Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Should strollers be allowed in doctor's offices?
Just curious what your opinions are. I am on a facebook forum for moms of multiples and one mother was not permitted to use her stroller in the office. She has 2 eight month olds that don't sit up on their own so she chose to leave when the doctor wouldn't make an exception. My feelings are mixed, on one hand I know how difficult it is to juggle two kids with no stroller in public but on the other hand I know how cramped and dirty offices can become with multiple strollers. What is your opinion?
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I'd never thought about it, we take our stroller almost always. And if my husband wasn't with me, it would feel impossible without it. Taking twins to the doctor is HARD work, my doctor/office are very accommodating and if they weren't, I do think I'd look elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteWe rely on ours so much too. I have never gone anywhere alone with my twins without it, I can't even imagine. When they were in the buckets they were too heavy at the end and now they are in the bigger seats I couldn't carry them both and a diaper bag. Seems impossible!
DeleteThanks for the input, it does sound like a trivial issue at first but being in the situation it would be stressful. This particular mom is a single mom by choice so and wasn't informed of the policy so she was alone. It is actually in the newspaper today here in Toronto and will be on the news this evening.
ReplyDeleteHaving twins myself, the stroller is my best friend! It would be difficult to go anywhere without it. Plus, how can you pay attention to the doctor if you are trying to hold two babies - and forget trying to get them dressed undressed while they are both on your lap? Babies touch fewer surfaces when they are in the stroller, so it actually makes sense to keep them in one at the doctor's office. I would have also changed doctors.
ReplyDeleteI never really thought about the fact that she would probably have to hold the child and change them, good point.
DeleteSince we don't own a car, and I don't bike with Gwen when it's less than 40F/5C, in winter we are pretty much exclusively reliant on travel by stroller, whether we are walking or going via public transport. Just as I wouldn't go to a dr. that didn't have parking (if I owned a car), I wouldn't go to one that didn't have a place for me to park my vehicle, be it bike or stroller.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I can completely understand not allowing the strollers inside the reception area/waiting room, etc., instead requiring that they be parked outside. They take up a lot of space, making it hard to maneuver in potentially small rooms, especially if there are many of them, and in winter they will track in a lot of dirt and crud which will make things more difficult for those who don't come with a stroller and thus have kids on the ground.
They do allow you to leave the stroller in the hallway (although it turns out it is a fire hazzard) and have installed security cameras. However it would be difficult to wrangle the babies in the waiting room especially in Toronto where they triple book all appointments and usually have to wait an hour or more to see the doctor. I get why they wouldn't want the strollers in the office too, that's why it is so tricky
DeleteOur RE office waiting room is tiny. Often infertile women bring in their bundles of joy to show off to the doctors and thank them profusely while those of us without stare and try not to cry. The strollers in waiting rooms large enough are fine but strollers with babies in them in the RE office is just a big no.
ReplyDeleteUgh, I hated when people brought their babies in to show them off. NOT NECESSARY! They would always make comments like "soon it will be you", it seemed so smug. When my sister and I did the egg donor cycle she NEVER took her kids to the office, she respected that it wasn't the place.
DeleteI personally hate strollers anywhere. Even before infertility I hated them. I don't think they are appropriate indoors or in small spaces. But I do see the dilemma for this woman and anyone with twins. Wear one and have the other in a carseat carrier? That would only work if she was driving to her appointment so I really don't know. On the other hand, there really aren't very many indoor spaces that have room for a double stroller anyway, except maybe a shopping mall, are there?
ReplyDeleteIt is pretty tricky, strollers are huge especially doubles (mine included). I think the operator should use common sense and also respect people's personal space. It is impossible not to rely on a stroller with twins though.
DeleteIt's so hard without the stroller sometimes! When mine were small I would often carry one in the ergo and have the other in a single stroller if I knew I was going somewhere that was a "cramped" space. But all too quickly they became too big for that, yet not adept enough on their own two feet. I think exceptions should be made when possible for parents trying to juggle twin outings on their own!
ReplyDeleteI agree!
DeleteI've never heard of not allowing strollers in doctor's offices! My patients come in with strollers all the time - though we have a big waiting room and fairly big exam rooms...even if we were tight on space and had that rule, I think we'd have to break it for a woman by herself with two 8 month old twins. How on earth could she possibly handle them without the stroller?
ReplyDeleteYou would think they would use discretion especially in this case. Actually the no stroller rule is becoming more and more common in the city especially in the winter with snow and slush ruining carpets. I would think the babies health and safety would take priority however!
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