coping with waiting rooms!

[Chundle]

HI all, dd 18 months has no dx she has sensory integration issues and attends CDC people have said she seems a bit 'spectrummy' however she does have okish eye contact an ddoes smile and laugh etc. However we have MAJOR issues with people and places. Im really struggling taking her out in public mainly to doctor/dentists waiting rooms as she kicks right off, shopping is a nightmare as well I try and relax as much as I can so she does not pick up on my stress levels and always take snacks and interesting things for her to do to no avail. As soon as we get into waiting rooms she immediatley becomes hot and sweaty and the screaming and kicking starts. I usually leave her in buggy in waiting rooms as if its me that needs to see doctor I would then have a real fight on my hands getting her back into buggy (arching back, hitting , kicking etc)plus she is extremley hyper and would run amok! Does anyone have any idea how best to approach these situations any ideas most welcome. Also i dont drive (im epileptic) so have to use public transport which again she hates and results in same tantrums. I guess as we have no dx im unsure how best to approach these screaming fits

So sorry. Waiting rooms were always a problem until DS2 got old enough for a Nintendo DS! I just left him with a friend wherever possible. On the shopping front I found it a great reason to get Mr. Tesco to deliver. Now we only pop in to get a very small amount of stuff. Hope someone else has a better suggestion for you.

Thanks for replying its such a stress - i had to have smear test the other week and nurse saying "relax" DD screaming her blooming head off and kicking the table of instruments my blood pressure going sky high im thinking oh my god what must people be thinking! My other DD has ADHD and she was never this bad :(

If I have an appointment I try to get them first. Prolongued waiting ends up - well, you know, it's not good

I explain to people/receptionists the situation and they are usually accommodating.

My DS is better than he was and the only thing we did was keep trying. I know that sounds rubbish. At first he wouldn't even queue for fast food (yeah, I know - it's the only real 'meal' he will eat, but that's another story) but we made him, bore the weight of staring and tutting by others and gradually he has improved.

As he's got older (he's 6) he can be distracted by stuff but when he was younger this wasn't possible as he never really 'played' or was interested in stuff.

I pretty mych stick to internet shopping for food as he will only cope with so much. I was told by the CDC that if you tell Tescos on your way in then they will open a checkout for you for a swift departure.

It will improve as she develops. Sometimes the stares get to you, sometimes not. I've learnt to ignore a great deal of screaming and shouting now

It is sometimes worth telling the staff. We were in A&E at our local Children's Hospital in Tuesday and DD2 was struggling in the waiting room. When I told the Triage nurse she took us to the parents' room. It was quiet and comfortable and the light had a dimmer switch.

She was still pretty unmanageable after the 3.5 hour wait but I'm sure it helped and at least nobody could tut at the tears and tantrums.

Thanks Spinkle glad its not just me - Tesco isnt too bad as ive learnt to get there as door opens when its quiet whizz round for a few bits then shoot through checkout when theres no queue (if theres a queue DD kicks the person in front!). Its more if we are in town I dread it, but i cant stop going because madam wont go! If buggy gets close to people she kicks them! I can tolerate a certain amount of screaming but the comments from others get to me and DD1 (ADHD) gets angry when people stare at her sister. I just dont understand the rudeness of some people who pass comments so freely

Don't know of it will work but I used to cover the front of the buggy up with a cellular blanket ( a bit parrot style :) ) it seemed to block out some of the world for ds. That with some spinny toys attatched to the buggy also helped a bit, he'd happily spin the buggy toys for a bit in waiting rooms.
He hated the raincover but was happy with a blanket.

Also used a floppy hat and little person sunglasses for buses and waiting rooms along with spinny toys.

Ds is 12 now so I'm a bit out of touch with baby products, you may find a sun cover ( for the whole front of the buggy) about that may block out some of the sensory things about.

thanks carrotcake i will try the blanket she does hate the raincover and will happily get drenched in a downpour rather than have it on so i will try a blanket. Strangely she is obsessed with her earflap hat and wears this a lot in the house so i will try and take this everywhere with me to see if it helps when we are out and will invest in some baby raybands

Happy to throw ideas at you :)

ds used to be a nightmare!

Yes my DS was the same. I took someones recommendation when going to the supermarket and made him wear a baseball cap with a large peak. I think the fluorescent lighting was sending him into sensory overdrive. This did make a bit of difference and he seemed calmer

Gosh, I had forgotten how my DS used to start crying as I walked through the door of the shop. He was only a baby, it must have been the lights. That was why, when he was 9 months old, I started Internet tescos. I had no idea he had ASD then.

Ever since Roxana was born she has screamed everytime we go into certain shops Boots is the worst! Will def go on the hunt for a baseball cap