poll: Pediatrican v. Family Dr?

smiles4ya

Which do you go to and why?

 

 

Andrewsgal

We go to a Ped, I am a firm believer that the training that Dr.s recieve to specialize in certian areas is very important. I want a Dr. who is used to seeing and trained in picking up on various illnesses that effect kids.

Jaylea

Pedi.

I just prefer specialty areas when possible. Sure, the family medicine doc might be fine too, but the pedis see kids all day, every day, and have spent time learning how to care for them specifically.

brightning

We go to a pediatrician because I figure they're used to dealing with kids, so they're hopefully more "up" on current issues, whatever, dealing with kids. I thought the staff would also be more kid-friendly and they'd have better after-hours care. Our pedi is really adamant about calling his office in an after-hours emergency rather than going to ER, because not all places are equipped to handle kids.

When DD is older (like 10) I'll probably switch to family practice just so she doesn't feel like she's going to see a baby doctor.

Aqua409

I started out with my family dr and couldn't handle the waitroom.  Switched to a ped and very happy that we did.

DandR

I'm a mixed bag.  My girls go to a family doctor.  They LOVE her and I've had great experiences when it comes to them seeing her.  My girls have very easy/nothing too medically wrong with them besides the occasional cold and what not.

Mitch on the other hand, had a lot of breathing issues his first year, and when the family doctor couldn't figure it out, we went to a pedi who immediately identified the problem and fixed it within a week.  Amazing.

I probably **should** switch the girls, but like I said, I haven't had a problem with them seeing the family doc.  Plus....long term...family doc is female, the pedi Mitch sees is Male...and at some point in the next 16 years, they will probably need pap smears or whatever and I don't want to have to switch them..then switch them back.  So, for now, the girls stay with family doc, and if they have anything at all more than a cold, i will take them to a specialist immediately.

LittleMamaB

Pedi. He was who Miles seen in the hospital and we just absolutely love him. He is the best pedi ever.

Angela814

Pedi.  We don't have a family doctor here, so it was just as easy to search for a pediatrician.  I just felt more comfortable having a specialist for DD.

Maybride2

Pedi, for the same reasons stated as Andrewsgal and Jaylea. 

My DH even asked our family doc (who he loves) about this before DS was born........our family doc highly suggested that we find a pedi for DS rather than bring him there, because of the specialization.

Expecting0207

Pediatrician

My DH is in the medical field and we firmly believe in taking DD to someone who had specialized and completed residency in pediatrics.