There are a range of factors to consider when choosing your child's pediatrician. Consider what is important and that will lead you to a suitable practitioner.
Choosing your baby's pediatrician can feel like the most daunting task you undertake after your have a baby. Not all doctors are created equally and choosing the one who is best for you may take some time and patience.
Ideally you will pursue this adventure before the birth of your baby. Once you have delivered your baby, this is not a task you want to undertake. The baby will need to have a newborn exam within 24 hours of birth, so the decision needs to be settled or you will be given the on-call physician at your hospital.
Several months before your due date, start looking through the phone book to see what physicians are available. Pediatricians are physicians who specialize in the care of infants and children and usually the first place to start looking. However, family practitioners also can care for your baby along with the rest of your family.
Make a list of the pediatricians available to you for a reference point. If you live in a large metropolitan area or very rural location, looking for ones close to you will be the first consideration.
Next, ask friends, family and neighbors who their children have seen and what their experiences have been. Often, word of mouth is the best way to find the doctor you are looking for and who you feel is competent.
Once you have narrowed down your search, or least know where you will start first, make calls to those offices to find out what their policy is regarding initial consultations.
When you first meet the doctor, consider your first impression and how you feel about her or him. Does he seem to take an immediate interest in your children or seem too busy to take the time?
Once you are introduced to the doctor, find out how much experience she or he has as a physician and what kind of specialty, if any, has been her or his focus. Watch for attention to detail and thorough answers. A physician who doesn't want to take the time to take your concerns seriously is not one who will take you seriously when your child is ill.
You will also need to know how readily available the physician is for visits with a sick child and who is the backup doctor when your doctor is unavailable. Also, knowing which hospitals, if there is an option, your chosen physician has privileges at.
If you feel it is important to find a doctor who values breastfeeding and shares parenting values with you, add those to the list of questions to ask. It can be a critical issue with your physician but it can also become less important if the doctor has the skills to give accurate diagnosis with your children. Consider what is important to you and proceed from there.
