How to Find the Right Pediatrician for Your Baby

The arrival of a new baby brings many joys and just as many responsibilities. One of those is selecting a pediatrician to care for your child after his or her arrival.

Choosing the right doctor for your baby isn’t always easy, but it is an important decision and one that can yield great benefits for you and your child.

Start by asking your obstetrician, family, friends, and neighbors with children for names of good pediatricians they have used, checking with local hospitals or the American Academy of Pediatrics (www.aap.org). Make sure the pediatricians you consider are Board-certified.

Another important step is to interview several pediatricians. This visit is usually free and will help you get a feel for the doctor’s accessibility, personality and philosophy of practice.

It is best to begin this process during your second or third trimester of pregnancy. As you interview potential pediatricians, don’t be shy about asking the doctor’s views on important parenting issues such as breast vs. bottle-feeding, discipline, pacifier use, circumcision, crib safety, car safety, early child development, and daycare.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents ask the following questions:

• Is the pediatrician accepting new patients? Is he or she covered by your insurance or managed care plan?
• What are the office hours?
• Is emergency coverage available 24 hours a day, seven days a week?
• Is the pediatrician available by phone or e-mail? If so, when?
• Does the practice have an after-hours answering service? Is that service linked to a university or children’s hospital?
• Where are patients referred after hours?
• Is there access to pediatric specialists, if needed?
• What hospital does the pediatrician prefer to use?
• How does the office handle billing and insurance claims? Is payment due at the time of the visit?

By seeking out answers to your questions, you increase the chances of finding the right pediatrician for your child and an effective partner in caring for your new arrival.

Editorial provided by Robert Wilmott, MD, Chief of Pediatrics at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center and Professor of Pediatrics at Saint Louis University School of Medicine.