Do You Really Have to Wait 9 Hours?

Your child is burning up. You’ve given them medicine twice. They’re miserable, crying, and you’re Googling “when to take a kid with 104 fever to ER” for the third time tonight.

Your options seem to be:

• Spend 4+ hours in the ER
• White-knuckle it until your pediatrician opens at 8 AM
• Keep refreshing Google and spiraling

What if we told you there’s a third option?

🚨 Symptoms That Can’t Wait for Morning

Some things genuinely can wait. A low-grade fever with a runny nose? Probably fine until tomorrow. But these? These need attention tonight:

Come In Now If Your Child Has:

• 🌡️ Fever 104°F or higher that won’t come down
• 🔥 Any fever in a baby under 3 months (this is always urgent)
• 😤 Struggling to breathe – fast breathing, chest pulling in, wheezing
• 💧 No wet diapers/pee for 6+ hours or signs of dehydration
• 🤢 Can’t keep fluids down and getting worse
• 😖 Severe pain – ear, stomach, head, anywhere
• 🔴 Rash with fever that’s spreading or doesn’t blanch when pressed
• 😶 Acting very lethargic or “not themselves”

⏰ Why “Waiting It Out” Is Risky

Kids aren’t just small adults. Their bodies respond to illness differently—and things can escalate fast.

What can happen overnight:

• Dehydration worsens → Mild becomes moderate becomes dangerous
• Infections spread → Ear infection → ruptured eardrum. Strep → complications.
• Fevers spike higher → What was 102° at bedtime becomes 105° at 3 AM
• Breathing worsens → Croup and respiratory issues often get worse at night
• You lose the treatment window → Cuts heal better with early stitches, antibiotics work best early

Bottom line: The thing that seems “manageable” at 10 PM might not be manageable at 3 AM.

💡 “What If It’s Nothing?”

We get asked this constantly. Parents worry they’ll come in and we’ll say “it’s just a virus, go home.”

And you know what? Sometimes that’s exactly what we say.

But here’s what else we say: “You did the right thing by bringing them in.”

Because ruling out the scary stuff is valuable. Knowing you don’t need antibiotics is valuable. Going home with a plan and peace of mind? That’s valuable.

You’re not bothering us. This is literally what we’re here for.

🏥 Why Night Watch > ER (for Most Things)

Unless your child needs emergency life-saving care, coming to Night Watch gets you:

• ⏱️ Shorter wait times – We’re urgent care, not a crowded ER
• 👶 Kid-focused care – We specialize in pediatrics
• 🩺 Full diagnostic tools – Rapid strep, flu tests, X-rays, labs
• 💊 Immediate treatment – Prescriptions sent to your pharmacy tonight
• 💰 Lower cost – Urgent care copay vs. ER bill

We’re Open When Panic Hits

Sick kids don’t wait for business hours. Neither do we.

Extended evening & weekend hours means:

• No waiting until Monday
• No tossing and turning all night wondering if they’re okay
• No choosing between “overreacting” and “waiting too long”
• Just walk in and get help

🌡️ When their fever spikes at 10 PM, you don’t have to wait until 9 AM.

Walk into Night Watch Pediatric Urgent Care – Manassas. We’re here now.