newborn dr office visits-waiting room?

When we chose our pediatrician we were told newborns were sent directly to the back to a room to wait in away from older kids in the office for well/sick appointnents

Our first 2 appointments were as such, we were given a room to wait in. The last 2 times we were told there were no rooms available so we could either wait in the waiting room, or wait in th car and they'll call us when a room is available.

I chose to wait in the car. Am i being paranoid about being in the waiting room? I also feel a little annoyed that they didn't mention sending us to the car when they didn't have a room. I know we cam always switch doctors. Is this something you would switch over? Do you wait in the waiting room with your infants? LO is 5 weeks.

Re: newborn dr office visits-waiting room?

Our peds office has a well area and a sick area.

We always waited in the well area even with our preemies who were born 8 weeks early.

I don't think we have never really waited more than 5-10 minutes regardless of well visit or sick visit.

Re: newborn dr office visits-waiting room?

Wait in the car!
Our ped office is good about either having a room, or having us wait in the car.
Choosing a pediatrician is about more than that.

newborn dr office visits-waiting room?

When DS 1 was young, we always went right back to the exam room during well visits. Now with DS 2 - I find we have to wait and there are older kids present at the time (ones who obviously aren't there for well visits) and it bothers me to no end.

I don't think you overreacted, especially since it's flu season and your DC is so young.

Re: newborn dr office visits-waiting room?

If u really like the Dr, it wouldn't be a make it/break it point with me. I prob would have sat in the car too - but that wouldn't bother me. If you dont particularly care for the dr in other respects, then I'd prob look for a new one. But finding a dr you love isnt always easy, so i wouldnt leave one based on the waiting room. Soon LO will be in the waiting room regardless and the Dr is someone who will be taking care of LO past this young age, kwim?
i chose a dr where there are separate areas in the waiting room - sick & well. Newborns wait in the well area... though we have to walk through the sick to get to the well but i also chose the dr i liked best overall (we met with 4). One had ideal waiting rooms but had other things i didnt like. There will always be something not ideal imo

newborn dr office visits-waiting room?

Ok i didn't know if being told to wait in the car was crazy. I'm a super paranoid first time mom lol!

We only has to wait in the car about 15-20 minutes just now.

Eta: there are seperate well/sick areaa. But not rooms. Its one big wairing room where one side is sick and the other is well.

Message edited 1/28/2013 4:39:21 PM.

newborn dr office visits-waiting room?

My pediatrician took us into the room early for our first few appointments, then after a few appointments I started to make the appointments super early, I would be there at like 8:30am sometimes so that ds did not have to be around any of the other kids. Now that I have gone back to work, I make the appointments super late, I am usually the last one there, so i avoid having ds around anyone who maybe sick. I keep the blanket over his carseat the entire time I am there, or any other time I am out with him (I too am a super paranoid first time mom. lol)

newborn dr office visits-waiting room?

Our ped doesn't have a separate waiting area at all. We also brought both our boys in the infant seat for months in the beginning anyway, and I would keep the seat tucked between my legs, away from other people. Never had an issue. I am very lax about stuff like that though, I think I am in the minority.

Re: newborn dr office visits-waiting room?

I'd wait in the car. Our ped office has a well room, and one day we arrived just after lunch and the office was completely empty, and the receptionist still told us to go to the well waiting area for fear of lingering germs and our 1 month old! I wouldn't risk the waiting room. I also wouldn't change pedis if you love the one you have.

Re: newborn dr office visits-waiting room?

The waiting room didn't bother me when my DD was a NB/infant. She was in the carrier anyway and clicked into her stroller. I would keep the canopy up and throw a receiving blanket over it. She was shielded from everything.

I would totally NOT switch peds because of where they had me wait. I don't care where I wait, I care about the quality of the ped. LOVE my ped, it would take a lot more than having to sit in the waiting room with my NB for me to switch.

Re: newborn dr office visits-waiting room?

We have well and sick waiting rooms. The first visit we were supposed to be the first ones in and they took someone else first . (another newborn). The next time the parking lot was packed so we knew there would be kids there so we waited in the car. The receptionist said something like "oh you dont want them waiting with the other kids". Um no! They are 6 weeks old and even well kids can be sick. Kids are germy. Since the flu outbreak we have only been there once and didnt wait long and were the only ones in there. I think its ok to be paranoid with small infants. I don't care. Call me a germaphobe for not wanting my babies sick and possibly hospitalized for the flu and/or me getting sick and having to take off work, etc.

Re: newborn dr office visits-waiting room?

My ped has two seperate entrances and reception desks for sick and well patients as well as play areas for sick and well patients.

As an infant i always brought my kids in the infant seat so i would just throw a blanket over it anyways to keep germs away. i don't really see the big deal about waiting in the waiting room with well patients or being given the option to wait in the car.

Even as a newborn, when my baby was sick i would go in the well entrance and keep my child covered in the infant seat not to expose my child and the other kids and parents.

Re: newborn dr office visits-waiting room?

Posted by Hofstra26

The waiting room didn't bother me when my DD was a NB/infant. She was in the carrier anyway and clicked into her stroller. I would keep the canopy up and throw a receiving blanket over it. She was shielded from everything.

I would totally NOT switch peds because of where they had me wait. I don't care where I wait, I care about the quality of the ped. LOVE my ped, it would take a lot more than having to sit in the waiting room with my NB for me to switch.

Re: newborn dr office visits-waiting room?

My ped had us call when we left the house so they could have a room ready. Until 6 months we never waited in the waiting room - always had a room waiting for us. And since then, I've never waited int he waiting room for more than a few minutes. They do have a sick and well area as well.

Would I switch peds over your scenario? No. Not if I liked the doctor. I know people who waited in their cars until a room was ready. It's not unusual. And it's only for a couple of months. If you're not crazy about the doctor, that's a whole other story.