Taking a toddler to appointments...did you?

[monkeypuzzeltree]

I've had my booking appointment through and it is on a day which is tricky for me to get any childcare, do most people just take your toddler along with you - I'll be armed with lots of things to do and she won't be coming out of the pushchair - she is 22 months and a bolter!

What about the scan, my scan is on the 23rd dec and was hoping it was ok to take her with me as if I ask my MIL to come over I'll have to come clean and I want to be sure all is ok with the scan before I tell her. I'll have DH with me for the scan too. Many thanks

3 years ago now and my booking appointment was at home. My eldest DS was 3 and running around with a friends DD who was 2 who I was baby sitting for the weekend as they were moving house. I am sure the booking in would be fine, like you say take toys, books and a snack. Maybe not for the scan though? Could you MIL come and look after you DC in the waiting room while you and your DH are in the scan room?

my hospital does not allow children below 3 to scan appointments. not sure what happens if you bring one anyway (surely they won't cancel, will they?)

my midwife did my booking at home with toddler running around and trying to scribble all over my maternity notes. Not relaxing but midwife didn't mind at all. I am havign a private early scan next week to which i shall not take DD but then I think I'll probably take her with me to any appts that are on non nursery days (TBH I'd far rather have appts on my day off which m,eans toddler in tow but no need to tell work anything yet)

My ds has come to all of my appointments (apart from booking, I knew he wouldn't cope with a long one) he will be 4 next month. He ahs been really good and my midwife has a bag of toys for children to play with. He has been brilliant in the scans too and I think being at the scans has helped him connect that there is a baby in my tummy.

you do need to check if the hospital allows children to scans. Mine doesnt and it said so in my booking letter. I did take DS1 to midwife appointments when I had to - I just asked the MW to lock the door in case he tried to make a run for it. Sweets and toys was the way to go!

Bemybebe - what on earth would they expect someone with no other option to do? That's terrible.

I'd just rather not tell MIL before the scan, so is a bit tricky. I think I'll take her to the booking and then ask them if she can come for the scan. Booking appts at home - if only, you're lucky if you get a MW to see you at home after the baby is born where I live in SW London! I have to go to a hospital which is about 20 minutes away, you can't even see a MW at the doctors, is such a pain.

I've taken my dcs to all appointment, don't really have the choice! When I was pg with dd poor ds hated anyone touching me so screamed and screamed when the MW was taking my bloody pressure, doing injections etc but she didn't mind at all, children kind of comes with the job. I am quite relieved that dd isn't having the same reactions this time around though. Took both dcs to the scans for this pregnancy along with dh and it was lovely, they adored seeing the baby on the screen and dd was an absolute riot, we all ended up in stitches (sonographer included) as she found the lever to control the bed height so I kept shooting down as the sonographer was trying to do the scan and then she tried to climb onto the bed to see teh "jelly baby" in my tummy . I think most are fine with having children there, you can't exaclt limit appointments and scans to first time parents or those with children at school can you.

lisaro i guess the stern tone of the letter puts off all those who can find alternative arrangements, those who cannot just bring their kids along.

i have to say my hospital is just dreadful - last time we came for an ante-natal appointment we had to wait for 2.5 hr to be seen (we had a scheduled appointment), there were crowds of people and not enough seats for everyone, just a few v small children who were making a lot of noise (being tired and hot). i was v close to just getting up and leaving

I take 2yo ds to mw appointments with me, she has a box of toys for little ones and its never been a problem. He came with us for my 12 week scan but they asked me not to take him to the 20 week scan as it can sometimes take a while and its quite boring for a toddler. I think its lovely to take them, he loves hearing the baby's heartbeat and I think it helps him to understand a bit better about whats going on.

I have no choice sometimes I have to take 2!
It's unavoidable but if I can get childcare I do try as the waiting is no fun at all chasing a 14 month old round for over an hour!
Most of the time I just have to grin and bear it!

i won't take DD to first scan and will try not to take her to 20 week one as I think if you are being told the baby is dead/severely abnormal you don;t want toddler there at the time of the news being given

DD (2.8 yrs) comes to regular midwife appointments with me, but I have asked a friend to look after her for the booking app (it lasted an hour!) and my scans. I was really pleased I did as I had to wait an hour for the scans both times, and with DD it would have been awfully boring for her in the packed waiting room.

I try to time my antenatal when dd is at playschool but thats the only childcare option i have. My scans have both been around 8.30am and so had to take dd. The booking in appointment took ages and no way would my dd have sat through that one but she's 3 and wild!

Im not sure whether kids were allowed to the scan but at that time i had no choice and whilst they tutted a bit about her noise etc i apologised and explained no-one to have her at 8.30 and she was bored as they were an hour late!

my dd aged 3.6 has been at every single one of my MW apps and 2 scans, apart from my 20week scan which had to be 1 and a half hours as baby had high NC