'Real' nurse's kit for toddler play?

Nurses General Nursing

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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.

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

I was going to reply to this thread and recommend something similar to that. I had that set, too, when I was a child. I loved it.

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Specializes in post-op.

Isn't it funny how little kids love to play nurse/doctor, but then when you need to take them there they hate it :) My 4 year old neice came to my house once and I let her play with a cheapy stethoscope I have and some other stuff that I had from nursing school, like specimen cups, gloves, and an irrigation set. I didnt let her put the earpieces in though, we just pretended by putting it around her neck. SHe screamed her head off when they had to leave becuase she was having so much fun. The one thing I did notice about how dangerous playing with that steth was that she was swinging it around and if you get hit with that thing, ouch!!! I am thinking for Christmas or birthday I will get her a play set. She had a blast playing.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
Isn't it funny how little kids love to play nurse/doctor, but then when you need to take them there they hate it :) My 4 year old neice came to my house once and I let her play with a cheapy stethoscope I have and some other stuff that I had from nursing school, like specimen cups, gloves, and an irrigation set. I didnt let her put the earpieces in though, we just pretended by putting it around her neck. SHe screamed her head off when they had to leave becuase she was having so much fun. The one thing I did notice about how dangerous playing with that steth was that she was swinging it around and if you get hit with that thing, ouch!!! I am thinking for Christmas or birthday I will get her a play set. She had a blast playing.

My oldest daughter has always been fascinated by medical things. Our pediatrician would get so flustered trying to examine her because she would ask a million questions. He finally struck a deal with her: If she sat still for her exam, he would allow her to use the same equipment to examine him when he was done. It worked like a charm. Both my girls have had "real" medical bags since they were little: inexpensive stethoscopes, penlights, reflex hammers, ace bandages, notebooks for charting, even lab coats. They also have the crash cart, and use it to treat their dolls and each other. My oldest is 11, and I'm certain she will pursue some kind of healthcare profession. My little one just likes the drama of it all!

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

Yep that was it lol

Kinda wondered why the box was that weird peach color though.

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Specializes in PICU, Nurse Educator, Clinical Research.

when we were on vacation in japan last year, my husband bought me a hello kitty nurse's kit at denny's, of all places- but this is japan, where they have hello kitty stuff everywhere! (I collect hello kitty crap, so it was heaven for me...)

I can't find it online, but it has a thermometer, stethoscope, BP cuff, fake box of pills, patient chart, fake bandaids...all in a little pink and white plastic doctor-bag kind of carrying case. Probably too many small parts for a 2 year old, but a slightly older kid would love it.

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those are so cute...my daughter has the Medical Center Playset ...i tried to find it, but its sold out everywhere.

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I had a play medical kit when I was little as well. It had the standard equipment in it plus an eye chart. That eye chart was actually a blessing in disguise. It was how my parents figured out that I had absolutely horrible eyesight. When I was 3 and they were trying to teach me my letters, I couldn't even see the chart itself....

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Something else that could go along with a play nurse kit is childs scrubs. I bought my nephew a set that says future nurse on the back that he wears for pjs. They are so cute even though mom would have prefered future doctor-lol.

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Specializes in Level III cardiac/telemetry.

Hmmmm...I remember playing "doctor" when I was little with my best friend. The bad part? He was a boy! We always got in trouble for going into the bathroom when each other was using it and when we played "doctor" we always thought he had to stick his hand with the stethoscope up my shirt like my dr always did! :nono: eeks, I'd forgotten about that! :lol2: My older sisters used to think it was so much fun because they knew we'd get in trouble when my mom caught us! So much for FisherPrice having nice wholesome toys! I do want that set on eBay though!

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Specializes in NICU.
Hmmmm...I remember playing "doctor" when I was little with my best friend. The bad part? He was a boy! We always got in trouble for going into the bathroom when each other was using it and when we played "doctor" we always thought he had to stick his hand with the stethoscope up my shirt like my dr always did! :nono: eeks, I'd forgotten about that! :lol2: My older sisters used to think it was so much fun because they knew we'd get in trouble when my mom caught us! So much for FisherPrice having nice wholesome toys! I do want that set on eBay though!

I played doctor with the little boy across the street growing up! We never did anything naughty though like get naked and examine each other.

He turned out to be gay, maybe that's why? :)

And he's STILL my best friend after all these years...

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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=

Interesting that the descrption that is linked with the nurse's kit says it includes a doctor's badge. I have a nephew who I would get this for but he hasn't expressed any interest and has plenty of toys right now. I can just see his father freaking out if I gave him a nurse's kit instead of a doctor's kit but that is a whole other thread. Also I just noticed the site lists their kit as for kids 3-6 years old but I have found you have to sometimes decide whether a toy is appropriate for the child based on the individual child.

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