Bringing my 3 year old along to my first visit

Hi @laurenav12, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You have come to a good place for helpful information as you prepare for your Mayo Clinic visit.

I did a quick search and found visitor information for each Mayo Clinic location and they each describe guidelines for children attending appointments a little bit different. I’ll provide the link but also paste from the Scottsdale Visitors section:

Patients may bring visitors to their appointments, and visitors are welcome in most care areas. However, care teams may limit the number of visitors permitted in certain treatment areas due to room size, safety or patient care needs.

Care teams may ask visitors to leave a patient room temporarily to complete a procedure or test. When visitors are not in a room with a patient, they are welcome to wait in common areas, including lobbies, unit waiting areas and cafeterias.

If children under the age of 16 are visiting, an adult must accompany them at all times.

Here is the link:
- Patient appointment and visitor updates: Arizona
https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/visitor-policies-arizona
It sounds like it depends on the type of appointment(s) and maybe even the provider you are seeing. You could contact your provider through the portal, or use the phone number provided through the link, above. They will be able to help you find an answer to whether your 3-year-old will be able to attend appointments under your husbands care.

It sounds like you may be traveling a distance. How far away are you from Mayo Scottsdale? What do you have scheduled, and do you have portal access set up yet to view details or message your care team?

Perhaps your husband could participate in your appt. via the speaker on your phone or attend virtually from your hotel room which could be easier on all three of you.

THis is one of "those" times where, if in fact your health is your priority, you should make arrangements for some sort of outside childcare so the sole focus of all involved are the services of your care teams. Mayo is not "doc in the box" for a drop in for a runny nose or cold. Children of any age that are not the focus of the visit will be a distraction for all involved. Mayo resources are a "scarce" breed and anything that can possibly interfere with that resource is a disservice for all involved. We have been doing "Mayo" for 35 years and fact is have never seen small children who were not patients included with patients' visits. As I don't know the nature of your visit, I cannot predict what the ultimate schedule will be but suffice to say, most "first visits" result in additional appointments, lab visits, testing, imaging and more. Personally, I want absolutely "no distractions" during my visits so everyone is focused on the "issue".

I know my comments will be viewed negatively by some but, there are times in life that hard decisions must be made and priorities set. I will tell you providers are very good at "in real time" documenting every visit so your husband will be able to review the conversations and comments of the provider promptly....but if it were me, I would sort out some sort of childcare so your husband can participate....also, without distractions.

JMHO.......

@laurenav12, you've received some helpful suggestions from members. I'll add that you can contact Mayo Clinic's Conceirge Services to ask if there are child care options available for you. Here's how to contact them:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/minnesota/concierge-services
By phone: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time, Monday-Friday: 507-538-8438
By email: concierge@mayo.edu

The conceirge service agents are in Rochester, but they serve patients at all Mayo Clinic locations, including in Scottsdale and Phoenix.

@laurenav12 I am checking in to see how you are doing on your Mayo Clinic appointment planning quest.

I am sure others reading here will benefit from what you recommend. Do you mind sharing what you have learned and ultimately decided to do?

When is your appointment? I hope all goes well.