Diaper Swappers

HeatherlovesCDs · 07-02-2012, 03:55 PM

I have 5 little kids, a 6 year old, 2 4 year olds and 2 2 year olds. I have no olders. So, I can't leave anyone at home yet. Unfortunately, my children also have recurrent strep throat. We were working on trying to get to the bottom of it when it stopped for a few months. Now, we have it again.

Which brings me to my question.....

How do you deal with taking 5 small children to the dr? I don't have anyone who can watch my other kids on the spur of the moment when someone gets strep. And, when one gets it, we are usually back several times in a row for different kids. Taking them all is torture.

In all honesty, I'm just getting home from a horrible visit. For whatever reason, we had to wait an hour and half to see the dr. By then, I had completely exhausted all my tricks (books, small quiet toys and snacks). The 6 year old was fine, but antsy. The 4 year olds were the same, but less able to control themselves and end up being loud. All 3 end up bickering and just feeding off each other. It isn't that they are specifically misbehaving, but just that they have had it and are loud and unable to sit still. The 2 year olds were losing it wanting out of their stroller. Now, I understand those of you who don't have twins may not realize the ramifications of two rambunctious 26 month old boys running around a dr. office, but just believe me when I say, I can't let them out. I can't get out only one either. That will lead to utter insanity from one not out. Of course, the dr. was a bit annoyed, but what could I do after almost 2 hrs of being there. (We drove away 2 hrs and 15 minutes after our appt time.) By the time we left, I was ready to cry.

On shorter dr. visits, it's better, but it's always a challenge and I always dread it.

I don't really know where this post is going. I'm just really frustrated and I guess I'm wondering if anyone can relate or has any other ideas I can try. I go prepared to entertain them, but I can't bring my whole playroom, KWIM. Feeling very discouraged thinking about adding one more to this craziness when we go to the dr. BTW - I rarely take my kids to the dr unless they have strep throat, but they have it ALL the time.

MDever · 07-02-2012, 04:21 PM

Oh Heather

I often see your siggy and think WOW! I cannot imagine. I have had 4 5 and under for appointments and even now that my kids are bigger it is still pretty painful. Do you love this doctor? That is an awful wait and a while at the office. I'm sure the fact that you are expecting is not helping because you are all hormonal and stuff. I don't have any great advice other that do WHATEVER you have to do as far as bribes to survive these type of appointments and to give you a

TeachinAuntie · 07-02-2012, 04:24 PM

That doctor's office has no right to be annoyed at a mom with 5 kids EVER. Let alone when they make you wait like that.

Hitchkids · 07-02-2012, 05:37 PM

Is there an option to switch doctors? The doctor I currently see never makes us wait more than 5 minutes past our appointment time UNLESS someone else has an emergency that needs to be seen immediately. They never allow any sick children to be in the waiting room if there are babies in for a visit, the sick child is immediately removed from the waiting room and taken to another exam room. Honestly, there is never another family in the waiting room at the same time as you unless someone called in with an emergency. I see people coming out as we are going in and as we are leaving but that is it. I have taken 8 kids by myself before and he just leaves the door open so the kids can stay in the play area and we can hear them if there is an issue. This is a single doctor practice but I get the best service I have ever gotten from a doctor with him. He answers the phone when you call in with questions, you are never passed off to a nurse (he only has one on staff and she also is a lactation consultant and the office manager so she usually focuses on those jobs unless they have an emergency). I have never had to wait to bring in a sick kid, I've always been told just come right in or how quickly can you get here. After experiencing this kind of service, I will never settle for an office that keeps me waiting for hours ever again. I realize I am blessed to have found him and I wish more folks had doctors who were this wonderful.

4boys1girlforme · 07-02-2012, 05:47 PM

It's the same way with us- my oldest son is just getting to the age where I can leave him for short periods of time but our doctor visits take forever and he is often the one that needs to go!

I have no idea how you get a 2 year old (let alone 2) to sit in a stroller for any amount of time without screaming bloody murder!
Maybe if you totally let your kids raise hell the doctor would see you right away? J/K but worth a thought?

Nerissa · 07-02-2012, 06:13 PM

((HUGS)) I really have no advise. I would be crazy with just my 2 after a 2 hour wait and i go prepaired but there is only so much a mom can do. The Dr.s office has no right to be upset with you. I could see waiting if you did walk in, but not if you had an appointment.

By an hour and a half wait i would have let the 2 year olds out and let them run around just to let them burn of some energy and if anyone had a problem with it tough.

shanree · 07-02-2012, 06:59 PM

We have to wait for at least an hour every time we go to the doc. Thankfully we live in a small town and the receptionist knows my kids. Being that I am very strict when out in public, I make them sit and look at magazines, the whole time. They do good generally. the baby is the only one who gets terribly antsy.

.... as they get older it gets easier.

agzip03 · 07-02-2012, 07:10 PM

Sorry. I have no advice. If you really like the dr then stay with them, if not go and find another dr if you can. The only time I encounter this is when I go to the obgyn, but then I think she probably had an emergency c-section or birth to attend to keep me waiting. My pediatrician has us in and out in no more than 30 minutes. I can barely sit down before my girls are called in.

ivparker · 07-02-2012, 07:40 PM

Is waiting that long a normal thing with this dr? I had 5 kids 5 and under and had taken them all by myself. It usually went fine with me making sure to tell them what I expected of them before we even got there but we never have to wait more then 5-10 min. Its usually pretty quick. I have many times asked my husband to meet me at the drs office so he could stay in the waiting room while I go in with the sick child. He has a very flexible job, though, that he can do that.

Lexy · 07-02-2012, 07:38 PM

Sorry Heather, that sucks but I no how you feel to an extent. When I was preggo with #4 my other 3 always went with me and they were 3,2,1 (entire pregnancy) and it's an hr. Drive there and average wait time was 2 1/2hrs. In a waiting room the size of a tiny bedroom. It was miserable for every visit and even more miserable when I got back into a smaller room with gadgets everywhere to touch. I'm sure everyone hated when we arrived because they were always crying and fussing, but I have no one to watch them even with notice so they would have to get used to it. I still of course now have to take all them everywhere (including big grocery trips with no one to help) and they are now 5,4,3,1 and I just want to bang my head into a wall. No advice, just wanted you to know I'm in the same boat and literally have a babysitter 3 times a year...literally, so they go everywhere with me (including closings on our houses.) hang it there, it will get better as they age

07-02-2012, 03:55 PM	#1
HeatherlovesCDs Registered Users Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 8,889 Ratings: 98 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Unplanned Doctor's visit with all littles I have 5 little kids, a 6 year old, 2 4 year olds and 2 2 year olds. I have no olders. So, I can't leave anyone at home yet. Unfortunately, my children also have recurrent strep throat. We were working on trying to get to the bottom of it when it stopped for a few months. Now, we have it again. Which brings me to my question..... How do you deal with taking 5 small children to the dr? I don't have anyone who can watch my other kids on the spur of the moment when someone gets strep. And, when one gets it, we are usually back several times in a row for different kids. Taking them all is torture. In all honesty, I'm just getting home from a horrible visit. For whatever reason, we had to wait an hour and half to see the dr. By then, I had completely exhausted all my tricks (books, small quiet toys and snacks). The 6 year old was fine, but antsy. The 4 year olds were the same, but less able to control themselves and end up being loud. All 3 end up bickering and just feeding off each other. It isn't that they are specifically misbehaving, but just that they have had it and are loud and unable to sit still. The 2 year olds were losing it wanting out of their stroller. Now, I understand those of you who don't have twins may not realize the ramifications of two rambunctious 26 month old boys running around a dr. office, but just believe me when I say, I can't let them out. I can't get out only one either. That will lead to utter insanity from one not out. Of course, the dr. was a bit annoyed, but what could I do after almost 2 hrs of being there. (We drove away 2 hrs and 15 minutes after our appt time.) By the time we left, I was ready to cry. On shorter dr. visits, it's better, but it's always a challenge and I always dread it. I don't really know where this post is going. I'm just really frustrated and I guess I'm wondering if anyone can relate or has any other ideas I can try. I go prepared to entertain them, but I can't bring my whole playroom, KWIM. Feeling very discouraged thinking about adding one more to this craziness when we go to the dr. BTW - I rarely take my kids to the dr unless they have strep throat, but they have it ALL the time. __________________ Heather SAHM to 6 who are 7 and under, including 2 sets of twins and our last little miracle, a surviving identical twin, born Oct 2012! Last edited by HeatherlovesCDs; 07-02-2012 at 04:01 PM.

07-02-2012, 04:21 PM	#2
MDever Registered Users Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 5,515 Ratings: 34 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Unplanned Doctor's visit with all littles Oh Heather I often see your siggy and think WOW! I cannot imagine. I have had 4 5 and under for appointments and even now that my kids are bigger it is still pretty painful. Do you love this doctor? That is an awful wait and a while at the office. I'm sure the fact that you are expecting is not helping because you are all hormonal and stuff. I don't have any great advice other that do WHATEVER you have to do as far as bribes to survive these type of appointments and to give you a __________________ Melony-Wife to my AMAZING DH Roger and SAHM to our tribe. DD1 Emmaleigh 1/02,DS1 Avery 8/03,DD2 Ainsley 9/05, Bonus T 8/06 & DD3 Poppy 12/10, DS2 Fionnlagh 2/13 we are a crunchy, CDing, EBF, bed sharing, babywearing, intact, very cautious/delay vaxing, ERF, homeschooling FAMILY.

07-02-2012, 04:24 PM	#3
TeachinAuntie Registered Users Formerly: sgoe* Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 7,699 Ratings: 91 Feedback: 100% My Mood:**	Re: Unplanned Doctor's visit with all littles That doctor's office has no right to be annoyed at a mom with 5 kids EVER. Let alone when they make you wait like that. __________________ Steph Swag w/Me: DW to Tim Proud Mama to Lucas Wayne 10/18/09 and Vincent James 8/8/11 MamaGoetsch Creations ISO: 100% Wool Shirts/Onesies 2T Wool FSOT--the romper in my AVI is for sale!

07-02-2012, 05:47 PM	#5
4boys1girlforme Registered Users Previously: 4boysforme Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,832 Ratings: 425 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Unplanned Doctor's visit with all littles It's the same way with us- my oldest son is just getting to the age where I can leave him for short periods of time but our doctor visits take forever and he is often the one that needs to go! I have no idea how you get a 2 year old (let alone 2) to sit in a stroller for any amount of time without screaming bloody murder! Maybe if you totally let your kids raise hell the doctor would see you right away? J/K but worth a thought? __________________ Lee Ann RN student/ SAHM to Jaret '00, Spencer '03, Preston '05 (CLW at 37 months), Griffin '08 by VBAC (CLW at 21 months), & Mallory '10 by VBAC! Formerly tandem & bfing for a combined total of 122 months & counting! Also cloth diapering & baby wearingMy HUGE FSOT MY ISO

07-02-2012, 06:13 PM	#6
Nerissa Registered Users Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: small town USA Posts: 3,437 Ratings: 60 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Unplanned Doctor's visit with all littles ((HUGS)) I really have no advise. I would be crazy with just my 2 after a 2 hour wait and i go prepaired but there is only so much a mom can do. The Dr.s office has no right to be upset with you. I could see waiting if you did walk in, but not if you had an appointment. By an hour and a half wait i would have let the 2 year olds out and let them run around just to let them burn of some energy and if anyone had a problem with it tough. __________________ wife and mom ~If you see a bunch of types I am probably NAK on my tablet in the middle of the night. Please excuse them.