Choosing a Pediatrician

Liz726 · January 2016

I didn't see a post about this, and I did search, so I'm sorry if I missed it out there already. I have a question though, and I'm wondering what others have done. It's about time to choose a doctor for the little guy, and there are two or three in my area that come pretty highly recommended. I'm not sure which one to go with. When choosing a pediatrician, is it normal to "interview" them, for lack of a better word? Like, it is reasonable to want to go in and meet one of the doctors at a practice before getting set up there? Also, what questions do you recommend asking at such a meeting, if any?

Thanks ladies! I look forward to reading your insights and advice!

Edited: Run-on sentence needed to be tamed.

summererdvig · January 2016

I'm not sure where you live but I am in FL and my hospital requires that my pediatrician come to the hospital to check out the baby before we can be discharged (FTM so I'm not sure if this is the norm). My decision was fairly easy since my best friend works for an awesome peds office that all of my childhood friends used to go to. The office offers "pre-natal meetings" so you can see the office, meet the staff, and ask any questions you may have.

If I were in your position I would call around and see if any of the offices you're considering offer this kind of meeting, and go with whichever one does! A Dr/office that makes the time to answer your questions now will surely answer your questions when baby arrives!

As far as questions are concerned: if not readily available to you, I would ask about their office hours. I'm a working mom so after hour and weekend appointment options were a must for me. And the *touchy* subject of vaccines. See if their viewpoints parallel yours in this regard. I know my OB office has a patient portal so while I'm at my appointment Thursday, I will be asking if they offer anything like that for their patients. Not a make-or-break but it would be nice to have access to her records and what not.

Hope you find a Dr that you and baby both love!!!

Karen249 · January 2016

My recommendation as a STM for a pediatrician...

-ask around, try to get a recommendation
-meet or talk to the pediatrician first. There has to be a comfort factor there for you and that you'll baby will eventually feel too.
-find someone with some experience. Our dd's ped is very young, right out of school. Her lack of experience with children (not having any of her own and her limited time being a dr) has made us question lately switching to someone with more experience. We trust her medically but she is too "by the book". Always stressing us out. All kids are different and development differently so you really want someone who understands the "range" in which development happens appropriately.
-close proximity to your home. You will be going a lot esp in beginning. And when LO is sick you don't want to drive too far for appointment.
-office hours and after hour calls (how they are handled)

(Just a side note- our dr is not affiliated with the hospital we use. Because of that, the hospital pediatrician does the initial exam. So don't worry about finding a dr who will go to your hospital. You will just bring the baby a couple days after birth to your chosen pediatrician for an exam)

Best of luck!

Latina211508 · January 2016

I'm pregnant with my fourth baby so I will be using the same pediatrician I have for all 3 of my kids. When I had my first baby I just chose an office that was popular that I have heard of. I wanted a woman pediatrician so I just chose one and went from there. The hospitals here also have the pediatrician you chose visit you and your baby etc. After the first appointment I knew I liked my pediatrician. I just looked at how she was with my new baby and how hands on she was. I did not want to feel like just another patient. I also looked at the offices location. I moved from my original city but was happy that there was another office in my area and my kids pediatrician comes there on certain days.

funkypineapple · January 2016

The pediatrician office we decided on was based on recs from close friends. When we called the office, they said that they weren't doing interviews or visits at the time due to the cold/flu season. They are affiliated with the hospital though so when before we leave, we just tell the nurse that we want to go to this particular practice and they'll send the on-call ped to do the exam.

Liz726 · January 2016

Thanks for the feedback - I really appreciate it. I've got one in mind that seems to meet most of the criteria you ladies mention: close to home, recommended by friends, affiliated with my hospital, aligns with my views on vaccines, good office hours. It seems like a no-brainer now knowing that's the sort of thing what other moms are looking for!

Hopefully they're doing prenatal visits (but if they tell me they're not at the moment due to flu season it's good to know that's not unusual to hear).

Thanks everyone!

charliegoldengirl · January 2016

I went to a prenatal visit for one of my two choices and the other ped wasn't doing visits but did call to chat on the phone with me. Looking back, I might not have needed either. I went with the most recommended person ...but as a FTM I felt like I needed that contact.

winterviolethope · January 2016

If you don't like your pediatrician on your first visit, just switch to another for the next. I don't really see the point of interviewing - it's not like I'm dropping the baby off with him or her. I went on a recommendation from a couple of friends in my neighborhood. If I don't like them for myself, I'll just switch. The pediatrician isnt affiliated with the hospital I'm giving birth at anyway.

wisco29 · January 2016

I agree with switching if you find that you don't like them. I hated the one we had for dd and we kept waiting to switch so every appt I always left super irritated
I read everywhere when I was pregnant with dd that you were supposed to Interview them etc but no one I know actually did all that. We just picked one and went with it. Now we have a family doctor I think that's what she is for dd and we will just have the same person.

funkypineapple · January 2016

wisco29 said:

I agree with switching if you find that you don't like them. I hated the one we had for dd and we kept waiting to switch so every appt I always left super irritated I read everywhere when I was pregnant with dd that you were supposed to Interview them etc but no one I know actually did all that. We just picked one and went with it. Now we have a family doctor I think that's what she is for dd and we will just have the same person.

