Pediatrician Poll! Have you chosen your pediatrician?

SarahS11 · April 2014

We haven't even begun to think about a pediatrician for our baby, but something got me thinking about it today. So tell me, where are you in the process? Also, if you want to add after you vote the things that were important to you in finding a pediatrician, I'm sure us Newbies would appreciate the advice!

lellymine · April 2014

I picked one that was on board with my birth plan (he has to be there since it'll be a c section) and came with good word of mouth

JelloBean1 · April 2014

We visited one who was alright. We also found out that another pediatrician in our city holds a monthly group pre-natal visit on the 1st Saturday of every month for people to tour the office, ask questions, get a little goody bag, etc. so I am going to go to that on May 3. I thought that was a nice gesture for them to set something up like that.

flojo973 · April 2014

I picked one based on recommendations, but also because they have a lactation consultant on staff. Other pluses include a separate sick and well-child waiting room, pro-vaccine and they will not see children who aren't vaccinated, open on weekends, etc.

puttyeast · April 2014

I asked one of my OBs about this. He said that in the last month of the pregnancy, he will give a list of pediatricians taking new patients that he would recommend. I will select from there since I was planning to stay with the same medical group anyway.

k2k2tog · April 2014

I'm in the same situation as BE. I had a meet-and-greet with my new family doc a few weeks ago. I asked my OB about getting a pediatrician, and she said it's not necessary unless baby has specific health concerns that require special care. Do all babies on the US have a pediatrician?

coffee89 · April 2014

I am 99% sure on who I'll be going to after we move in July (and a back up in case the 1st doesn't work) My first choice is the pedi my sister goes to and in an office bunch of others liked, the second choice is a woman I've seen once or twice in my old GP office.

I don't have one for where we are currently living. I'll find someone for just in case situations and will more than likely be making the 2 hour drive to our new location for shots since it will also give us a chance to visit some people and also to work on setting up out new place.

Taymiller · April 2014

We are choosing to see a family medicine doc and not a pediatrician. We will be seeing the docs that DH works with. Easy and we trust them Family medicine docs are great because everyone in the family can see them.

flerlgirl · April 2014

We had to find one that was okay with the whole preemie thing since DS was on O2 for several months at home.

Other than that, my favorite things about my office/dr are:

- they keep a couple of sick appointments open every day so you can get in quickly.

- they are understanding when I am late for an appointment and allow me to keep it.

- they are timely - no hour-long waits.

- the pedi is very honest and is not very alarmist. I.e. he will tell me I probably didn't need to bring in DS for x, y, or z, but it's NBD that I did; just something to know for the future. And then when something is really wrong, he is very calm and walks me through the next steps.

- I am never rushed. I can ask questions for as long as I need to and the dr takes time to answer them thoroughly.

- he high-fives me when DS gains weight between visits.

eta they are also affiliated with our local children's hospital and I can get a nurse to call me bak within twenty minutes any time of day or any day of the week.

CJnKR2014 · April 2014

We have to have one picked by my 32 week appointment because of medicaid so I have one picked. Also the hospital I am delivering at won't let baby leave without a chosen pediatrician.

ashanne88 · April 2014

We picked our pediatrician already. Their office had a prenatal visit once a month where they talked about their practices, answered questions and gave a tour of the office. We originally checked them out based on a recommendation and decided to go with them because they share the same ideas as us - vaccinations, support breastfeeding etc.

The practice also has a portal where you can access your child's medical record and can email the doctors with questions/concerns, which I really liked!

MNOpea · April 2014

Since we are moving i haven't done anything as far as pedi's go yet. But we are also military so I have talked to a few moms/military wives at the base we are going to see where they go. There seems to be 2 options so I have already kind of decided between those 2. We will be at our new home in about 3 weeks so I will call our insurance and have everything set up then

rastrau · April 2014

FTM - we had to pick in order to pre-register for L&D at my hospital.

Recommendations from friends, Angie's List & Yelp all helped. That their philosophies on vaccinations, BF, etc. matched up with ours was important. We considered their hours and parking (we live downtown Chicago - parking for a ped's office is a must). The ones we chose have good online access and can field phone calls right away. As an added bonus, they are part of the same medical group as my MWs and have admitting privileges at my hospital and the nearby Children's Hospital.

