Pediatrician

cchristopher615 · February 2016

We're meeting with a potential pediatrician tomorrow! Does anyone recommend any specific questions we should ask?

CopperLane · February 2016

Our main things are vaccinations and circumcision. Initially we were planning to circumcise but looked into it more and changed our minds. We want to see a pediatrician who is very strict with vaccines, we don't trust one who lets patients slide on not getting vaccines (unless there are certain vaccines that could cause life threatening reactions to specific patients). We also want someone who knows proper foreskin care, as in not to retract it AT ALL! From doing research we learned that foreskins are fused to the head of the penis until the boy is around 10, at which point he will retract it on his own. A lot of pediatricians in the US don't know this, and I actually listened to a podcast where a pediatrician was saying circumcision is unethical, but the way to clean a newborn's penis is to retract the foreskin during baths. The foreskin is fused for a reason, to keep everything sterile and clean so the boy doesn't get any infections. In some countries it's considered child abuse to retract an infant's foreskin. SO, that's a long winded way of me explaining why proper foreskin care with a pediatrician is important to us.

ETA: these are two issues very important to us. We do not get the anti-vax hype at all, we think it is ridiculous and don't want to see a doctor who supports it. These issues may not be important to you at all. You may be against vaccines, which is your choice and I'm not here to say who is right or wrong. Just letting you know our two main criteria for narrowing down a pediatrician for our little man.

lola6711 · February 2016

It is really important to find out the policy on same day visits. If I call that day, I get in to see the Dr that day. Friends of mine are always at immediate care because their Dr does not do this.
It gives me great peace of mind to know I can always reach the dr.

MynaBird · February 2016

Basically anything that's important to you (like circumcision and vax issues above, or feeding, development, etc.), make sure your pediatrician is on board with. You want to be on the same page as your health care provider for the critical stuff and know that you will have a mutually trusting relationship. And make sure you feel comfortable talking to her/him. I was lucky that my own GP is a med/peds practitioner, so I already knew I could talk to her about anything, but she still required a prenatal visit to make sure we were on the same page about things like vaccination schedules, which I really appreciated.

VikingGirl12 · February 2016

For me it was important that we saw the pediatrician and not always the PA/NP. There's a "highly recommended" pediatrician in my town that my sil has been going to for 4 years, but she has only seen the doctor a few times. I have seen DS's dr at every visit except one, which was a walk in, and dr had to go to hospital for emergency.
To me it was also very important that they have a walk in. We have had double the amount of walk in visits to scheduled visits.
the vaccination thing was important to me too, my doctor will allow rescheduling of vaccines within limits, but his words to me were along the lines of, "why should I, as a pediatrician, allow a child into my healthcare facility that refuses to be vaccined which could potentially put my other patients at risk?" (Unless a child cannot get a vaccine for medical reasons of course).

alohasoprano · February 2016

Like many pp's have said, find a pediatrician whose values line up with yours.
One other thing I like about my pediatrician-they have a separate exam room that can be accessed from outside. If someone calls in for an appt and their symptoms indicate they might have something very contagious, they tell you to go to that room accessed from the outside so you don't expose the babies/kids in the waiting room. I'm not sure if all pediatricians have this, but I think it's an awesome amenity.

cdnvb4 · February 2016

I'm not sure if this is an answer you'll get from the doctor. (You may need to pester a parent or two in the waiting room to get a straightforward answer.) But for me, wait times are incredibly important. In our last city, we would frequently wait 1-2 hours for a scheduled appointment because they booked as if they had two full-time Drs when only one worked most days. This is incredibly frustrating with any doctor (OB, family practitioner, ER, etc), but when you have a child in tow, it is intolerable.

Rosehip15 · February 2016

Convenience. I work full-time, so needed a practice with some early/late/weekend hours, and that was close to home.

almostpriceless · February 2016

My oldest is about to be 15. We moved to the area where we live when she was 3 and started seeing her pediatrician based on a referral of the same one she had been with since birth. The thought of changing gives me so much panic because we love her. My point, find someone that can have a real relationship with your family, someone who you think will genuinely care for your kids rather than having the "another day at the office" attitude that may be fine for an adult. It will make you feel better when you visit and make your kids feel better once they get older and realize what's going on. It's also important to have someone who stays up to speed with current practices for sleeping, feeding, car seat safety, etc. If you aren't against seeing a PA/NP then you should make sure this person is also in support of what's important to you.

purplefan1 · February 2016

When should you start looking for a pediatrician? As in, how far in to the pregnancy?

VikingGirl12 · February 2016

June2016BabyW said:

When should you start looking for a pediatrician? As in, how far in to the pregnancy?

We started asking around friends and family for reviews around 5 or 6 months. I contacted the pediatrician at around 7-8 months. I wanted to make sure I was set in case he came early. I know some pedis don't want to see you until rally close to the end tho.

Sydvicious08 · February 2016

June2016BabyW said:

When should you start looking for a pediatrician? As in, how far in to the pregnancy?

We were asked at our first OB appointment who we were using for a pediatrician. They'll probably ask you when you tour the hospital as well.

likeabel · February 2016

For me the important things were separate waiting areas for well/sick visits, same day and weekend appointments available for sick kids and having a person answer the phone when you call vs an automated system. Because when your child is projectile vomiting on you it's essential to not have to listen for what number to press.

I never met with our pediatrician before DS was born. I just called to make sure they were taking new patients. If I didn't like her after the first few visits I would have changed but she's a great fit for us (and less than a mile from my house).

emmyfreeman27 · February 2016

I'd also add in there to meet with the ped's nurses--- you'll be talking with them on the phone when you call and dealing with them as much as with the actual ped. Are they polite? Do they make you feel like a competent parent, or like you are dumb for calling? How quickly will you receive a call back after you've left a message?

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