Pediatric care providers take care of babies from birth until age 18. They are specialists in childhood illnesses and normal development. They are your go-to for your child’s health and development concerns, and a very common presence in the early years when you’ll have lots of routine appointments! Finding the right fit is important for your child, and also for you as parents. Keep in mind that you may choose a pediatrician, a pediatric nurse practitioner, or family medicine doctor (more on those credentials at the end of this article).
Some pediatric offices may offer a visit or information packet/session for prospective parents. It never hurts to ask if this is available, and can give you valuable insight into how the practice feels for you.
Phase 1: The Logistics (Getting the Basics Right)
- Travel: Pediatric visits are frequent in the early years, and traveling a long distance with a baby or toddler is usually a negative
- In-Network: Having a provider who is in-network with your insurance can offer big savings because of these frequent visits
- Special Circumstances: If your child has known additional medical needs, selecting a pediatrician who is affiliated with a major hospital or children’s hospital can make care coordination much easier
If you are selecting a pediatrician for the first time during pregnancy, aim to start your search at around 28-34 weeks.
Phase 2: What Makes You Feel Comfortable?
We all have different needs when it comes to feeling comfortable with a provider. Before you book, consider:
- Communication: Do you love a digital patient portal for quick questions, or do you prefer phone calls? Is there an after hours way of getting a hold of your provider or an on-call provider?
- Availability: Are well child visits pre-scheduled or are you able to pick your days and times? What is the policy for sick visits, are they same day or will you need to use urgent care?
- Cultural Fit: It may be a priority for you to look for a provider who shares your background or gender – feeling understood is a huge part of good care.
- Safety: Are there separate waiting areas for well and sick kiddos? What is their vaccination policy?
If you are selecting a pediatrician for a newborn, you may also want to ask about if they’ll see the baby in the first one to two days after birth in the hospital, and whether they have an in-office lactation consultant.
Phase 3: Know Your Red Flags
Trust your gut! You might want to keep looking if:
- The Brush-Off: They dismiss your concern about your child as normal without offering additional information or a timeline for follow-up.
- The Rush: You feel like you’re on a conveyor belt and don’t have time to ask questions.
- The Communication Gap: The office is consistently hard to reach or slow to respond when you have a sick child.
- Outdated: Their information on development, feeding, sleep or child safety is outdated or pushy. Instead of helping you meet your parenting goals, they pressure you or offer information that is no longer current.
Pro Tip: Get Prepared
- The Big Dates: Your due date helps your provider’s office estimate when your baby will need their first appointment. Of course, you’ll need to call and let them know after you give birth.
- Family History: Any known history of childhood illness, developmental delays or chronic health conditions or allergies of either parent.
Decoding Provider Credentials:
Board Certification: Board-certified pediatricians have completed not only medical school and residency programs (on-the-job training) in pediatrics, but they’ve also passed a rigorous exam given by the American Board of Pediatrics.
AAP member: Check to see if a potential doctor belongs to the American Academy of Pediatrics, which indicates that she adheres to the organization’s guidelines and standards.
FAAP: Board certified and belongs to AAP
Family Medicine (ABFM): Family doctors are trained to care for patients of all ages—including children—but they do not have specialized training in pediatrics.
