This is a common question during pregnancy. Here in Wichita there aren’t many pediatricians and well-known ones are booked, so if you’d rather take your child to a pediatrician than a family doctor, it’s best to find, interview, and choose the one you want ahead of time. process. Also, it will ideally allow you to bring your pediatrician to the hospital to do the initial tests of your baby after birth.
Everyone is different and thankfully there are different personalities and practice styles when it comes to pediatricians, so just like OB-GYNs, midwives, and doulas, there is something perfect for everyone!
First, think about what qualities would make your child’s pediatrician ideal.
Do you prefer to see a male or female doctor? Since your child will ideally see the same doctor throughout their childhood, some parents believe that their child will be comfortable with a physician of the same gender when they are in their tween/teen years.
Is the physician a good listener? Although they are certainly knowledgeable and educated in their field of pediatric medicine, the parent is the one who lives with the child every day and their instincts can tell them when something is “off” even the child looks fine. The physician must trust a parent’s instincts and be willing to work together for the child’s good.
Next, some people only want medical advice on their child’s doctor visits, and no parenting advice. Some are the opposite. What do you want?
If there are any special circumstances in your family, such as genetic disorders and special needs, or you are a home birth family, or your child has suffered trauma, find out how experienced and comfortable the doctor is with these this situation and if they are happy to support your family as part of a collaborative team with you.
Does the pediatrician know their limitations if necessary?
There are several different areas where parents expect their pediatrician to call the shots or have all the answers. After all, that’s why they chose a specialist! However, a pediatrician specializes in childhood development and the identification and treatment of disease. Many non-medical or medically related subjects are not taught to pediatricians in school and they do not specialize in them (unless out of personal interest they seek their own continuing education). They are okay with referring someone who is an expert elsewhere rather than potentially giving incorrect or outdated advice, or using their own personal experience rather than current best practices. Here are some of those places:
Logistics of pediatrician visits
When considering a pediatrician, you might ask how long they spend on visits. If you have questions about a routine well test, you don’t want to rush it. You can ask what to expect if your child is sick or has an emergency as well.
Ask about the doctor’s appointment policies – can you make an appointment the same day if your child is sick? Is there a nurse hotline? What if your child is sick in the middle of the night?
Are there separate waiting rooms for sick and well children?
Does the practice cover your insurance?
Are there other pediatricians in practice? If so, can you identify them? How likely is it that you won’t see your pediatrician of choice at scheduled appointments?
When deciding between different pediatricians, it’s a good idea to go with one that is located between their daycare and home. As a parent you will receive calls from the daycare to pick up your sick child. You can take your child to the doctor and then go home. Based on where you live, will it be easy and safe to get to the pediatrician’s location if it’s dark, raining/flooding, or snowing/icing?
In the end, it all comes down to finding the right person who you can trust with your child and feel completely comfortable asking all your questions! I want to know, who is the pediatrician you take your child to that you really love? Comment below!
