Hellobee Boards

I'm 2 for 2 with toddlers acting the same way. I don't know what it is! My daughter still gets nervous (4 y/o) but nothing like that. My son is only turning 18m so I think it'll be awhile.

Yep. We just had an echo at the cardiologist last week - even sitting in my lap, my 18 month old screamed, cried, yelled "all done" at the top of her lungs and scissor kicked the shit out of the doctor. He said he was used to it and it was par for course. We have a follow up at age 3z

I feel like I'm still traumitized from the 18 month appt! She took one look at the doctor and was hysterical the whole appt. When we finally walked out of the exam room a nurse smiled and said 18 months? And then gave her 2 stickers which made it a little better She was a lot better at her 2 year... only cried when she was getting weighed and measured and then recovered fast. And she didn't cry at her finger prick! In her defense, I'm 35 and still afraid of the doctor

DS hasn't ever been scared at the doctor's even when getting his shots. He would cry for those but be okay in a few mins. He is quieter, but we make sure to bring his baby doll, so that if he seems nervous the doctor does the test on his doll first and then he okays it for him. It's worked so far. He has his 2 year checkup next week, and hopefully it'll go as well. He's been several times to the walk-in clinic and it's worked for strange doctors and nurses, too. Maybe try something like that with a favourite doll or toy?

@Ms. RV: Oh that's tough. Our appointments are at a clinic with a small number of doctors, and the walk-in is next door and rarely crowded either. I'm sure that contributes to his lack of anxiety. I'd definitely book for the satellite office in the future, and maybe try not to overwhelm her with too much toys or new things there? We also bring snacks, but I see you are already doing that. DS is really into role playing with his doll the last several months, i.e., feeding, playing, etc., so the stuff at the doctor's really plays into it. Good luck!

We have some books about going to the doctor and have also had good discussions about the doctor after watching Daniel Tiger episodes about the doctor and playing the DT doctor game if either of those suggestions help. Other than that we do the same as you take his favorite things and snacks.

I think this depends on the kid. My DS has never really been afraid of doctors or dentists, and he's 6 now. From very young, like 6 months, my DD would start crying every time she saw the doctor. She wouldn't let the dentist check her out last fall (so he didn't charge us), and at her 3 year checkup, she was still clinging to me and crying.

My oldest was only briefly afraid at the doctor's office for a few months around 3 years old. But LO2 is 17 months and she has been afraid for a few months, giving out Death Stares and screaming.

@Ms. RV: We had an echo last week for my 16 month old. I was sure he would scream his face off. He ended up legit playing possum. He laid completely still and gave the sonographer the most judgmental death glare I have ever seen! I kept apologizing for his obvious distain for her

Yup, I agree with PP, it's just the age. DS never really screamed at the doctor but he wasn't happy about being there from about 15 months-2 years. Now he is 5 and doesn't mind going at all. Even after his 4 year appointment when he got 4 shots he was fine afterwards. Didn't even cry until the last shot was almost done!

Lo1 screamed and cried all through his 18 month check up. Then he was a dream for his two year check up, super sweet, easy with his shots and he tells me he likes Dr Cole every time we walk by. I was shocked by the shift.

Starting at 18m well check, he was a nightmare. Screaming NO, not wanting the dr. to look in his ears or mouth. Now at 2.5 he still doesn't love it, but he's getting better.

My DD has always been fine but she has basically no stranger anxiety- she will go sit in other parents laps at story hour. She also follows instructions well so getting haircuts and going to the dentist are pretty painless. That said providers regularly comment that she is very easy/compliant so I don't think it's typical at all. Hopefully she outgrows it as her communication gets better.

@Ms. RV: haha! I hope your next visits go well. We saw a big difference from 1.5-2.5 years old!

Our ped warned us at the 9 month check up that babies/ kids begin to fear the doctor. She was on the money, LO rarely doesn't cry now. The doctors and nurses that have the best luck with him are the ones that play around with him first or let him explore their instruments before using them on him. Our ped also recommended getting a doctor kit so the kids can pretend play.

My DD was scared at her 2 year visit. After that we watched some Doc McStuffins and I got her the doll and little medical kit. I let her bring it at our next visit and it helped a lot.

We had a wellness visit awhile ago that involved running naked out of the exam room to play with the toys in the waiting room. I think it happened more than once during the visit. That could very well have been the 18mo checkup but I don't remember. I have tried to block out as much of that memory as possible.

DD got really frightened at her 18-m checkup. I felt like at that point she was old enough to remember the fear of getting shots in that room in the past, but also not yet old enough to be easily persuaded that I would keep her safe and it would be over quickly. She's been to several sick visits since then, to various doctors, and has been a lot less scared.