- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Babies: 0 - 3 Months
Curious about other people's pediatricians
Do they ask you how you're putting the baby to bed and evaluate it, or do they just give you advice if you bring up that you're having troubles?
At beginning of each appt, the nurse asks how often he's eating, and about how long he's sleeping at night (along with a bunch of other questions). The doc comes in, does a quick exam, looks at the nurse's notes, and asks if I have any concerns.
The only conversation we've ever had about his sleep was me telling her at his 6 month appointment that he suddenly seemed to need to get upset and scream bloody murder (while being held, snuggled, whatever) before he'd go to sleep for the night. She just chuckled and said some babies his age would refuse to sleep and fight it so hard they'd just be go-go-going and then fall asleep wherever they happened to fall.
I really like our pediatrician, and I think she's pretty hands off - as long as he's growing and meeting milestones, and I'm not worried or looking completely a wreck (she's seen me that way, too, though), she doesn't offer advice.
Are people that are getting lots of scheduling and sleep advice asking, or is the pediatrician saying "this is what should be happening regarding sleep at this stage?"
Oh - we do get a handout at every appointment, and all it said about sleep at six months (this is the first time it's said anything about sleep at all) was that babies around this age start to fight it.
Just curious, because I've never had the experience of our pediatrician telling me what she thinks I should do about a sleep or feeding schedule or, really, anything but vaccines!
At beginning of each appt, the nurse asks how often he's eating, and about how long he's sleeping at night (along with a bunch of other questions). The doc comes in, does a quick exam, looks at the nurse's notes, and asks if I have any concerns.
The only conversation we've ever had about his sleep was me telling her at his 6 month appointment that he suddenly seemed to need to get upset and scream bloody murder (while being held, snuggled, whatever) before he'd go to sleep for the night. She just chuckled and said some babies his age would refuse to sleep and fight it so hard they'd just be go-go-going and then fall asleep wherever they happened to fall.
I really like our pediatrician, and I think she's pretty hands off - as long as he's growing and meeting milestones, and I'm not worried or looking completely a wreck (she's seen me that way, too, though), she doesn't offer advice.
Are people that are getting lots of scheduling and sleep advice asking, or is the pediatrician saying "this is what should be happening regarding sleep at this stage?"
Oh - we do get a handout at every appointment, and all it said about sleep at six months (this is the first time it's said anything about sleep at all) was that babies around this age start to fight it.
Just curious, because I've never had the experience of our pediatrician telling me what she thinks I should do about a sleep or feeding schedule or, really, anything but vaccines!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Curious about other people's pediatricians
My pedi asks me if I have concerns but doesn't talk about sleeping, napping, or food unless I ask. The nurse always asks what we feed him. When he was younger they used to ask how often he ate.
Join our wiki and tell us what your baby eats for finger foods.
We live in Vermont and go to a VERY small practice. There are two drs. That is it. No secretary, no nurse, no one else. They answer their own phone, are always on call, and are amazing. We love them!
After hearing that Henry was up every 1-2 hours and that I had mastitis (from being over tired, per my dr) our pedi made it clear that Henry should be able to sleep for longer stretches. I agree! I know that he can. He goes 4 hours during the day between feedings.
He laid out the plan that I wrote below as a suggestion. Dh and I took it (because we feel like we have tried everything else) and modified it to a plan that we felt comfortable with.
Our pedis both have 3+ kids and are very down to earth. This week pedi told us about what he went through trying to get his kids to sleep.
So I think that I am in a unique boat with unique doctors. I feel very lucky to see them and I felt as though it wouldnt hurt to try pedi's suggestions. It's all for the good of Henry.
www.facebook.com/TryVermontFirst
I love these two beautiful children!
ours asks how often she's eating and if she's still sleeping good at night. we donb't really have any problems so I don't know how she would respond if I said we were having problems, but she's pretty hands off as well. and I agree with donkey, i think it's better that way.
the only thing she really does mention about sleep is "put her on her back, etc" but I think that was really only at the 2 week appt.
was ben fighting his sleep when you texted me?
We get packets of info pertinent to DS's age at every appointment.
But, I mean, I consider DS to be a pretty easygoing baby, so I've never been desperately seeking help getting sleep for any of us. I definitely didn't write this post judging in any way - I mean "curious" just like the title says :-)
When I've had a concern about his sleep or something - like during the disruptions we've had - I've asked other parents. When he was pooping like crazy, I called the pedi's office!
mine sounds like yours. she asked all the developmental questions and eating and stuff, but never brought up how we put her to sleep, etc. i did ask her about the swaddling though, and when we thought dd was colicky.
and i've known her forever; she was my pedi from when i was like 8. so i trust her judgment. but that doesn't mean if she told me some crazy shit i would do it.
I did ask once about DD fighting us when she was going to sleep, and he just said it was probably a phase, and maybe she just had a little bit of separation anxiety. He doesn't offer unsolicited advice, and he's also understanding of our desire for an alternative vaccine schedule.
My beloved pedi asks me if I have any concerns at the end of every apt.
She has never asked about sleep. She says "How you doing, mom?" and "It's tough, isn't it?" but she's never told me when/how DS should sleep.
She knows we are a co-sleeping family and doesn't care. She didn't say anything about solid foods at our last apointment other than, so still just breastmilk, right?
I love her. She's an AP dream
I don't think my pedi would care, but she's never asked and I don't know if I'd tell her just because of that stupid manual!
I know I am totally spoiled. But I also drive over 45 minutes to the beach to see her.
Massahcusetts does have one of the highest percentages of doctors in the country though, so I can pretty much find whatever kind of doc I want. And I'm very specific
I wanted:
a female, educated at a top school, has own child/children, AP ok, affliated w/ a med school and large teaching hospital, and a sick/well waiting room, willing to maneuver vaccine schedule (we are accelerated on vaccs due to India visits)
And I was able to interveiw 4 that met all those critera. We are lucky to live where we do!
My pedi is VERY much like me. very laid back, offers some suggestions if i ask for them- but other than that just checks to see she is meeting her goals- and such. i am not one to worry at all about 99% of things and i am a pretty confident parent- i have been around a lot of kids.
At her first appt. with him, on his new patient list is "crib safety" and he came out and said that he was supportive of co-sleeping if that was something we were interested in. When we told him we already were, he gave me co-sleeping safety tips instead, but that was it.
The only other unsolicited advice she gave us was about getting DD to take a bottle. DD just flat out won't take one. The pedi told me to let her skip a feeding to make her take one because "she won't skip two." I was unwilling to endure the screaming and subsequent misery that would involve for both of us unless it was absolutely necessary (it's not, I SAH), so I blew that advice off. Other than that, I agree completely with her philosophy on babies and love the advice she's given me. For example, I asked about napping (something else DD doesn't always do) because I felt like, from readong posts here, DD couldn't possibly be healthy and happy not taking good, long naps. She told me most babies she sees catnap until about 6 months, and that's fine, not to worry about it. Overall she really eases my concerns about just about everything and tells me what a good job I'm doing, which is nice to hear.