Giving kids a real stethoscope of their own

Have any of us given a real working stethoscope to our children/grandchildren/nieces/nephews and taught them how to use it? Wal-mart stores in the US sell a good basic stethoscope for about $10. That's cheap enough to give an 8 year old to learn about her heart and breathing and listen to family members and friends. Some of us were fortunate enough to have access to a real steth when we were kids.

I have a cousin I gave one to. She said her best friend is a cardiophile just like me, and every time they're together, there's always at least one moment where her friend hugs her and rests her ear on her chest. During a Christmas get together last year, I brought my stethoscope with me, but I didn't know if I'd have any opportunity to use it. However, at one point of the night her friend called her and I brought up heartbeats over the phone. It was kinda cute how shy she sounded talking about it. But I said: "Have you ever used a stethoscope before?" And the answer was no. I immediately followed that up with: "Would you like to?"

I ended up giving my cousin that stethoscope, but thankfully it wasn't long before I could go to my college bookstore and replace it. They haven't been able to do it a lot lately due to the quarantine, but at least they're happy to have it. 😃

I am very much in favor of anyone doing that.I have done it twice in my life.One person began a fetish when he got order. One out grew it. Much to my sadness.Stethoscopes are a great learning tool.Help children to better understand they heart's and bodies.

Our 9yo daughter has got her very own Rappaport Sprague stethoscope indeed

Once again, story time from my childhood. My pediatrician gave me an old one he had in his office…loved listening to the “tump tump” of my own heart as well as other willing participants….to answer the question. I surely would get a stethoscope for my kiddos, thats if I ever have kids in the near future.

We had a whole box of doctor tools when I was growing up including 2 or 3 real stethoscopes, a BP set, otoscope and other tools. Plus, we had an old-fashioned bell-type stethoscope.

A local museum had a bunch in a room of cool stuff kids could touch. My mother knew it wasn’t a good idea to share ear pieces with strangers, and for that I was grateful. Just seeing them made my privates throb with shame. I wanted to try one so badly, but I knew what I felt was wrong.