This. I felt like the whole "interview pediatricians" thing was being preached more on TB than anywhere. Just think of it as like you would finding a doctor for yourself. Yeah, you may do some research on your own doctors but I've never known adults to go and interview their PCP. If you don't like the Ped. you get/decide on, there's nothing saying you can't change

Monkeybutt80 · January 2016

I did meet with the pediatrician before I had my first. His practice (about 6 peds) and him specifically came recommended by all my friends, so I felt comfortable, but I had some medical issues that required immediate action to the baby after the baby is born, so I wanted to discuss it with him, as the on call ped from the practice was going to examine my baby after he was born.
In the end, it was not necessary because he also happened to be one of the guest teacher/ speaker during our hospital baby class the day before our scheduled meeting, so I got to meet him prior to the first visit. I knew he was the right one when he gently but quickly shut down some crazy ladies at the class spewing nonsense.
So to answer your question, I don't think it is necessary to meet with them before as long as they come with good recommendations. Like pps said, you can always switch, if you do not like the pedi. The first visit after the hospital is really only about making sure they are gaining weight.

RissKay · January 2016

So, I didn't read any responses. Sorry. BUT, here's the scoop I remember from the first go-around:

Yes, you can go meet doctors. Most offices have meet and greet times scheduled through the month, and if not, you can ask to set up an appointment to meet the doctor and they'll be happy to do it provided they're accepting new patients.

If you don't have one or they don't have privileges at your hospital, one from the hospital will do the checks on baby. They won't hold them hostage or anything, so don't worry if you haven't "picked" yet.

You will need to go to one 2-3 days after baby is born (if I remember correctly. 2 weeks for sure but I had a tiny one so I can't remember if one was just a weight check or not) so you should pick one by then.

If you don't like them, immediately find someone else. It's not worth it to wait around hoping you'll like them, especially if you're the kind of parent to go in frequently. Just "shop" around til you find the one: you'll know.

shounshe · January 2016

My hospital requires that you have a pediatrician lined up before delivery. I asked around, and several friends recommended the same pediatrician. My OB has young children, so also I asked her who she uses, and it was the same pediatrician. I didn't interview her, but I trust my OB's and friends' opinions completely, so I stopped my search there.

ashton2190 · January 2016

I'm going to meet with the pediatrician we're leaning towards next week. Typically I would just go off recommendations but I'm the first in my group to have a baby and the people I've talked to live really far away from where I'm looking to go. I looked up who was in network, then made sure they were nearby. After that I looked at credentials and narrowed it down from there. The fact that the consultation is free is also a big plus for me. Also they have Saturday morning hours in case LO gets sick, which is really nice

I'm not sure which questions I'm going to ask but I already did ask about their stance on vaccines because that's very important to me

satuttle1014 · January 2016

I was lucky in that our pediatrics office is attached to the hospital. So they can come see the baby while I'm there.

I don't know where you live but the major closest city has a ranking of different doctors so I found a few that way. I read lots of reviews and their credentials. Also when you call, make sure they take new patients and let them know you are pregnant so you can get kind of pre-registered in a way for when you need to come in.

Also, if you pick someone and you don't like them after the first appointment, you can switch doctors. A doctor that works for someone may not work for you.

meg+on+the+DL · January 2016

I would highly suggest going into to meet with the different pediatricians. My husband and I met with one yesterday and we just didn't like him. I'm so glad because he came highly recommended.

I just called and scheduled a consultation with him. I have another appt next Friday with another one. I hope she's great because I'm running out of time before little one comes.

kinnonam · January 2016

I spoke with my OB she gave me a list of pediatricians in my area. Me and my SO sat down and went to Ratemymd and healthgrades for a quick background on them. Narrowed it down to 3 and set up consultations with each. The one doc we couldn't get in to met for a consultation so we marked him off. If I can't meet you before my baby is here how am I supposed to trust I'll be able to see you any other time. Also during a childbirth class that we took there was a pediatrician there one of the main things he was to make sure they are "boarded in their field" since some are not which I found very strange. Also check the available of when you will be able to see them after baby is born.

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