Toys banned in hospital waiting rooms

by Sandy Maple (Subscribe to Sandy Maple's posts) Nov 10th 2008 1:00PM

Categories: Babies, Toddlers, Preschoolers, Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Health & Safety

Whenever I visit a doctor's office, I always walk out feeling dirty. Not dirt-dirty, but germy-dirty. I am acutely aware that everything I come in contact with has likely been in the hands of a sick person and therefore a potential health hazard. Not only am I worried about what I might catch, I am doubly concerned for my 8-year-old.

Ellie doesn't sit still and keep her hands to herself while waiting to see a doctor. She roams about and touches everything, especially those toys that have been set out for her enjoyment. But because she loves playing with the toys and because they keep her mind off whatever might be about to go down in the doctor's office, I let her play. That is what soap and water are for, right?

Our doctor's office has plenty of toys and books to entertain waiting children, but for some in the UK, those playthings have disappeared. In Manchester, a primary care trust, which is the organization responsible for managing local health services, has banned toys from waiting rooms for fear of spreading infections among children.

At least one doctor feels the move is unnecessary and refers to it as "bureaucracy gone mad." "Waiting rooms without toys must be a nightmare. If having toys means children don't mind coming to see the doctor, they are definitely a good thing," says Dr Kailash Chand, a Manchester GP. He goes on to point out that if the toys are kept clean, there is no health risk.

The trust is now rethinking the ban on toys and maybe soon they will be back. But it makes me wonder - do you let your kids play with the toys in waiting rooms? Or do you adopt a hands-off policy when visiting the doctor?

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Comments (13)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Maureen 11-10-2008 @ 1:38PM

Kids are exposed to germs every time they got have a playdate with a friend, everytime they are at school, at the grocery store, the library....
Our doctor has a separate waiting room for well and sick kids, so I'm not too worried. I do have my kids wash their hands after leaving the waiting room, but I let them play. I also usually bring my own stash of books and coloring items for them to use. So, if there were no toys, I wouldn't really care.
I will say, however, that my kids have gone into the doctor for a well visit and come down with a stomach virus a day or two later. I know where they picked it up:)

Melissa 11-10-2008 @ 1:37PM

Do I trust that the nurses clean those toys every night? NO! Do I, knowing this, let my child play and be occupied while we wait for the dr.? YES! And then, after we have seen the dr. and he tells us what is wrong (with my kid it's usually an ear infection) and gives us an antibiotic, we go home, I give her (and myself!) a bath! I give her the medicine and we lay down for a nap (I time my visits to the dr. this way!)....if it is keeping them occupied and not upset and screaming, let them play!

LS 11-10-2008 @ 1:55PM

For pete's sake, people, have we forgotten our basic health lessons from grade- and middle-school? The more germs the human body is exposed to, in limited amounts, the stronger it is. This is how vaccines work, and how all of this "antibacterial" mania has caused things like MRSA.

So the kids play with a few toys in the waiting room. If you're that worried, when you get into the exam room, and before Doc comes in, have your child wash hands in that little sink.

I shudder to think about how much MORE crap I'd have to lug around if there were no toys/books in the waiting rooms.

Bethany Sanders 11-10-2008 @ 2:41PM

My pediatrician banned toys in her waiting room a year ago. Luckily, she never double books, so no one has to wait very long. If there were toys, I'd definitely let my kids play, but we'd stop by the bathroom on our way out to wash our hands.

Rob O. 11-10-2008 @ 2:16PM

Our pediatrician has adopted this policy too and her waiting room is incredibly sterile & uninviting. If it weren't that she's so conveniently nearby and on our HMO plan, I would've jumped ship many months ago. She's a decent doctor, but her office is not at all geared up for children and isn't even remotely comfortable for adults.

But above all, I heartily agree with LS - the immune system is designed to handle exposure to a multitude of germs. The more you can get your child into early on, the better able his body will be at fending off the really nasty stuff later.

Maureen 11-10-2008 @ 3:02PM

Toys in waiting rooms do skeeve me out. Sometimes I allow my kids to play with them, other times I don't. If I do let them play with the toys I immediately wash their hands upon entering the exam room or I use a hand sanitizer. I am much more likely to keep the kids from playing with the toys during cold and flu season and when I know of stomach viruses going around. Also, when my kids are there for sick visits, I absolutely do not let them touch the toys because I don't want another parent to go through caring for a sick child because my child left the germs on the toy.

Karen 11-10-2008 @ 3:14PM

We bring either Nintendo DS or iPOD (with earplugs and a rental movie or their own movie download). It keeps them still and occupied. I don't worry about germs or anything else. I only give my kids these items when they have to wait for something or in the car for trips so they are always excited to see them.

ame s 11-10-2008 @ 7:37PM

We've always taken our own toys and books, not so much because of a germ issue, but because my daughters aren't very amused by the selection of toys.

Michelle 11-10-2008 @ 3:50PM

We bring our own toys and books and wait in the hallway, particularly if we are there for a sick visit, and will therefore be required to wait in the sick waiting room. But, I have 2 immuno-compromised children. And we still wash our hands upon leaving the office.

c_rousseau05 11-10-2008 @ 5:00PM

We usually bring our own toys but if my child wants to play with the toys in the doctors office I let her. I don't see anything wrong with it, besides, it's better than having them screaming and throwing fits because there's nothing to occupy their time. Hell, I get bored waiting in the office so i'm pretty sure it's around ten times as bad for my child. I hope they reverse the ban or they'll have their hands full with noisy restless sick children "waiting" to see the doctor with their parents. NO ONE is going to like that situation. I know this is probably an ignorant thought to have but I generally see children as pretty "clean".....meaning they (unless in rare cases) don't have the huge diseases like adults might have such as HIV and herpes and stuff....the lifespan of germs on plastic is small and i'm sure they clean the things periodically anyway or at least lysol them at the end of the day. If a child is running around with something contagious then that risk presents itself just by walking into the waiting room, even if no toys are played with. Getting germs helps to build strong immunities.

The Cowgirl 11-10-2008 @ 10:56PM

We bring our own toys, so it doesn't really matter to us. And even better than toys.... books! Nothing entertains my son like a book!

ninainindia 11-11-2008 @ 11:12AM

Can't believe there are people that worry about this. Probably the same ones that wipe down the shopping cart before using it.....

Teresa 1-29-2009 @ 6:54PM

my boys go to the same doctor I did when I was little. the only difference is there isnt the toys any more. I remember a room like the little play grounds we see at the park, or play areas in the mall. they took that out and put cartoons on a tv and have fish arount the entire place now.

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