Took my 4-month-old in for a checkup and the waiting room was a petri dish of germs. There was literally a kid coughing directly at us. I was standing there trying to shield my son with my body like an absolute lunatic. The appointment itself was 10 minutes, the waiting was 45. Why do they overbook like this? Is everyone using telehealth instead now?
the human shield stance is real lol. I did the same thing at 4 months and felt like an idiot but also like a professional wrestler. RSV szn is no joke - did they at least space people out or was it just chaos?
RSV season pediatrician visits are legitimately stressful with that age. Honestly? Ask the office next time if they have early morning appointments - way less crowded. And yeah, the parent-shield thing is real, felt that in my soul.
The coughing directly at you would have sent me to a different waiting area or honestly just out to the car. You don't have to just sit there getting exposed. Next time speak up - ask to wait in a quieter spot or at least move away from the obviously sick kid.
This hits different when it's your first kid, especially at 4 months. By kid 2 or 3 you're way more chill about germs. But your caution isn't wrong - tiny babies are legitimately vulnerable. Just remember that most exposure is fine, it's the overwhelming load that's dangerous.
This is why we started doing telehealth checkups when possible. For actual in-person stuff with a 4mo I started asking if they had separate sick waiting rooms. Most places have them but don't advertise it.
wait you got all the way through a ped appointment without your kid screaming? Consider that a win regardless of germ exposure lmao
Dude that coughing kid's parents... I get being sick but come on. Hope your son stays healthy. The anxiety after something like that is almost worse than any actual illness tbh
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4 months is peak anxiety territory. It gets easier once their immune system actually develops. For now if you're that worried about germs, telehealth visits for non-urgent stuff might be your friend.