Diaper Swappers

Kiliki · 03-26-2013, 08:02 AM

I just had our 4th child 2 wks ago.

But now I have a hole in my tooth (ouch!) and I need to see a dentist. DH cannot take the time off b/c he just took 2 wks off for the new baby.

I am having a hard time finding someone who wants to babysit a 6 y/o, 4 y/o, 2 y/o and a newborn. Even my parents are hesitant. And my kids are well behaved, too, not little hooligans...

I feel strange and sad, and frankly I feel kind of pathetic looking for childcare and hearing the stress in people's voices or seeing the horror on their faces when I ask. It doesn't help that I am still in that hormonal, crazy-woman-post-partum phase...

I don't want to, nor can I afford, to leave my kids at a daycare or with a hired nanny that I don't know.

Anyway, how do you moms of many kids do these types of things? It seems mind-boggling-ly impossible.

NotLad · 03-26-2013, 08:40 AM

My H's schedule is pretty concrete. He needs about six weeks notice to have someone cover his schedule.

I've resorted to doing all my appointments on Saturdays. It's a serious PITA.

Kiliki · 03-26-2013, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotLad

My H's schedule is pretty concrete. He needs about six weeks notice to have someone cover his schedule.

I've resorted to doing all my appointments on Saturdays. It's a serious PITA.

Wow! I have never even found any doc's offices or dental places open on weekends!

raymark · 03-26-2013, 09:53 AM

DH cares for our children during my appointments & I seem to usually have at least 1 personal appointment a week.

DH earns rediculous amounts of leave (part of an expanded benefits package he requires just to consider new job offers) and can work from home 25% of normal 7-3 time (the % of time he works from home outside of his office hours does not take away from this).

I work part time several early evenings (5-9) a week and some weekends so although evening & weekend appointments are common here they don't work with my schedule.

raymark · 03-26-2013, 09:53 AM

DH cares for our children during my appointments & I seem to usually have at least 1 personal appointment a week.

DH earns rediculous amounts of leave (part of an expanded benefits package he requires just to consider new job offers) and can work from home 25% of normal 7-3 time (the % of time he works from home outside of his office hours does not take away from this).

I work part time several early evenings (5-9) a week and some weekends so although evening & weekend appointments are common here they don't work with my schedule.

rumblepurr · 03-26-2013, 09:59 AM

LOL, I break them up! I have a SN LO who has to have his own care taker, he is Autistic, has seizures and runs. I usually send him with the oldest to give tips and security with one babysitter and send the other 2 to a different babysitters house.

The best situation was a mom and daughter team, where the mom watched the SN LO and the daughter (who was 16) watched the other 3. That was nice because they were all at one house for pick up and drop off.

We've toyed with just having 2 babysitters come to the house, but I've found that the kids behave better when they are split up at other peoples houses.

MakingHome · 03-26-2013, 10:43 AM

I would ask someone to watch the 4yo and 2yo and train my 6yo to sit quietly with a book and feed the baby right before my appt and make sure he/she is tired so they sleep through the appt. 6yo would also know how to adjust pacifier, or even administer gas drops, etc in case baby wakes up. That would be my plan.

Another option would be to utilize a moms day out program (in this area they happen on tues/thurs) and plan my appt for one of those days.

Another option would be to find another mom of little ones and trade off childcare for these things.

foggierbard9 · 03-26-2013, 10:48 AM

I have to take them with me. I needed a tooth pulled in December and I was holding a 6 month old on my lap with a 5 yr old and 2 yr old there with me.

Kiliki · 03-26-2013, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rumblepurr

LOL, I break them up! I have a SN LO who has to have his own care taker, he is Autistic, has seizures and runs. I usually send him with the oldest to give tips and security with one babysitter and send the other 2 to a different babysitters house.

The best situation was a mom and daughter team, where the mom watched the SN LO and the daughter (who was 16) watched the other 3. That was nice because they were all at one house for pick up and drop off.

We've toyed with just having 2 babysitters come to the house, but I've found that the kids behave better when they are split up at other peoples houses.

I am thinking breaking them up could be a good idea...

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakingHome

I would ask someone to watch the 4yo and 2yo and train my 6yo to sit quietly with a book and feed the baby right before my appt and make sure he/she is tired so they sleep through the appt. 6yo would also know how to adjust pacifier, or even administer gas drops, etc in case baby wakes up. That would be my plan.

Another option would be to utilize a moms day out program (in this area they happen on tues/thurs) and plan my appt for one of those days.

Another option would be to find another mom of little ones and trade off childcare for these things.

