how in he world do you take a toddler to the ped

DS gave us a weird look when we took him in for his weekly checkup, saw the nurse, and just had look of hatred (this was the nurse that took blood for his 1y workup).

We told him a million good things about the nurse, how the nurse has so many interesting tools, and measuring things, he went ballistic as soon as the nurse came at him with measuring tape, and screamed the entire time.

We had questions for ped, couldn't get them through. DS just screamed and screamed. Ped said something about potty training and tantrums to me, I couldn't even make it out, and DS didn't stop screaming till we got into the car. That must have been the 1st time in his life he was happy to be in that car seat.

Is this normal? DS is 15m.

thank god nothing was critical, and thank god DH was there to help hear for me.

Re: how in he world do you take a toddler to the ped

VERY normal! And eventually they get over the phase!

Message edited 6/15/2011 8:28:23 PM.

Re: how in he world do you take a toddler to the ped

I always try to bring a snack and something to distract DS at the pediatrician's office, usually my iPhone. It keeps him entertained while I discuss what I need to discuss with the dr. My pediatricians are also great at keeping him entertained. They give him tongue depressors to play with, have all sorts of characters and pins hanging from their sthetoscope, let him play & press the buttons on their instruments and make huge efforts to engage him.

DS loves the ped office so much he asks me to go!

Re: how in he world do you take a toddler to the ped

My peds office is a STICKLER with no food in the office, and personally I am grateful since DS has such a severe peanut allergy.

My recommendation to you would be - have DH with you, allow DS to have the exam, and then have DH take DS out of the room (in the car if necessary) while you discuss your questions/concerns with the ped.

DS is actually pretty good at my peds office as long as the appointment moves along. And now I schedule the girls appt the same day, so my ped actually sends DS out to the receptionist and they color together while the ped does the girls.

I used to hate my ped, but now I love him!

Re: how in he world do you take a toddler to the ped

I use to HATE taking JJ to the peditrican around that age...He all of a sudden became afraid of the Dr. I would bring his favorite snacks, drinks & would even give him a lollipop upon entering the exam room. Finally i had to bring a family friend with me, this way she could take DS out of the room so I could speak to the Dr.

Now at 21 months, he is much better. We had his well exam last week & he did not cry until he was getting his shot. I told him beforehand that the Dr was only going to check him to see how big he has gotten & not to worry bc mommy would not be leaving his side.

Re: how in he world do you take a toddler to the ped

DD is 18 mo & does the exact same thing! She doesnt even have to see a nurse or the dr, as soon as they call her name & we walk towards the exam room she FREAKS! No drink, snack or toy stops it. We just do the best we can to talk to the doctor & now I make DH come so that he can take her out to the waiting room to play so I can finish asking my questions. It has everything to do with the fact that her ears are super waxy & we end up having to hold her down for them to clean them, so she knows now every time we go they're going to do it.

Re: how in he world do you take a toddler to the ped

According to my doctor..yes
DD screams from the minute the ped opens the office door to the minute he says goodbye.

Re: how in he world do you take a toddler to the ped

Knock on wood, so far DS hasn't given me a hard time about going to the ped, he adores her. If I tried to take him to the lab where he got his 1 year old bloodwork done, I'm sure that would be a different story!!

Re: how in he world do you take a toddler to the ped

ped said that it's normal for them to freak out. I really hope it ends soon though!

Re: how in he world do you take a toddler to the ped

Posted by Kmarie36

According to my doctor..yes
DD screams from the minute the ped opens the office door to the minute he says goodbye.

Re: how in he world do you take a toddler to the ped

DS started this around 18 months at the pediatrician. Saw the ped today (21 months) still gets very upset and screams when the nurse or dr come anywhere near him. Our doctor does as much of his exam as he can while I hold DS in my arms. I can't let them take his temp rectally, it would just be too insane, so they use a forehead scanner. He usually calms down after a while, other times he whimpers and sniffles the entire walk to the elevator. Breaks my heart!

Re: how in he world do you take a toddler to the ped

I do it with a pre-schooler in tow, too.
I time their appointments to be first thing in the AM so they're excited to go there, their bellies are full, and their attitudes are in check.
The pre-schooler (3yo) now tells the toddler what a good job he's doing and how brave he is to let the ped look in his eyes, ears, throat, etc. But that doesn't stop the 19mo from SCREECHING the entire appointment.
Add to that the 3yo is fascinated by using everyone's bathrooms and the 19mo is always elbow-deep in the toilets -- makes for an exhausting morning for me.
It will get better.

Re: how in he world do you take a toddler to the ped

We had this at my DD's 2 year appt. Something freaked her out during the appt. Not sure if it was the time of day, whatever, but i wound up calling up the ped's office later to ask my questions. And i actually rescheduled and took her in at a different time to get all the things she refused at that time done and it went better the second time around.

Re: how in he world do you take a toddler to the ped

I always bring fruit snacks which is my go to snack for situations like this - she loves them & I rarely give them to her, so it's really a treat for her.

Re: how in he world do you take a toddler to the ped

definitely normal. at DS's 18 month appt the ped knew us too well and asked me to talk in his office while DH sat with DS in the waiting room. This way we can talk and get information without DS screaming over us.

Re: how in he world do you take a toddler to the ped

DD has been freaking out at the Ped since she was about 7 or 8 months old. As soon as she sees the nurse or Dr, she FREAKS OUT. Weighing & measuring are a nightmare..the exam...forget it!! As soon as the Dr is done, I hold DD and calm her down.offer her a sippy and a book or my phone and we talk to the Ped.

It's normal. My mom said I used to LOVE the ped and my sister would scream once we parked the car the by his office!

Re: how in he world do you take a toddler to the ped

Yup very normal. This happened with DS around that age. He didn't get better until around 25months. They're used to it...although I will say I've walked out of there many times sweating because he was screaming so much