What do you do when you have to go to the Doctor?

[kidlove]

I just posted about traveling with kids and another question came up.....a lot of you have said, you don't go anywhere during Day Care hours. I have found this difficult over the years...what do you do if you have to go to the Doctor? Dentist? Chiropractor? or any other place of business that closes before you do? :huh:

[playfelt]

Some dentists have evening hours and make use of evening walk in medical clinics where possible. When it can't be avoided then I have to take time off. Generally my husband or oldest daughter makes themselves available for any families that can't stay home. Non of these places are the kind of thing you can take 5-6 kids with you anyways cause you can't leave them in the waiting room and I'm sure they wouldn't be welcome in the treatment room.

[Crayola kiddies]

So far I have been able to book my spots in the evenings and on weekends

[jodaycare]

I try to book appointments as late in the day as possible or during sleep time (if hubby or dd will be home). If I have to I just ask for early pick up.

[Dayhome Mamma]

This year I scheduled mine and my kids annual check up into my contract. Doing the same for next year. I post my chosen holiday weeks and anything else that I may need a day off for such as school exams at the beginning of the year. I also make note that some of these days may change but I stick to them if its in my own power and don't take any days off on top of what i have written...

[apples and bananas]

I use after hours clinics and Saturday's for the dentist. I book my regular appointments or specialists way in advance and give lots of notice. I make sure everyone knows on signing up that I don't offer back up care so if I have an appt I will give as much notice as possible and I close.

[cfred]

As playfelt said, many dentists now have evening hours. I typically go to walk ins for myself. If it's an appt that's been preset, I'll either notify parents that I need the day off or I'll schedule a back up, if anyone's available. If it's one of my kids who needs the doctor, the daycare comes with us. My doctor's always fine with the kids coming in the treatment room, so long as it's just for a prescription, check the ears, throat....nothing major. Actually, it's a really good experience for them. I've taken them in when I had to get a needle. One parent commented that her daughter wanted to be 'brave like cfred' when she had her needle, so I'm not sure it's a bad thing. I'm very clear right from the beginning that I'm a single parent. Sometimes we have to go out for doctors, etc.

[Inspired by Reggio]

If I cannot make an appointment after hours than my next option is to make it during 'nap time' and I get my spouse to come home and supervise the kids sleeping while I run out .... he gets numerous 'family days' and well since we do not have any wee ones of our own to use them on than this qualifies for them as the daycare kids are my 'surrogate family' during the day ;)

If I cannot make it during that time than I than opt for the closest to the end of the day as possible and close early that day.

My family Dr is in another town 1.5 hours a way so if I need to go see her for something planned like my physical than I book that day off and than try to make that day and appointment day ... so get into the dentist, the eye Dr and whatever else all on the same day and get it over with.

I have also taken the children to a couple Dr appointments cause the appointment was only going to be 3 minute to refill my prescription or something so I would make it for first thing in the am and I would pick up my mom on the way and she would take them to Tim Horton's for a snack if it was that time of day or the nearby park while I do the appointment and then we carry on with our day cause my home town has some awesome children's facilities so we make a 'day trip' out of it and the kids nap in the car on the way back home.

Basically I do whatever works to inconvenience the clients the least while ensuring my needs and the children's needs are are met ;)

[Bookworm]

I do what the other ladies do. However, if it can not be avoided, I have my mother come in and watch the kids for me. All the parents know this, and are comfortable with it. I usually have it so I'm gone during nap time, so she doesn't have to do too much. Although all the dck's call her Nana, since she does stop by often to visit the children, so I have no problems with them feeling comfortable with her.

[Starshine]

First I try to book appointment for evenings and weekends. If that isn't possible, I try to give parents as much notice as possible, and give them options. I don't have too many kids here, so I can usually offer to take their kids with me to an appointment if it's something simple, like getting a prescription filled, not something like an annual physical! If I can't take the kids with me, I try to book the appointment for first thing in the morning (so parents can just drop the kids off later), or last thing in the afternoon (so parents can pick up kids early).

[kidlove]

I also have my Mother (the kids call her Grama) come in to cover during nap time. I must be in really bad shape...ha ha, there have been times I have woman issues and my obgyn is only open til 5, and have had broken teeth or root canal needed in which case (emergent) needing the dentist asap, but again my dentist is only til 5. maybe its an american thing to have no afterhours? wish I had the option to go to evening appt. my chiropractor even only goes til 5 and I push it with them, they want payment up front because when I come out they are counting the money drawer ready to leave. HMMM. seems easy for you guys, maybe I'm the only one who has a hard time juggling personal appt.s and day care.

