I once got into trouble with my mom for falling asleep in the waiting room at the allergist’s office. In my defense, I had been at a sleepover the night before — and despite the clever name, had barely slept. The wait seemed endless, and I nodded over my waiting room magazine. Mom kept nudging me awake, telling me to pay attention, and letting me know how rude and disrespectful it was to snooze in the waiting room.
As far as waiting room mischief goes, I still maintain that sleeping in my chair was not the worst crime possible. But my mom was pretty obviously mortified by my behavior.
It can be tough bringing a child to the doctor’s office — or dentist, or eye doctor, or other health care professional. It can be tough on the kid, too! A doctor’s office can seem like a scary, mysterious place. I was always obsessed with whether or not I would need a shot, because I hated and feared them. It didn’t help that it was a family joke that our doctor gave the worst, most painful shots in history!
If office visits are a challenge for you and your child, here are some tips that might help make things go more smoothly.
* Make the wait a little more pleasant by bringing several favorite toys or books. Bring one out at a time (rather than all at once) to help keep the child distracted in the waiting room.
* Music can be very relaxing. Load your iPod or CD player with some soothing favorites (and bring headphones for the waiting room).
* Young children may be reluctant to participate in vision or hearing tests. You may want to ask the doctor’s office for a home version of the test (or make up your own) in order to practice.
* Speaking of hearing and vision — bring up concerns about these with your doctor early in the visit, rather than at the end. That way, if your child is stressed out after a shot, they don’t have to stick around for more tests.
* Shots can be scary! If your child wants to know if a needle is in his or her future, don’t lie — it may make the reaction worse when the shot shows up. If you don’t want to give a definite yes, try saying that you don’t know.
* Consider offering a reward after the visit. While you may not want to get into the habit of handing out a prize after every doctor’s visit, it may help keep your child calm to know that there is something to look forward to at the end of a major visit.