'Real' nurse's kit for toddler play?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

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.

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

You're right! I had one growing up, too. While the Fisher-Price website says "play doctor" the Toys R Us site says "play doctor or nurse" in the toy's description.

I defnititely think these toys are a better idea for a 2-year-old. Those earpieces HURT sometimes, and she could really damage her eardrums with either the earpieces or the noises she hears. Add in the choking hazard...no way. Medical equiptment isn't for kids!

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

I want that Check-Up Ernie lol. He's cute.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

OH wow, I just wanted to share. =)

When I was four, my grandma bought me THE coolest thing for Christmas. It was a Paramedic's Kit. It had paddles, little dials to operate the paddles, and a bunch of other stuff. Stethoscope... all kinds of stuff. All came in this case that was supposed to resemble the inside of an ambulance. One of the coolest toys I ever had!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.
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...

You know, vividly remember having a Gerber baby doll when I was about 3 or 4 years old. I used to take it with me when my mom brought me to work with her so I'd have something to play with. She worked in a surgeon's office. I used to take red pen and make "ouchies" all over that doll, then I'd bandage her up and make her feel better, pretending to be her nurse.

I really wish I still had that doll, for a keepsake. My NICU career started with her!

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

That doctor's kit was probably a clue to me landing in healthcare. I remember "taking" Grandma's blood pressure, using the steth with the cuff (that thing had good sound really lol) and Grandma saying "Did someone teach ther how that's done or something?"

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in surgical, neuro, education.

I agree that a real stethoscope is not good idea for 2 yr old--but I bought my youngest a teddy bear (named "Boo Boo Bear") at that age. I got him a play medical (now mommy is a nurse but Sean can be a nurse too) kit and added some bandaids and one of those soft ice packs. If Boo Boo Bear was really really sick--we could take him to mommy's office and use the high tech equipment to take care of him (my stethoscope--and we listened to everyone's heart and BS--my otoscope and I even had some duoderm for those big ouchies)(of course duoderm and fur don't do well together--so we switched to tegaderm ;) )

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
of course duoderm and fur don't do well together

LOL I'll keep that in mind lol.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice, BMT / Leukemia / Onc, tele.

Looks like you can get this from a european toy store..

http://www.elc.co.uk/toy-41104?&parent_category_id=534&category_id=604&showall=

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would get her a real but cheap stethoscope and only let her use it during closely supervised play with you. That way she won't hurt herself, will get to hear the real lung and heart sounds, but won't wreck your expensive stethoscope. I play/experiment with my three year old with my stethoscope all the time, but it's a cheapie and I don't care if it gets destroyed.

Also, I don't know how you feel about pilfering, but hospitals sometimes have cheap, disposable scopes on the floor for patients in isolation...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg Renal.

At Toy's R Us in the section where they have all the science kits, there is a childs stethoscope. It's only about $13. It is a real stethoscope, but very light, and my three year old has been playing with it for over a year now, and loves it. (He assesses his little brother)

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

Hey, Marie - this is the one we both had, probably! I know it's the one I got in the late 70's when I was a toddler!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1977-Fisher-Price-Medical-Kit-Doctor-Nurse-Case_W0QQitemZ280017602065QQihZ018QQcategoryZ374QQrdZ2QQcmdZViewItem

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics.

I tried to find it on the internet again, but not long ago I bought a TOY CRASH CART! Yep! So cool I almost took control of it from my niece. It has an EKG machine, paddles for coding, IV bag and tubing, and an X-ray machine, plus some other little stuff. The price wasn't outrageous either. I think I found it at J.C. Penny online during Christmas.

I secretly want one for myself!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment