Did you interview your child's pedi?

BostonGayGal · October 2011

A says that is crazy-bump talk. I have no idea how common it really is.

I printed out the list of the 50 docs within 5 miles, then joined a local moms group online and asked for recs. I only got one specific recommendation, of a doctor with a very funny name. It sounds like 'googlieta.' I circled it on the list. My plan is to call 4 or 5 of the practices, ask them about sick hours, call line, lactation consultants and such. Then I was thinking maybe I would visit, walk into the waiting room just to get a feel for the place, but not necessarily ask or schedule to meet the doc. Am I being lazy?

A loves Dr. 'Googlieta' and says our search is done. But then she likes funny names. She called my RE, Dr. Anania, Dr. Narnia. Also in the practice, if you were to ask her, were Dr. Koala and Dr. Cowlick. She is exceedingly mature.

How did you choose your kiddo's pedi?

ohashlet · October 2011

She's my doc, general practice.

kaydee_2008 · October 2011

We never interviewed a pedi, however we are on office 3. I hated the first 2, but the one we have now is great. It took a while to find "our" doctor but once we found her I can tell you I'll follow if she ever leaves the office we have now. It is so worth it IMO to have the doctor that just fits rather then just who ever.

Manalyzer · October 2011

Yes. She had us make an appointment (free) and met with us to go over policies and for us to ask questions. We loved the practice and her, so we didn't interview anyone else.

TheOriginalSP · October 2011

I just went with my OB who was a family practice right away with Em. When she was 4 months old he pissed me the hell off and I did have a meeting with another Pedi to see if I liked her better. Thankfully I loved her right away. I didn't have really a list of questions but just talking to her about about general stuff made me realize that she was on the same page as me.

She's been Em's pedi since and I still adore her. I can't wait to go into Avery's 1 year appointment and let her know that in April she will be getting yet another tiny baby to take care of!

As for just getting a feel for the place, I would get a feel for the doctor too. So many pedis have such different ideas and ways of dealing with stuff. You really want to make sure you are in sync with your kids pedi, especially if anything should ever be wrong.

jenna3016 · October 2011

My OB rec'd her. My OB uses her, and (at the hospital where I delivered E) lots of nurses knew the Pedi's name & liked her.

ETA: Yes, we did interview her.

wils0482 · October 2011

No, we never interviewed anyone. For our first visit, we chose a peds office very close to home, with convenient hours. We were less than impressed with the office/staff/nurses (the doctor was fine), and ended up switching. We chose another large group peds practice nearby. It was WAY nicer inside, (so were the people). He has seen several of the doctors there and we like them all so far.

BostonGayGal · October 2011

Okay, I will call and ask to set something up. Apparently some have new patient parent nights. Thanks for your advice. I appreciate it.

roshybride · October 2011

We didn't, but we moved a lot Matthias' first year and had to find docs who were available. The on-call pedi saw him in the hospital and then we moved (11 days after he was born). I watched the video bios of the pedis in the second group and picked one that was available for his 2 mon. appointment. We moved again when he was 5 months old and asked my cousin who lived in that area for recs. Our current pedi came from a rec from a friend. We loved her and have had her for like three plus years!

ChefSarah22 · October 2011

I got some recommendations from local moms/co-workers and then went to a meet the doc night. I love our doc, but don't really care for the others in her practice.

Discordia1030 · October 2011

We originally picked a pedi down the street based on a friends recommendation. We called after Liam was born and lo and behold, she was out on maternity leave, which we weren't told about when we had talked to the practice the first time. We ended up using a pediatric group that saw him at the hospital, we really liked a doctor there and saw her until she went on maternity leave. (Notice a trend?) We found another that we LOVE within the same group and have been seeing her up until last week. She's on personal leave (not pregnant, for once) but we'll be going back to her once she returns. She'll also be the pedi for Baby #2.

TotallyNot_Isha · October 2011

We had the option to, but we instantly fell in love with the one doing rounds while I was still in the hospital. He is the chief of staff, so it can be tough to get an appt, but we really really like him. And he looks like chevy chase.

sandy02 · October 2011

I narrowed it down by asking for rec's then interviewed about 5.

