Hello,
First timer here. I love my family practice doctor that my husband and I go to. The location is great too. They take infants/children so Im thinking about using him for our little one on the way.
Do you think it's a bad idea not to use a pediatrician?? I suppose they will be more experienced with abnormal problems that arrise.
Thank you for your advice!
Re: Pediatrician or family practice?
Personally, I love my pediatrician. She is so knowledgeable and comfortable with my son. There have been times where I have taken him to an urgent care on a weekend and she has not been pleased with the medication they gave him. For example, he had an allergic reaction to something once and had hives. They prescribed a certain steroid that the pedi said she'd never give to a child unless it was last resort.
That being said, I don't know your family practice....so it would just be whatever you are comfortable with. I like knowing that his doctor and all of the doctors at his practice went through the extra years of residency to specialize in children.
We started out with a family practitioner and while he was a great doctor it was difficult getting seen when we had an urgent issue. Also, the on-call doctors seemed put on the spot when I would call in the middle of the night when we had a problem. I dont think they were used to getting calls for infants/small children. The office wasnt really child freindly either, unlike a pediatrician's office (in my opinion). We also had to wait longer to get seen too (in the waiting room). I went ahead and switched and do not regret it at all. The offices, medical assistants and doctors are all geared specifically towards children.
You could always try it out and switch anytime. Good luck!