You should choose your child’s pediatrician with care! Here are some things to look for in a pediatrician and questions to ask when you work on choosing a pediatrician for your child.
Choosing your child’s pediatrician is a big deal! After all, they are the ones who are going to guide you through any health issues, sicknesses, and will be assessing and watching your child as they grow.
There are many different things to look for in a pediatrician. Many parents choose to interview several pediatricians before settling on the one for their family. Each doctor and each practice has different policies and personalities, so it’s important to find one that suits your family’s needs.
Within this post, you’ll find many different questions to ask when interviewing a pediatrician. You’ll also discover things to consider when finding a pediatrician that you may not have thought of!
Where do you find a pediatrician?
Shopping around for pediatricians is very common.
Of course, you could do a quick Google search to find pediatricians in your area. While most Google reviews are trustworthy, it’s also important to remember that oftentimes the people that leave reviews are the disgruntled ones. It may not be a great representation of the practice, especially if there are only 1 or 2 reviews to read.
I recommend asking for advice from friends and family. You can even post in local mom groups to see who others recommend (Facebook is great for this). This is a great way to get an idea for who is the “best of the best” in your area.
When should I find a pediatrician if I’m pregnant?
You can start considering pediatricians at any point of your pregnancy. However, by the time you’re approaching the middle of the third trimester, you should have one selected.
I recommend making it one of the first things you do at the start of your third trimester! That way if baby comes early, you won’t be scrambling to find one. You will need to have a pediatrician before you are discharged from the hospital with your newborn, and if you want to interview several pediatricians then you should start the process early.
Related: What To Feed Your Toddler With A Stomach Ache
Things to consider when choosing your child’s pediatrician
Is the doctor a family physician, or a pediatrician?
There’s nothing wrong with choosing a family physician or a pediatrician, but they are a bit different.
Family medicine doctors see everyone from newborns to the elderly. They are extremely knowledgeable, and they may remain your child’s doctor through adulthood. Choosing a family medicine doctor is very convenient, your whole family can get a checkup at the same time!
Pediatricians only deal with children. Once your child is college-age, they will need to find a new doctor. Pediatricians specialize in only children and child development. They have a level of expertise that family medicine doctors may not.
From my personal experience, I’ve found pediatricians to be a bit gentler with children. All day long they deal only with children, so they have a different way of interacting with kids. My child’s pediatrician has some amazing tricks and tips to get my kids to cooperate throughout the visit that just amaze me!
For more information on the difference between a pediatrician and a family medicine doctor, check out this article.
Do they have weekend hours? Are they open late?
How important is it to you that your pediatrician has weekend office hours?
If your town has a pediatric urgent care, this may be less important to you. But having weekend hours is extremely convenient (especially during cold and flu season!)
There’s nothing worse than realizing it’s a Saturday afternoon and your little one is coming down with something. And without fail, your child will become sick at the most inconvenient times.
Even when you’re prepared with all of the sick-day essentials, you may not want to wait until Monday to be seen and emergency room wait times can be excessive. It’s always a bit painful to go to the emergency room for something that normally only warrants an office visit.
When your pediatrician’s office has after work and weekend hours, you can get them scheduled for sick visits on the fly. I love this about my pediatrician’s office. It’s something you’ll love when you have more than one child, too.
Related: The Best Food For A Sick Toddler & What To Do If They Won’t Eat!
Sick rooms vs. healthy rooms
My pediatrician’s office has a sick waiting room and a healthy waiting room. As a mom to busy toddlers, I appreciate that they do their best to keep germs away from healthy kids.
The office I go to also has separate examination rooms for well visits and children that are ill. The staff try not to cross between the rooms as well so as not to spread the germs between kids.
This is a really nice touch, since the last thing you want to do after a well visit is worry about viruses! It’s especially nice that the doctors for that day only see healthy kids or sick kids, so the germs aren’t spreading between patients.
How often will you see a mid-level provider vs. pediatrician?
When you go for visits, will you see a doctor, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, or just the nurse?
Each provider has a different style and level of expertise, so it’s nice to know who you’re seeing. As long as it’s a provider you trust, it shouldn’t really matter.
Do they come to the hospital where you deliver?
Many pediatricians practice solely out of the office, while some also work within the hospital and can see your newborn after delivery!
If your provider does not come to the hospital for newborn checks, your newborn will be seen by an in-house pediatrician. You will most likely see your personal pediatrician a day or so after discharge.
There are many different screens, tests, and assessments done to newborns in the first 48 hours after birth, so it can be nice to see a familiar face.
Does their parenting style align with yours?
Pediatricians do a lot more than just check your child’s height and weight. They also help you with behavioral and disciplinary issues!
If you have strong views regarding parenting styles and practices, it’s a good idea to make sure your pediatrician is on board, too.
For example, if you’re against time-outs, but your pediatrician insists it’s the only way to discipline, there might be a little tension at your visits. Also, you want to have a strong sounding board to discuss any behavioral or disciplinary concerns. If your pediatrician’s advice is way off from your style of parenting, you’re going to be left feeling more stressed and confused than before.
I hope this post helps you find the perfect doctor for your family. Remember, your child’s physician should work with you as a team, so finding the perfect teammate is important!
Thank you for the advice to start looking for a pediatrician when you are pregnant and in your third trimester. This will save you time if the kid arrives early, as you stated, and you won’t have to scurry to find one. I’ll definitely share this with my sister, who is expecting her first child, so she can keep it in mind. I’ll also look into a pediatrician in the area who can assist her. I appreciate you sharing!