There’s a Sick Room and a Well Room when you’re waiting at the pediatrician’s office.

But what happens when you have one sick and one well child? You sweat.

That was me this morning when I took my 3 year-old son to the doctor and had to subject my 7 month-old daughter to a waiting room full of coughing, runny-nosed kids. My son was up all night in what turned out to be his first ear infection. He was so miserable he curled up in a waiting room chair and seemed to be sleeping. And my daughter was in her car seat at my feet — a sitting duck.

Kids love babies. And some tried so hard to get to her. I pulled the cover down. I rocked her. I didn’t want to be rude but I didn’t want sick kids in her face. The moms around me were being vigilant. They were. They kept reminding their children not to touch the baby, to let the baby sleep. But I kept imagining the germs swirling around her anyway.

I glanced over at the Well Room and so wanted to bolt for it. Instead, I miserably stayed put. When my daughter began crying, a nurse asked which of my kids was sick. I told her my son was. She shook her head. She was thinking the same thing as me: I hope that baby doesn’t get sick around all these germs.

So what is the answer? As I sat there, I found myself wishing the pediatrician’s office had pagers for parents, like the ones used in restaurants that light up and vibrate when your table is ready. I’ve taken one of those suckers shopping into a nearby store before. Why couldn’t I take one to my car and wait for the doc? I could put the air on, listen to music. But most important, I could shield my kids from more germs.

Do you think this idea might catch on? If my daughter does indeed get sick I may push for it.