Birdies08 · October 2011

I thought interviewing was just one more thing I didn't have time for, but now I kind of wish I had done it. I didn't like the first two docs we saw. I think I like our new one, but I only say her once, briefly, when I brought LO in for shots and to check out a cold.

I take her to the practice that I go to, but just haven't found the right doc yet.

ludicrous · October 2011

I did but only one as I had many recommendations for the practice and they are close to my house, have Sat hours, separate sick/well waiting rooms etc. I did want to know how certain things would be handled at birth and shortly there after like is she had jaundice and/or needed the bili lights if they would still allow and encourage BFing or if they would push formula (like many doctors do) at that point. I didn't think the hospital was a good time to be surprised with that info.

robinsokj · October 2011

I just chose one based on recimmendation

horizon1322 · October 2011

My LLL recommended a practice that was very pro-BFing and had a LC on staff, so DH and I went to their "new parents" group. It was a great chance to meet the doctors and ask questions. Thankfully, we loved them since I ended up back on bed rest and unable to go anywhere else.

Personally, I'm glad we met our pedis first since it gave me an idea as to the doctor's personalities and made me feel at ease, especially important since we were in there 2-3 times a week for the first 5 weeks with DS's weight issues.

pinksweetpea2 · October 2011

I did a ton of research and schedule an interview with the one who seemed like the best match and I pretty much thought she was the bees knees at that interview. Fast forward to our first appointment when Lily was a week old and she was terrible...really really bad. I was lucky to get a recommendation from my LC a few days later and ended up really like the second pedi. ::shrugs:: FWIW, it wasn't worth all the extra work for me because I ended up switching anyway.

I know you already have a lot of recommendations, but I thought I would throw mine out there since she is in the South End. Her name is Robyn Riseburg and she is at South End Community Health. We loved her so much that we stuck it out with her for a year after we moved to the burbs (at least a 40 minute commute with annoying parking issues).

I actually liked all the doctors I met (it is easier to take whoever when the LO is sick- this is common). They are all just so down to earth and they, Dr. Riseburg especially, really put a lot of stock in my opinion and instincts as a mother. This was a biggie for me.

GL with your search.

caffinated_tulip · October 2011

One of the nurse practitioners at my OB office recommended the one we're going to. They have a lactation consultant on staff and work both through the local hospital and through the children's hospital in the city. I didn't interview them, but they had everything I wanted in a doctor's office (there are multiple docs at that practice) so we went with them.

danlexi04 · October 2011

We didn't interview. We got recommendations from other parents and everybody seemed to use the same office. It has quite a few doctors and decent hours. Of course we prefer some doctors over others but none are terrible. Our PCP was chosen by insurance but we can see any of them for sick visits. We've since moved and still travel the 25 minutes to use the same pedi.

weelass24 · October 2011

I interviewed a few, hated them all. We got a rec but I never got any info until after Oisin was born. I love them. LOVE. 3 in the practive and I love them all.

I'd see if you can get rec on a good doctor and go from there.

BallSox · October 2011

I would have gone with my doctor (family practice) but he wasn't accepting new patients as he's trying to retire.

So I asked the office lady which doctor was accepting new patients and she said Dr. xyz. I then switched all of us over to Dr. xyz.

However, I'd not interview dr's if I didn't do this. I personally think it's less common than you think and mostly a bump thing. I'd get recommendations from friends, family, co-workers and go from there.

Excitedtostart · October 2011

I would ask potential Drs what hospitals they have privileges at, and if BGB needs to be hospitalized who would see them there and how they would follow up.

Ex, do they have privileges at Childrens, do they round there, would BGB be seen by a Childrens Dr but their practice would get a call updating them daily, etc.

(Murphys law - find out now and BGB will never stay in the hospital)

I would also ask about their feelings on Breast feeding and take a look at their waiting room - is it covered in formula advertising? I have no problem with moms who FF, but if drug companies can't advertise that way anymore, Formula companies should be held to the same standard.

mmkaye · October 2011

Mine had a new parents orientation so to speak. We met the doctors and they went over policies and what to expect when the baby was born, vaccination recs, etc.