To the bolded: great idea except I am too nervous about having my very social, overly-friendly 6 y/o sit anywhere that I cannot see her. Plus, while she is amazing with the baby, the baby is just 2 wks old, with no head control at all yet and it makes me pretty worried when she tries to move him without some help. If the baby were just a month or two older, it would be a perfect idea!

All of the MOPs programs I have found here are through churches or at churches and I am just not comfortable with that. I wish there were something similar to that, but not affiliated with any religious group! That would be awesome!

Quote:

Originally Posted by foggierbard9

I have to take them with me. I needed a tooth pulled in December and I was holding a 6 month old on my lap with a 5 yr old and 2 yr old there with me.

This would be disastrous for me. I am a huge wuss when it comes to dental work. I cry during the X Rays.

I can't fathom trying to watch my kids at the same time...

I think I will try splitting them up between 2 of my friends... seems like a great idea...

NotLad · 03-26-2013, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiliki

All of the MOPs programs I have found here are through churches or at churches and I am just not comfortable with that. I wish there were something similar to that, but not affiliated with any religious group! That would be awesome!

...

What about this group? http://www.momsclub.org/ they're not reilgious!

03-26-2013, 08:02 AM	#1
Kiliki Registered Users Formerly: kr*y Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 8,531 Ratings: 281 Feedback:** 100%	How do you manage dental/medical appts when you have many kids? I just had our 4th child 2 wks ago. But now I have a hole in my tooth (ouch!) and I need to see a dentist. DH cannot take the time off b/c he just took 2 wks off for the new baby. I am having a hard time finding someone who wants to babysit a 6 y/o, 4 y/o, 2 y/o and a newborn. Even my parents are hesitant. And my kids are well behaved, too, not little hooligans... I feel strange and sad, and frankly I feel kind of pathetic looking for childcare and hearing the stress in people's voices or seeing the horror on their faces when I ask. It doesn't help that I am still in that hormonal, crazy-woman-post-partum phase... I don't want to, nor can I afford, to leave my kids at a daycare or with a hired nanny that I don't know. Anyway, how do you moms of many kids do these types of things? It seems mind-boggling-ly impossible. __________________ Boy's NB - 3mos clothes * S/M Peanut Shell $15ppd * 12 mo girl clothes * 18-24 mo girl clothes * 2T-4T girl's clothes * Homebirth Supplies $25ppd

03-26-2013, 08:40 AM	#2
NotLad Registered Users Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: The UT Posts: 1,202 Ratings: 7 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: How do you manage dental/medical appts when you have many kids? My H's schedule is pretty concrete. He needs about six weeks notice to have someone cover his schedule. I've resorted to doing all my appointments on Saturdays. It's a serious PITA.

03-26-2013, 09:53 AM	#4
raymark Registered Users Join Date: May 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,353 Ratings: 15 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: How do you manage dental/medical appts when you have many kids? DH cares for our children during my appointments & I seem to usually have at least 1 personal appointment a week. DH earns rediculous amounts of leave (part of an expanded benefits package he requires just to consider new job offers) and can work from home 25% of normal 7-3 time (the % of time he works from home outside of his office hours does not take away from this). I work part time several early evenings (5-9) a week and some weekends so although evening & weekend appointments are common here they don't work with my schedule.

03-26-2013, 09:53 AM	#5
raymark Registered Users Join Date: May 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,353 Ratings: 15 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: How do you manage dental/medical appts when you have many kids? DH cares for our children during my appointments & I seem to usually have at least 1 personal appointment a week. DH earns rediculous amounts of leave (part of an expanded benefits package he requires just to consider new job offers) and can work from home 25% of normal 7-3 time (the % of time he works from home outside of his office hours does not take away from this). I work part time several early evenings (5-9) a week and some weekends so although evening & weekend appointments are common here they don't work with my schedule.

03-26-2013, 09:59 AM	#6
rumblepurr Registered Users Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Ada, Ohio Posts: 1,991 Ratings: 84 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: How do you manage dental/medical appts when you have many kids? LOL, I break them up! I have a SN LO who has to have his own care taker, he is Autistic, has seizures and runs. I usually send him with the oldest to give tips and security with one babysitter and send the other 2 to a different babysitters house. The best situation was a mom and daughter team, where the mom watched the SN LO and the daughter (who was 16) watched the other 3. That was nice because they were all at one house for pick up and drop off. We've toyed with just having 2 babysitters come to the house, but I've found that the kids behave better when they are split up at other peoples houses. __________________ Amber: Mama of 4 DS's; 10/2002 10/2005 8/2007 1/2010 and due 12/20/13. Married to J . Extra crunchy, night , book loving, sewing enthusiast. Last edited by rumblepurr; 03-26-2013 at 10:12 AM.