I called a couple of offices with a list of questions based on a questionnaire someone on BabyCenter sent me:

https://assets.babycenter.com/ims/Content/first-year-health-guide_doctor_interview.pdf

eta: grammar be hard, yo

PinkKEL9 · April 2014

I'm a FTM and have picked one. I went for an interview based on reviews and closeness to our house. We ended up loving the doctor and the practice! It was the only place we interviewed.

snowpants · April 2014

With our first baby I was planning to just use our primary care clinic and one of the pediatricians there, at the hospital they even help you set up your first appointments with them since they are all connected, but a month or two before birth I went to an open house at a local pediatricians office and fell in love. Everything was nicer from the facility to the personal care. I love that it's only a pediatrician's office and we don't have to wade through sections of urgent care and general practice stuff to see who we need to see. Everyone knows us by name and we feel connected there. I obviously had to make sure they took our insurance, which thankfully they did, and have never looked back. Love them.

sjn00 · April 2014

Our insurance might change after she is born so idk what insurance we will have, making it kind of difficult to know what doc we will go with.

kittenslove · April 2014

This is something I honestly didn't even think about. I mean, I did at about 13 weeks, but since getting the diagnosis its been a world wind just getting through pregnancy. After reading this thread, called and made an appointment at the same pedi as my sister. I figure its the best choice since a) they are close b) they are associated with the specialists we will be seeing and c) my sister is comfortable with them (she will be watching LO when I return to work). There are a few things I care about - we require an alternative vaccination schedule (which I know they are okay with since so did on of my nephews); importance of nutrition; night and weekend hours. I like that the front desk was so nice when I called, it makes me feel good already. Guess we will see!

kd&cd · April 2014

My family Dr is also a paediatrician! Yay!

feistybear · April 2014

We use family medicine. When we had DD she started right away with DH and I's doctor and this baby will do the same.

MollySm · April 2014

We won't use a pediatrician, we'll use our family doctor. She is already my doctor, my husband's doctor, and my daughter's doctor. She will deliver Viviana and then she will be her doctor.

MrsCase1 · April 2014

We have one now since we already have another kid but we chose him by 36 weeks after interviewing a couple.

catsinawindow · April 2014

We have our pediatrician from DS. When we moved town, I found him through recommendations from people I worked with. I was looking for someone who was low-key, not quick to push antibiotics/medications, and very pro-BFing. He was recommended as being on the "crunchy" side and so far he's been perfect.

babygabe614 · April 2014

I'm a FTM and did a ton of research online and via friends before interviewing our now-pediatrician. I'm fortunate that she and I just clicked, I loved the office and staff, and the practice fit all of our needs.

tbmadeamistake · April 2014

Our primary care practice has a pediatrician's office in the same building, all affiliated. When I was pregnant with C, I asked my good friend where she takes her daughter and she happened to recommend someone in our office already. I had decided that we'd go with her and then we fell in love with the pedi on call the day of C's birth. Same practice, same affiliations, awesome lady. We use her for all of C's scheduled check-ups and then basically see whoever for sick visits because the entire office is awesome. It worked out really well for us.

steprozz · April 2014

I'm a SS I guess. we already have a ped because of DS but I also used to work there as a nurse (before DS was born) so I already knew I loved the practice and would take my kids there when the time came.

mercy0606 · April 2014

Have met staff at one practice and have two more appointments in the coming weeks. It's hard- gotta stop looking for perfection.

temursgirl · April 2014

FTM, we have found one. I interviewed three. The first one was awesome, and I would have loved to go with him, and he is the only pediatrician in our town (10 minutes from home). Unfortunately, he's part of a concierge practice, so it's quite expensive. The second one was good, but far. Happily, the third one is also good, and relatively close.

When I interviewed them I was looking for someone with the same outlook on health (i.e. supports BF, wouldn't push circumcision should that arise, insists on vaccinations, etc.) and with whom I feel I can properly communicate.

I live in an area where it can be hard to get into a doctor's practice, or a preschool, or things with a limited number of spots, so I knew I had to start looking ahead of time. That probably varies a lot depending where you live.

Pepper6 · April 2014

I'm finally getting around to this and made a list of 3 offices to visit/interview. For those who've already picked, did you and DH go together, or did you go by yourself?

temursgirl · April 2014

@Pepper6 I went by myself, just because we delegated that particular job to me. At two of the offices I visited there were lots of couples as well. If you go by yourself you can always make your list of questions ahead of time at home so you can include any your H has as well.

RaeJ004 · April 2014

I chose for DD based on their online profiles and mission statements. Went to her first appointment and couldn't stand him. We switched for her next appointment and have been with this one ever since, this LO will also go to her.

I basically wanted someone to listen and give advice rather than "don't do this, don't do that, why aren't you doing this?" She said in the first appointment that she is not the mom, I am. That she is there for support and guidance, but that my instincts are stronger than her degree any day. It made me cry because it was the first time I felt like I was really doing everything right.

rastrau · April 2014

@pepper6 - I did the phone interviews with 3 offices on my own and then reviewed the answers with DH at home. We decided one was a front-runner and went to their open house night together. We both liked what we saw, so that's who we chose.

fsumom · April 2014

DS will use DD's pediatrician who is amazing.

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