TwoSkis · October 2011

A lot of the doctors around here offer "meet and greets" after hours once every two weeks or so.

We missed the one for the pediatrician we eventually chose because I was sent to the hospital with pre-eclampsia. But I just went with my gut and chose them, since something just didn"t click with the practice we did tour. I am happy I did; I love our pediatrician.

Meegs10.13.06 · October 2011

I looked at who was covered by my insurance within a certain mileage around my home, then I called to ask about sick house, nurse call line, etc. After I narrowed it down I visited the few that were my top picks and went with the doc that made me feel most comfortable. There was one doc that just rubbed me the wrong was from the very beginning, if I hadn't done meetings with them, then I would have ended up switching after the babe was born, so I'm glad I figured it out beforehand. You see them a lot at the beginning, might as well like the person.

Also, I was able to ask them questions about things that were important to me (breastfeeding support, extended breastfeeding, delayed vaccination schedule, etc).

swimrbride · October 2011

I interviewed and really liked Jake's first pediatrician, then 2 months after he was born and she had sent us to 2 specialists that said there was absolutely nothing wrong with him and wanted to send us to 2 more, we switched to a different dr in the practice that we like much better.

Interviews are great, but you never really know what you are going to get until baby is here and you work with them.

Leila'sMommy · October 2011

My DD's pediatrician was my pediatrician when I was a kid

I know him well and he's awesome.

ASmallWonder · October 2011

I didn't interview. I picked a practice based on location, hours and the fact that they have a second site with weekend sick hours. You wouldn't happen to live near Melrose or Peabody, would you? If either of those is convenient I would 100% recommend Pediatric Health Care Associates.

Alex17 · October 2011

One thing to ask is if they give immunizations in office. We originally were going to go with a Family Practice doctor, but they don't do immunizations and we would have had to go down to the county health department to get all of LO's shots.

greenclown · October 2011

We looked at the list of pedis in my MFM's office (everything is in the same building - HVMA if you're curious, BGG). We were pretty sure we were going with one, then two of our NICU doctors said we couldn't go wrong with him, so we went with him. If you'd like a rec, I can obviously give you his name.

But no, we didn't interview anyone.

+diana82+ · October 2011

No. BUT one of my very good friends takes her kids to our pedi so she came very highly recommended and I did attend a new parents's session that the practice hosts so we got a feel for their general policies then.

The fact that I knew someone who had already gone to her for a while was important for me and I'm so glad we went with her - when A was in the NICU and then admitted to the peds floor all the docs and nurses talked about how great she is and how involved she stays with everything when a patient is in the hospital. The night A was admitted back in she called us in the room to see how I was doing - we already loved her from taking Gavin there but that whole experience really solidified that we had picked the right doc.

Beabs · October 2011

We didn't have to b/c my OB is family practice, so she's his pedi as well.

kacelle · October 2011

There are two pediatrician practices in our town that are approved by our insurance. I didn't care to go with the practice with 11 doctors, so we narrowed it down to the practice with 3. We originally interviewed the one female doctor in the practice and made sure to ask her if her answers would be similar to the other doctors' since there was a possibility we'd see them when she was on vacation, etc.

The interview really didn't do much for us. The female doctor was very professional, but she didn't really interact with DD too much and seemed amused by DH and me (because we're young and wanted to interview her, presumably). We had much better luck with one of the male doctors, and we've seen him twice since then. He interacts so well with DD! There's no way I would've gauged that from an interview though.

To be honest, I don't care if my pediatrician shares all of the same beliefs that I do, as long as they're up-to-date on medical research and recommendations. I make decisions about breastfeeding, CIO, co-sleeping, etc. after doing my own research and my pediatrician's advice on those matters (unless it's an actual medical recommendation) is worth about as much as anyone else's. I'm also in my last year of my child development degree program though, so I have the resources to access research articles myself.

Want a personalized experience?

Did you interview your child's pedi?

Re: Did you interview your child's pedi?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards