Tips for taking your toddler to their check-ups
👩🏽⚕️When to schedule: Try and schedule around a nap, with an understanding of your practice’s average wait-time. I always schedule ours after Ryaan’s breakfast. Scheduling earlier in the morning or afternoon session usually means reduced chance of being delayed (emergencies not included).
👩🏽⚕️What to pack:
✔️Diapers
✔️Diaper cream
✔️Wipes
✔️A change of clothes (in case of any messes!)
✔️A jacket (for those cold rooms!)
Your child’s favorite toys (I packed Ryaan’s favorite book and a shell in a cup he loves shaking around)
✔️A charged phone to play their favorite music (we had a @cocomelon_official dance party)
✔️Snacks (in case the visit falls during snack time)
✔️Items from a toy doctor’s kit (I recommend the stethoscope so they can wear it while the doctor wears theirs).
👩🏽⚕️Prep: Practice role-playing with them at home with a toy doctor’s kit as early as 10 months. Practice using the tools on them and have them practice it on you or a stuffed animal. Narrate, narrate, narrate. “Now, Ryaan is going to get his heart checked.” “Now I’m checking Ryaan’s ears.”
👩🏽⚕️Before vaccines: Get them dressed enough where you can make a clean getaway right after, but make sure you have the location of injection open and ready.
👩🏽⚕️During vaccines: Ask your office if you can do the hold demonstrated in the reel. It has a HUG built in and I love it. Some offices may not allow it because they are concerned you may not hold them firmly enough and the child will flinch. If you feel completely comfortable giving your child a strong hold like this, this works really well and minimizes the fear of the table. Big hug around their arms and putting your legs over theirs. A lot of kisses and cuddles throughout and happy claps and dance moves when it’s over.
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