Barbara's Beat: Taking your child to the doctor? Enter to win a gift pack with a toy doctor kit, fun bandaids and a $20 Baskin Robbins gift certificate 12/7
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Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Taking your child to the doctor? Enter to win a gift pack with a toy doctor kit, fun bandaids and a $20 Baskin Robbins gift certificate 12/7

Luca listens to the nurse as the doctor gets ready for the checkup for Luca's doctor visit!

Five tips to help your child say “ah” with confidence.

Guest post by Nicole Fonovich, co-creator of the “Luca Lashes” app/eBook Series.
 
Winter is on its way and everyone knows what that means. Not skiing, not hot chocolate, not kissing under the mistletoe. Colder temps bring cold and flu season, sick kids and doctor’s offices. (Cue sniffles and sneezing.)
 
Any self-preserving individual will avoid sick people like the plague. But if you’re the parent of a young child you might not have a choice.

Here are five life-changing tips for bringing your sick child to the doctor’s office and surviving the sniffle season ahead.

1. Avoid it at all costs.
Crying babies, snotty noses, heat-seeking germ missiles that love to embed themselves inside busy working mothers. These are all the things that await you at the doctor’s office. So if you can avoid it, do.
 
The most efficient way is to have your child immunized. This requires some preemptive planning. Go early, the sooner the better. That way you can avoid all the mayhem of bringing a sick child to a doctor’s office full of other sick kids.

2. Choose wisely.
When it comes to sticking sharp things into your child’s skin, the friendlier the better. Don’t just settle for the first pediatrician that accepts your health insurance.
 
Look for a doctor who works well with your child’s personality. Ideally it is someone who is great at distractions. “Dear sick little baby, here is a cute, fuzzy little bear.” The needle will be in and out before your baby knows what hit her. Be picky when it comes to your child’s doctor. You’re the one who will end up paying in the car ride home.

3. When all else fails … play doctor!
So, you’ve done your best. You got your child immunized; you disinfected every surface in your house; you even kept her away from the coughing kid at the playground. But, she still came down with the flu. What's worse than a sick, irritable kid? A sick kid who is terrified of the doctor. You have no choice. She’s spiked a fever and it’s not coming down.

Before you drag baby to the doctor, prepare her for what to expect. Buy a toy doctor kit with things like a stethoscope, shot dispenser, and a fake plastic hammer. She will become familiar with the sites and sounds of the doctor and associate them with fun rather than fear.

4. In the waiting room, play some more.
Waiting rooms are germy places, and the last thing you want is to get infected yourself or to make your child even sicker. This is where your handy dandy iPad comes in use. It can provide great entertainment and distraction without having to share any germs.

5. Take control for your baby.
Be a model for your child. Project confidence, not fear when at the doctor. Make sure to ask plenty of questions and get all the answers you need. Bring a pen and paper, take notes, and be inquisitive. This helps your child see the doctor as a resource for help and information. There’s no need for nervousness here.

With these tips you can turn a potentially dreadful experience into a lot of fun for your child (and yourself), one that they will be eager to repeat in the future. Regular doctor’s visits will be a piece of cake after this, allowing children to enjoy an important part of a lifetime of health benefits.

Nicole and Damir Fonovich are co-authors of Luca Lashes Visits the Doctor, available at all app/ebook marketplaces. For more helpful suggestions, visit the Luca Lashes YouTube Channel and LucaLashes.com.

Enter the Luca Lashes contest

Comment on the post with your most interesting story of taking your kid(s) to the doctor and you’ll be entered to win a gift pack complete with a toy doctor kit, fun bandaids and a $20 Baskin Robbins gift card for use after their next appointment.

 

9 comments:

Janet W. said...

When my daughter was about 6 years old, I had to take her to the doctor because she wasn't feeling well. The doctor said the statement "Well let's nip this in the bud" and you should have seen my daughter's face! She cried out "No! I don't want a shot in the butt!". She clearly misunderstood that saying and we all just died laughing! My daughter is now 28 years old and to this day it still makes us laugh!

janet3rdgrade@yahoo.com

Paula L. said...

There was the time that my 4 year old daughter had to have 4 people hold her down for a shot. Turns out they weren't strong enough and she still has a scar on her leg at 20 to prove it :/

jandplee at att dot net

Katie said...

My son and daughter had back to back visits with the pediatrician. My daughter kept trying to reassure my son that everything would be fine...and if he had to get a shot it would only hurt for a minute and then it would be over. Well, he did fine. But when it was her turn she had a major meltdown. After the appointments when we were back in the car, she was back to her old self...reassuring her brother that it was nothing and going to the doctor is no big deal.

kwalker08@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

When my son was 4 months old he developed a cyst in his groin area. His doctor sent us to Oakland Children's Hospital where we sayed a week waiting to see what if it would come to a head. It didn't and they had to operate. The entire week I was miserable and worried. My son was happy and entertaining and generally had a great time. Now he's 3 and every time he barely bumps himself he says he needs a doctor.

Megan Parsons said...

My son was sick a few months ago and when the doctor come in he said he was going to listen for dinosaurs in his belly. When we got out to the car my son thought the doctor was serious and said the doctor was silly for saying that! makeighleekyleigh at yahoo.com

Seyma Bennett Shabbir said...

Last year my son (4 at the time) had to have a shot. He is a big boy and the nurse just went so quick with the shot, my son kicked her so hard she fell and the needle bent. After that they bring in at least 3 nurses :)
seyma_bennett@hotmail.com

Jan Messali said...

My daughter loved band-aids, especially the ones with cute designs... so when she had to get a shot the nurses would bribe her with band-aids. We had quite a collection!
janmessali (at) gmail (dot) com

kelly said...

I don't have any kids yet, I would give this to my nephew.

InTheKnowWithJoJo said...

Oh my gosh my son actually freaked out at the doctor so bad that they sent him to see a behavioral therapist to get him over his fear of the doctor. Go figure they send him to another doctor to get him over his fear of doctors?? But I guess they knew what they were doing she talked to him and played games with him and explained what doctors do why they are there and now he has no problems. My other son is just now starting to get scared of the doctor mine are 3 and 4. They would love this. It would also make for a great treat after the doctor
chris_email29@yahoo.com
JoBeth