Please Talk To Me If You've Taken Your Baby/Toddler To Quest For Blood Work:)

I have put off taking Chloe since her one year appointment, she is now 2 years, 4 MOS. I just couldn't do it! I know I MUST now! I was originally SOO nervous to take her to Quest, my lab based on my insurance but maybe I was a BIT more worred when she was an infant. Now that she's a "toddler", although I'm still freaking out I feel a little more hopeful that she'll be ok. I want to have faith in the technicians there in regards to children and their expereince but I am wrong too?

I live in Medford, so we'd be going to one around here, anyone been?

Thanks SOOO much!

Keri

Re: Please Talk To Me If You've Taken Your Baby/Toddler To Quest For Blood Work:)

I had to take my DD there (can't remember which location-have to double check) when she was a couple of months old for bloodwork. The heel prick in the hosp came back inconclusive twice so had to get bloodwork instead. It def wasn't fun but the techs tried to do it as fast as they could so they were pretty good.

I have to do it for her one year now so hoping to go next weekend. I'm thinking it will be a good bit harder to get her to cooperate but I'll let you know how it goes.

Re: Please Talk To Me If You've Taken Your Baby/Toddler To Quest For Blood Work:)

DS had his 1 yr bloodwork @ quest, he was 12.5 mos. I called our local lab (hauppauge) to find out when a pediatric specialist would be in, and made the appt with her.

We showed up for our scheduled appt, went right into an exam room, and the phlebotomist was EXCELLENT with him - she was playing peek-a-boo and everything. The whole process was over in 5 minutes, DS cried for about 1 minute, then smiled at and waved bye bye to his "stabber".

It really helped to have both DH and I there with him. DH sat in the chair with DS on his lap and held his non-testing arm, and I held his testing arm down.

He was more pizzed off about the bandaid they put on (over the gauze and tape) - he ripped that sucker off by the time we got to the elevator. hahahhaha

At your DD's age, i think it'll be easier to bribe her to stay still! Good luck.

Re: Please Talk To Me If You've Taken Your Baby/Toddler To Quest For Blood Work:)

I took DD at 15 months old to a Quest lab in Huntington. There was a tech there who specialized in pediatrics. DD did great and didn't cry at all. The tech was really quick and nice.
Mabey you can call and make sure someone is there who does pediatrics.

Re: Please Talk To Me If You've Taken Your Baby/Toddler To Quest For Blood Work:)

I took DS at 13 months to the Quest in my area (Nanuet).

I made an online appt and walked right in. Two phlebotomists participated - one did the bloodwork while the other helped hold him steady. He sat on my lap in a seat with a bar across.

He cried a little after they put the thing around his arm (it took awhile to find a vein) and then when they put the needle in but, he was fine once it was done. The whole process took less than 3 minutes.

He cried more that night when I removed the piece of tape/cotton at bathtime than he did when they took the blood.

I was nervous about it too.

Re: Please Talk To Me If You've Taken Your Baby/Toddler To Quest For Blood Work:)

I took both my DC to Quest when they were 1 for their bloodwork.

DS was a perfect angel. He didn't move,
didn't even flinch when the girl took his blood. Just stared at his arm and watched her. It was amazing!

DD was a fighter. She was not happy. However, it was over very quickly. For both kids, I sat in the chair and held them on my lap. THey had me wrap one arm around their tummy so that one arm was under my arm. THen I had to hold the other arm out straight for them.

DD cried, but after it was over she was perfectly fine, laughing and smiling again!

It's really not that bad and really good for you to go. We found out when we had DS bloodwork done that he was anemic. He had to start taking vitamins with extra iron in them.

Re: Please Talk To Me If You've Taken Your Baby/Toddler To Quest For Blood Work:)

we just went to a labcore one Sat morning for DS when he was a little over a year. I was dreading it. DH came with.
He sat on DH's lap. The pple that work for these labs are professionals and know what they're doing. All they do is bloodwork all day long. THey're fast and good.
Even when a nurse at my OB can't find a vein at a labcore or quest they're so fast and good
DS did a great job. THe woman was fast and good. DS only cried b/c his arm was being held and he doesn't like to be confined.

Re: Please Talk To Me If You've Taken Your Baby/Toddler To Quest For Blood Work:)

I never did the 1 year because I just couldnt bear the thought of taking DS. Then we got the script for his 2 year in Jan 2010, well I finaly took him to Quest in late december 2010.
He was actually 3yo!

I took him to quest in commack...it was great really! I couldnt believe how quick they were in and out and he never cried...

They had color books in the lobby for the kids which detailed what would happen. Then we went in. He sat on my lap I held him as tight as I could. Then they called a helper in who held his arm and in no time it was done and they gave him stickers.

They were good I must say!

Re: Please Talk To Me If You've Taken Your Baby/Toddler To Quest For Blood Work:)

I've taken my now 3yo DD when she had her 1yr bloodwork.

I just took my 3month old DD there last week. The first visit they lost the vein so they actually had me leave and come back so they didn't stick DD unnecessarily.

They were able to get blood no problem from her a few days later.