| As a mother, you have experienced the highs and | | | | You also need to be a role model for your |
| lows of visits to the pediatrician's clinic. The highs | | | | children. You have to be polite to the clinic staff |
| are when your children are well-behaved, and you | | | | and show your appreciation. Teach your kids to |
| get good news that your children are well or will | | | | greet the staff and to say their thanks after the |
| be well again. The lows are when they throw | | | | visit. |
| tantrums, shout at clinic staff, and destroy | | | | Be Clean |
| pediatric waiting room toys, all to your | | | | Always pick up your trash and put them in the |
| consternation and embarrassment. But you can | | | | proper container. Most clinics have trash cans for |
| make doctor visits a pleasant trip through these | | | | dirty diapers, which you should use for dirty |
| simple tips. | | | | diapers. Use the regular trash cans for regular |
| Be Punctual | | | | trash. |
| You need to arrive at least 30 minutes before | | | | If your child puts bodily discharges and dirty |
| your scheduled visit. Your child needs to have his | | | | smudges on office furniture and pediatric waiting |
| vital signs checked - weight, height, and | | | | room toys, then it is your duty to wipe them |
| temperature, among others - before consultation. | | | | clean. The clinic staff and the other patients are |
| Also, you need to be considerate of other | | | | not there to pick up after you. |
| patients whose schedule will be affected. While | | | | Pens Off |
| waiting, you can let child play with the pediatric | | | | If your child likes drawing, then bring him a |
| waiting room toys available. | | | | drawing book. Teach him never to draw on |
| Bring Personal Things | | | | anything within the clinic, unless the pediatric |
| You need to bring all the necessary baby things, | | | | waiting room toys include sketch materials. You |
| lest you borrow from other parents or from the | | | | very well might pay for the Picasso drawing you |
| clinic. You certainly do not want your child to | | | | thought quaint, but your child has made |
| infect others, or to be infected with diseases | | | | less-than-quaint. |
| brought by borrowing of personal things. | | | | Do Not Bring Other Children |
| If you do not want your child to play with the | | | | If it is possible, leave your well children in your |
| pediatric waiting room toys, then let him bring a | | | | home. You will need to focus on your sick child, |
| small toy. And do not let other kids borrow it | | | | which is often nearly impossible with other small |
| since this is not the time for sharing! | | | | children in tow. They can also create noisy |
| Respect Sides and Be Respectful | | | | distractions, which you will not like other mothers |
| Usually, the clinic will designate "sick areas" and | | | | to suffer from. Besides, clinics and hospitals are |
| "well areas." Keep to your side of the clinic to | | | | hotbeds for germs, which you do not like your |
| avoid being infected or to infect others. It will boil | | | | children to be unnecessarily exposed to. |
| down to respect. | | | | Ultimately, having pleasant visits to the pediatrician |
| If the clinic has pediatric waiting room toys for | | | | depends on your ability to be a role model for |
| each side, then teach your child to use the | | | | your kids, being prepared for little emergencies, |
| appropriate toys and not to bring toys from one | | | | and teaching your kids how to behave |
| side to the other. Explain why this should be so in | | | | appropriately. |
| terms of transferring germs. | | | | |