[Play and Learn]

My hubby is lucky, and is usually able to come home for the day at 3 p.m. So I TRY to book my appointments after that time. IF I can't then I ask my mom, the kids call her Oma (grandma in Dutch), to come look after the kids. I try to book appts during nap time, so they don't really have to do too much.

IF either my hubby or mom can't come over, I will either close for the day or open later or close early.

I don't think it's fair for other peoples kids to be dragged to MY appointments (especially if you're going to the doc's). Just my 2 cents.

[gcj]

I actually have a replacement. She has all the same qualifications and comes in when I can't be here. I used to do like the rest and just avoid having to leave, but that wasn't working for me. There are school activities that I like to go to, too, so I like having the option. It's hard to let someone in your home, but it's worth it if you trust them. I have to admit, though...that being the control freak that I've learned I am...the preparation for having her come is intense....so I'm exhausted by the time I leave. I'm getting better, though!
Only problem now is my puppy....I can't leave her yet. She'll go nuts with someone else here...so I'm stuck for a little while! :p

[kidlove]

gcj: that's how I am too, can't even think of anyone other than my mother, and she can't always help....most of my parents don't care if she comes to take care of their kids, I have one parent who gives me a hard time at every turn, doesn't want me to transport, doesn't want a "stranger" taking care of their child, and doesn't want to leave work early (for occasional appt's and such) beginning to think with these particular parents.....pleasing them, will be just shy of a miracle! :)

[gcj]

I used to have my mother-in-law do it, but she's not getting younger, and doesn't really have the energy for it anymore. In an emergency, she'd do it, but she's more comfortable not! I trust my replacement and all the parents are aware when signing. I mean, if she comes in 5/year it's a lot. Last year I was sick and when I reopened I had her here with me every morning for a couple of weeks. She certainly doesn't do things the same as me and I find her a little overbearing in my own home, but you know what? She does the job. The kids are safe and loved, so I can live with that.

[Sandbox Sally]

I took my son to the dentist with dcb in tow last week. His mother knew, and it wasn't an issue. I'd do it again if I had to. I'd just schedule when I have the least amount/easiest daycare kids.

This is all moot for me right now, as I have no kids every Thursday, until 3pm. Yay me!

[loads'o'kids]

I get my mom to come at nap time. All the kids know her so if they did happen to wake up they would be comfortable with her. I tell the parents and they are fine with that. I even plan lunch dates with friends sometimes at nap time when my mom can come. This is a once in a blue moon thing but it is nice to get out and she doesn't mind!!

[sunnydays]

I don't have anyone to replace me, so I book appointments in evenings, weekends or, for my yearly physical, during my vacation because my doctor doesn't stay open late. Maybe you could call around and see if there are any dentists, chirpractors etc open late in your area?

[Momof4]

I wouldn't take my daycare children to a doctor's office because it's full of sick people with germs. I book appointments after work too. I do have to go for an ultrasound next month though and I'm going to have to close for a personal day because I can't take the children to that either.

[Mamma_Mia]

I took my son to the dentist with dcb in tow last week. His mother knew, and it wasn't an issue. I'd do it again if I had to. I'd just schedule when I have the least amount/easiest daycare kids.

This is all moot for me right now, as I have no kids every Thursday, until 3pm. Yay me!

Yup me too. Just this Monday while dcmom was dropping off her daughter my DD was waking up I went to go get her quickly as she was crying (which was odd...usual wake up call is Mommy...Mooooommy... MOMMY!) lol
Anyways when I got my daughter had bitten her lip and kept chewing on it! (fricken kid) so it got infected and it was GROSS.
dcmom said "oh geeze, you should take her to the walk in! dcg will be fine in the stroller....let me know if I have to pick her up" so......off we went! With a 2.5yr old child things come up and if I HAVE to then I will take them with me with parent notification. IF the parents don't want me to take their child (never had this happen) then they can come pick them up because my child comes first. Sorry.

[kidlove]

thanks Momma Mia , that seems to be my struggle with this particular Mom who has a hard time swallowing that I am HER DayCare provider but I am FIRST AND FOREMOST MY kids Mommy. When they need me....I have to be there for them and support them. This is about the second time ever (in about 45 families) that I have felt like....they don't really give a crap about anyone but themselves and their needs. gggggrrrrrrrrr!!!!!! !! glad it's FRIDAY! :)

[Littledragon]

If I have an appoitment, I book a half day off. I have 3 weeks vacation, but I don't take all the days together, and leave some for random times when I may need to to go the dr or something. I wouldn't dream of bringind the kids with me - not because I don't think the parents wouldn like it but because I would shoot myself if I had to bring all those kids with me lol