Very Upset at the Doc's Office

[Anonymous]

Dagney has always been a very easy-going, happy baby. She’s started over the past few months with the seperation anxiety, but in general, that seems to be a little better now. She has NEVER, however, liked going to the doctor’s office and getting weighed and measured. From the second you get into the room, she starts to cry, and then as you proceed to undress her, it gets worse. At her 15 month Pedi visit, I had to weigh her myself, she was still crying, but at least we got a fairly accurate weight. The nurse had to stand at the other end of the exam room while I made sure she stayed on the scale and maneuvered the little metal thingy to get the weight. Then I had to lie her down and measure her too–she was more upset, but managable. Well, we went to the GI office yesterday, and she was the worst yet. She was crying so hard that after several attempts, I finally got on the scale with her and we just subtracted my weight from her (luckily I’ve been doing Weight Watchers lately and had weighed myself that mornign in the same outfit–oh, I’m down 5 pounds!!). They did manage to get her blood pressure–she kept trying to take the cuff off, but finally they gave her a Backyardigans sticker and smiley-face maraca, so that kept her still long enough to get it & her elevated heartrate from all the crying! We didn’t even bother measuring her length, though. Normally, once that’s all done, she calms down and regains her composure. Once the doc comes in, though, she’s usually happy, but as soon as they start looking in her ears or listening to her tummy, she gets upset again.

Does anyone have any suggestions on helping her deal with this better? She usually is smiley-faced by the time we’re done, but it can get stressful. Yesterday was just very bad, but I think it had at least somewhat also to do with her nap being shorter than normal before the visit. We even got this Elmo doctor’s kit and we play that we’re looking in her ears, listening to her heart, and taking her BP, but apparently it doesn’t help! Any suggestions would be appreciated!!

[Anonymous]

Could she take the Elmo kit to the Dr? and do the Drs heart rate etc before he/she does his?

[Anonymous]

I dont have much help! But wanted you to know that shane is the same exact way!! It gives me anxiety going to the doctors office’s. He does this when i try and bring him to get a hair cut as well. It is just awful.

If you find anything that helps please let me know!!!

[Anonymous]

Hailey STILL hates it to this day…. screams like you’ve never heard. NOT fun!

[Anonymous]

My doctor still reminds me of the days when she knew Liza was there for an appointment because the screaming would begin in the waiting room!

I think it’s one of those things they just outgrow. When you think about it, can we really blame them for being terrified? For the first two years nearly every time they go to the doctor they get shots, and even if they don’t get shots they are examined by someone who is essentially a stranger to them.

My kids all outgrew their fear of the doctor when it became a common ocurrence for us to go to the doctor and there was not shot. For instance, when I was preggo with Myles and they accompanied me for all of those OB appts. (We see a family doctor). Also when they are over two they don’t get shots anymore so that helps.

[Anonymous]

Yep, unfortunatley, it’s just a time thing. Claire would scream bloody murder as soon as we walked in the door, and the doctor touching her would send her into hysterics. I noticed that it got ALOT better between her 18 mo. and 2 year appt. We did get a play doctor’s kit when she was 2 and that helped alot. Laying them down on that white tissue paper on the tables is what sets it off now. I think they remember that feeling and sound. I remember when Claire was going for her 2 year check up, she asked me where we were going, and I told her we were going to see a man named William Satterwhite. I purposely didn’t say “Dr.” so she wouldn’t freak out. She was real quiet for a minute and then said, “mommy, I don’t want to see the doctor.” Little stinker remembered his name!

Ben is the same way now, and I think you just have to grin and bear it. Our doctor acts like it’s no big deal. I think most kids are like that.

Although, I will say that the ped. is always surprised at how young my kids are when they start the screaming behavior. he says most kids don’t start freaking out like that until around 9 mo. Both of mine started WAY earlier than that. I think refluxers have been to the doctor so often and they remember that fun things DON’T happen there.

A friend of mine took pictures of the doctors and nurses and put them on her child’s wall along with other relatives that the child didn’t see often. She would talk to the child about them, etc. and she said it really helped the next time they went to the doctor.

[Anonymous]

Thanks ladies! That’s a great idea about taking the docs pics, maybe I’ll try that. Dagney’s got one, actually 2, of those “who loves baby” books with family pics in it, so maybe we’ll add them into the mix!

[Anonymous]

Kaelyn got a lot better between 18 months and 2 years. Then we had Alex, she refused to eat, and we were at the doctor’s office every week. So, she now has no problem with it because she just thinks it’s a great place to go and get stickers!

[Author]

Posts