'Real' nurse's kit for toddler play?

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My daughter's second birthday is coming up, and a few days later I start nursing school. :) I got my Littmann recently and I let her 'use' it and she loved it. Not even really in her ears, but she thought it was so fun, and wanted to play with it all the time so I had to put it away! For her birthday I was thinking of getting her one of those toy nurse's kits. But then I was wondering if it would be more fun to have the 'real' thing. There are some super-cheap stethoscopes out there, and I even saw a BP cuff that came in kid-like patterns. Would this be fun, or should I just stick to the cheap toy store kind? What other kind of items could I give her?

ETA: Also, would a real cuff be safe? I could buy the adult size as she'd be doing it on us, and it would be too big for her to hurt herself.

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My daughter's second birthday is coming up, and a few days later I start nursing school. :) I got my Littmann recently and I let her 'use' it and she loved it. Not even really in her ears, but she thought it was so fun, and wanted to play with it all the time so I had to ut it away! For her birthday I was thinking of getting her one of those toy nurse's kits. But then I was wondering if it would be more fun to have the 'real' thing. There are some super-cheap stethoscopes out there, and I even saw a BP cuff that came in kid-like patterns. Would this be fun, or should I just stick to the cheap toy store kind? What other kind of items could I give her?

ETA: Also, would a real cuff be safe? I could buy the adult size as she'd be doing it on us, and it would be too big for her to hurt herself.

Does your daughter like Elmo? My daughter (also almost 2) has an Elmo "Let's Play Doctor" kit that came with a plastic stethoscope and thermometer. Elmo talks and asks the child to take his temp, listen to his heart, blow his nose, and fix the "boo-boo" on his foot. It's cute and my daughter has a blast pretending to be a doctor with her stethoscope. I think it was purchased at Toys R Us.

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when i was a kid my mom bought me a stethescope that they had it the gift shop at the hospital gift shop and i loved it. i had a toy one from a doctors kit but i loved the real one even more because it was real.

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Specializes in Ortho/Neuro.

I would worry about the earpieces to the stethoscope, not only do they come off, but what if they got pushed inside too far? I would stick with the play kits. My daughter, 4 got a play doctor kit (couldn't find a "nurse" one) for Christmas when she was about 2 and she still loves it!

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Specializes in Case Management.

I would not buy a real stethascope for for a 2 year old. There are little parts that might come off such as the ear pieces that usually have a plastic end that can screw off. they could cause a choking hazard. I would stick to the play nurse kits (there are pleanty out there that are more age-appropriate.)

If she is still interested by age 10 or so, then a cheap littman would not be out of the question. Good luck in school.

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Excellent point about the earpieces!!! I didn't even think of the choking hazzard, or getting pushed into little ears. I will stick to the toy kit. Thanks!!

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Specializes in ICU, ER, Hemodialysis.

Not only a choking hazard, but when I accidentally hit the bell on the side rail of a pt's bed it HURTS (loud bang, little ear drum)!

My son has a nice doctor's kit, but I tell him he can be a nurse too!

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Does Fisher-Price still make the doctor kits?

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Hmm here take a look at these:

Fisher-Price Medical Kit

Fisher-Price Check-Up Ernie

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Specializes in NICU.

LOL Marie I was just about to post the link to that kit on the Toys R Us website!

I was half-hoping they'd have renamed it a "nurse's" kit instead but no dice.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

But they did rename it "medical" kit. It was a "doctor" kit when i got one when i was little (someone probably complained lol).

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Heck, my mom just came across a picture of herself as a 5 year old in her "nurse's" outfit that she got for Christmas or her Birthday.

I do remember getting some medical related toys as a kid, too.....

SueB :p

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