask if SWBU for expecting the midwife/ receptionist to entertain her dcs, rather WSBU for not having successfully trained them to entertain themselves silently for an hour!

not at all. I dont know any children who can be completely silent for an hour, with the exception of them sleeping or being plonked down in front of 'Me too' dvd.

YANBU, I am always kept waiting at our surgery, at least half an hour. It is brand new but not built with children in mind. Lots of stairs and hiding places and electric doors which ds thinks are fab.

Yesterday he was racing up and down on his balance bike.

Def. write letter of complaint to Practise Manager. No, its not Receptions. job to keep your dc entertained, but this needs to be addressed.
Many pregant women will attend MW appoint.with young dc in tow. Many of these clinics also run late, so, regardless of H&S, some thought needs to be given to the dc. Surely some toys/books, are preferable, to young dc getting restless and making noise/running about.(Not suggesting OPs dc were doing this).
Perhaps a smallish Playhouse with little table & chairs and play phone/kitchen,put in a corner would not take up too much room? In one of our clinics,there are few toys, but there is a TV screen on the wall, that has CBEEBIES playing. This can at least give young dc something to focus on.
Please do say something-too many people dont like to make a fuss. But if enough complaints/suggestions are made to Pract. Manager,he/she will need to address the situation. Good Luck.

Our GP surgery has a toy kitchen, plastic food, books etc. I think the H&S explanation you've been given is just rubbish! It certainly isn't a national decision, simply the decision of your clinic not to offer any toys etc.