Is there anything more anxiety-inducing than a pediatrician's waiting room when you and your kiddo are only there for a "well" visit? Every time I take one of my children to their regularly scheduled checkup, I can't help but feel squirmy. Although our doctor's office has a section of the waiting room reserved for sick kiddos and another area for otherwise healthy patients, we all know how easy it is for toddlers to pass on their germs.
Plus, studies have shown that when "well" children visit the doctor for a routine exam or vaccination, they have a higher risk of developing flu-like symptoms within the next two weeks [1]. Eeek!
Thankfully, the American Academy of Pediatrics got the memo and finally updated its guidelines [2] for doctors' offices. This "rule book," which hasn't been updated since 2007, recommends that even private practices should have the same standard of hygiene and infection control as hospitals.
In addition to recommending that all healthcare personnel — including receptionists — should receive the flu vaccine, they made one key advisement that will either have parents relieved or slightly annoyed:
Cross contamination could occur from toys, books, and computers, among other fomites in the waiting room or in the clinic examination rooms. It is therefore recommended that practices have policies in place addressing the method and frequency of cleaning toys. Furry and plush toys such as stuffed animals are difficult to clean and can harbor germs and should generally be avoided in clinic waiting areas and game rooms. Parents can also be encouraged to bring their child's own toy for the office visit.
So while it might be nice to know your kids could occupy themselves in a boring waiting room with a chest full of board books and wooden toys, everyone might be better off if parents just brought their own playthings from home.
The AAP merely gives recommendations and doesn't police pediatricians, so it's worth asking your kids' doctor if they plan to remove such toys and, if not, how often they sanitize them.
Because the last thing we need is our kids getting sick because they went to the doctor.