ER

Do this. Do that. Don’t do this. Don’t do that. Babies come with lots of instructions. And whether you cherish the expert advice or snobbishly rebel against it {like me}, the rules will at best merely delay the inevitable first emergency room visit.

Admit it, there isn’t a single fever your child gets or reckless playground stunt she performs that doesn’t get you seriously thinking about what the dreaded, unplanned visit will really be like. What unexpected turn of events will finally get you there? And how well will you handle the nerve-racking situation?

I recently joined the seasoned many who know the foreboding ER visit from a brave parents’ perspective. And as an initiate, I can assure you, with a new notch on my high-waisted belt, that keeping a few things in mind can ease the experience. Here’s what I learned:

1. Do the research now…

Know the location of the ER nearest your home, or places your child frequently visits, and know how to get there.

Know if the hospital/clinic takes your medical insurance.

It’s helpful but not necessary to know if the hospital/clinic has a pediatric emergency center that treats children separately from adults.

…Then decide in the moment where to go and how to get there, with the understanding that the nearest ER and the best ER may be different places.

I opted for the ER with a pediatric emergency center that treats children separately from adults even though it was not the ER nearest me. Due to the nature of the visit, it was more important to me that Hayes was treated and released quickly. In general, a pediatric emergency center will see your child quicker than an ER that treats people of all ages in the order they arrive. And this is NYC, so the ER with the pediatric center will probably win every time.

2. You don’t have to remember everything…

It’s quite enough to call your ride, notify loved ones, grab a sweater, a snack and a beverage for your hurting child, and just as important, for yourself. Then, of course, there are the diapers and wipes. So you can take some relief in knowing that as long as your child is underage and can still be claimed as your dependent, you can conveniently leave his social security number in your other phone {just like I did} and it won’t hinder the process at all.

…But don’t forget the medical card because they like to make a copy of the actual thing.

3. Don’t make any rookie mistakes {like I did}…

Don’t bring a magazine to read or expect to talk on your cell phone. There’s way too much going on in the ER, and with your kid, to concentrate on the written word. And cell phone reception is often poor in hospitals anyway.

Hayes had been totally lethargic for over 12 hours…TWELVE! So, like someone without a child, I mistakenly thought I’d just get a little reading and conversation in while he lay languidly in my arms. But as soon as we entered the ER, Hayes was suddenly alert in his misery and I was on duty and working overtime, just like a mom.

There. Three more rules. Love ‘em. Leave ‘em. {Hope you love 'em}!