Choosing Pediatricians

Having difficulty in choosing a pediatrician? Please read on for advice.

It’s no surprise that most every family wants to have a pediatrician who is dependable, caring, and competent. In addition to these qualities we want to have someone that is also easy to talk to. Therefore, it is advisable to take as much time needed to visit several doctors. Don’t hesitate to seek recommendations and ask a lot of questions. This is an important decision that you are making in your family’s life, especially for your child.

You will be involved with your pediatrician for a very long time so it is important that you adhere to the advice of doing thorough enough research on choosing a doctor for your child. Your best bet is to interview pediatricians that are referred by your friends, relatives, your obstetrician, or even your insurance company.

As you are visiting and interviewing each pediatrician, take a look directly at the office and the internal setting. Is there a clean environment for the children? Do they offer play toys and books for the kids to feel comfortable? Would your baby be able to crawl on the floor or is it too dirty? Does the office appropriately separate the newborns from the other children? The sick from the healthy? Is the staff and receptionist pleasant to you?

All of these questions should be carefully asked to yourself and then taken note of. If we are making the research sound tedious, well then it should. This relationship will last with the pediatrician and your baby for years to come. When you talk with the doctor and are asking questions, be sure to see how he or she responds. Is she answering you in terms that you can understand? Does she listen to your input or point of view? How does she relate to the children? How are you relating to her?

Below are several questions that you may want to ask at the next interview. Remember that you can always add more questions later:

1. Where and when will the pediatrician be examining your newborn baby?
2. What are her opinions on breast feeding vs. bottle feeding? And regardless of her opinion, how does she react to your chosen method? Does she accept it?
3. Is the doctor open to discussing subjects that may not be directly related to the medical subject? For example, does she discuss sleeping habits, baby nutrition, pacifier use, etc.?
4. Does she have certain hours in which you can call and ask questions over the phone?
5. And if you are able to call and ask questions, is there a fee for doing so?