Jan 28 2009
How Can Doctor Visits Be Less Traumatic?
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Poor baby. 
My daughter and I made the journey to the doctor’s office for her fifteen-month check-up. The journey was complete with getting lost on the way from our new residence, claustrophobic rides on several elevators, a waiting room full of snot and germs, confused staff trainees, a rejection from my payflex card (gotta check on that tomorrow), three shots of infections and diseases, and lots of soothing. Good times.
I never really liked visiting the doctor’s office and I see that my daughter has the same characteristic. She was happily walking up to all the strangers in the waiting room, offering her pacifier to the thumb-suckers, and refusing to share her teddy bear with anyone who dared reach for it. She even played with some of the toys, as I cringed at the thought of what germs may lay dormant (I’m crazy protective like that).
We were finally led to a private room. For some reason her doctor wasn’t there so the wait time in this room was extended beyond what I was pleased with. I went through all the nursery rhymes I could think of to keep her occupied. I even tried to throw in the ones that had “doctor” in it, like”Five Little Monkeys” and “Pattie Cake”.
All was well. Until it happened. As soon as she saw him she started wailing. I mean, HIGH-PITCHED wailing… and she’s really not a “cry baby”. You know who “him” is–the DOCTOR (insert evil laugh). He wasn’t even the one to stick her with the needles, but even after her shots, she screamed every time she saw him. Needless to say, the actual shots were terrible.
And, since most children around her age seem to develop fears of some kind, she picked the elevator to be the thing that just doesn’t work for her. She wailed each time the elevator moved. It was kind of embarrassing. A woman stepped in the elevator and said, “Oh, how precious. She’s so cute and calm”. Then the elevator started. And, so did Dasha. I looked at the lady, she looked at me and said, “I guess I spoke too soon.” Ha! I guess she did.
Now, is this experience some rite of passage that’s supposed to be the end of the world every single time and actually gets worse over time because the child is bigger and can scream and fight more OR is there something I’m missing? How can these doctor visits be less traumatic for us BOTH?
My two year old is actually a pretty good patient, but he’s been one from birth. I didn’t actually have anything to do with it. I despise the well baby visits, though. I’m always so paranoid my “healthy” child is going to come home with something communicable. Ack. Which actually reminds me, I’ve got a 24 month check up to book.
Good luck soothing your little patient. She is so adorable.
I HATE babies getting shots (though my husband is more of a baby about getting them than they are). But my heart completely breaks where he can take them and be cool with it.
So, he takes the baby, and I coo and cuddle when they get back. Wanna know the weird thing? Roxy (and my eldest) didn’t mind the shots hardly at all. But Alex, well he’s just like Dad.
With my oldest, he loved his pediatrician-so did I. He was just laid back and cool. My son always did fabulous with him and all the prodding and looking. But the nurses? Oh he hated them, especially the same one that always gave the shots. Only the first few times did he scream and yell but he would give a death stare the instant she walked in the room. When she’d get closer, the look got worse. It was funny while sad at the same time.
With my youngest, he’s not even two months and won’t get his first shots until next week at his check up so he doesn’t know the score yet.
I think all kids don’t like the doctor at some point but I think we just have to make it like a game. I don’t really care for our current pediatrician since we’ve moved but it’s hard to find that I like and can also afford.
Well with small children, since its probably difficult to communicate what’s going on, I would recommend having a squeeze toy to hold on to during the entire ordeal.
Mrsbear–then you know why I was so paranoid about those germs on the toys, on the snotty-nosed kids, and on the child I heard the nurse specifically say was extremely CONTAGIOUS. Oh, boy. I’ve heard about doctor offices with separate waiting areas, a well room, and a sick room. I thought about changing to one of those. I don’t want to keep changing her to different doctors though. I’m sure I’ll find something wrong with all of them. I’m glad your baby is a good patient.
Stephanie–it breaks my heart too. And, since I’m the one holding her still while they stick her, I look like the one hurting her. I tried having my husband go for her first shots and that happened to be the day that we had to wait over 2 hours! It was ridiculous and he was on his lunch break. They fired the employee responsible for scheduling and it’s been better, but I just don’t want him to have to take off again. Poor Alex… and dad.
Jenera–I’ve heard so many great things about her pediatrician so that’s why we stick with him. He is pretty cool. He’s been doing it for 60 years. I really dislike his staff though and considered switching behind that. They fired one chick and things were better. Unfortunately, he was out yesterday (for the first time since we’ve been going) and a doctor, who introduced himself as her ped’s son-in-law, was the one we had. He was ok, but I would have preferred if he’d have taken a little more time letting her warm up to him before he just grabbed her. I think that’s what set her off. Her regular ped wouldn’t have done that. I hope you are able to get one you like.
Carrie–please read what I wrote to Jenera. In addition, I think you’re right. A puppet or toy would have really helped. I’m glad your kids love their ped.
Danny–I should definitely try a squeeze toy or something next time. She was holding onto me for dear life, but she was still very upset.
Thanks for the comments!!!
Davida
My friend Tonya wrote a comment on my Facebook thread on 29 Jan 2009 at 12:41 pm:
“I don’t think you can because Jeremy is 4 turning 5 in march and girl he cuts a fool just to get his finger pricked so I don’t know what to tell you I got it coming in March pray for me!!!!”
Our kids always got stickers from the clinics when we go. That always saves them for the next trip. When they were little I always brought along their favorite toys so they wouldn’t play with those germy ones. I put off some of their vac.s because they just seemed to little too.
Hope Dasha is doing well through it all now.
Signe–I guess I may have to just get used to it until she gets used to it.
Melody–it probably was harder on me. She got over it the minute I put her clothes on and got her out of there. Me? I’ve blogged about it… lol She’s pretty laid back as long as she gets her way. If she doesn’t get her way, she’s pretty demanding… kind of like her mama.
Michelle–thanks for empathizing… and rubbing it in that you don’t have to go through it again for a while.
Frugalangelpsychic–I thought about taking her toys out, but decided I didn’t want them exposed to germs either
I know that seems crazy, but I started looking around and thought “no way am I going to let her toys fall on the floor or get tossed around the room and I’ll look like the bad guy if I try to keep another child from touching her toys”. Was that bad? She is doing well though… a lil’ diarrhea last night, but that’s it.
Stacy–I gave her some juice and snacks until she refused to take anymore. That’s good that your daughter didn’t start getting scared until later. The shots are so infrequent by then.
The sick children crossed over? Ha! I wouldn’t let my daughter do that if she were sick. I wouldn’t want her to infect anyone else.
Thanks for the comments, tips, and pity!
Davida
Nicole–I’m surprised you didn’t just knock her over the head and drag her in the elevator rather than walk up all those flights in that heat. I may have to do that the next time. JUST KIDDING.
BTW, thanks to EVERYONE for saying my darling is a cutie-patootie. Thanks!!!
Davida