How to Choose a Pediatrician for Your Child

We want the best possible doctor for our children. Yet, all too often when looking for a doctor for ourselves or a pediatrician, a children's doctor, for our child or children, we simply check the Yellow Pages and make a call. But choosing a pediatrician, a doctor, for our children should take time and effort to make sure this is the children's doctor and the office to which you want to take your child or children.

While the pediatrician or doctor to which you bring your child or children is of vital importance, the doctor isn't the only thing to consider. Here are other factors to look at.

Is the pediatrician or doctor's office fairly close to where you live? Is the office easily accessible, easy to get in and out of with baby in arms, with a stroller, with a child or children who don't want anything to do with a pediatrician?

How is the office decorated and how does it "feel." Does it look and "feel" comfortable? Is the waiting area clean, but not so sterile it reeks of antiseptic? Look for an pediatrician's office that has a homey feel to it. If the office looks and smells too much like "doctor" or "hospital," the atmosphere may make you and therefore your child or children tense.

Is there a play area for children out of the way of traffic with activities of interest to the young child? Are there books or activities for elementary age children? Does the doctor's office have easily accessible bathrooms and drinking fountains? (Doctor's offices have bathrooms back in the patient area where they see patients, but not all are available to those in the waiting room.) Are there separate waiting areas for the sick and well children?

Is the staff friendly and willing to assist when help is needed. (Sometimes I think parents need to grow an extra arm when a new baby joins the family.) Is the office willing to work with your financial situation? Does the office have a quickly answered off hours telephone number? How well does the staff respond to emergency situations? Do they seek to schedule sick patients quickly, the same day if at all possible? How easy is it to talk to the doctor by phone?

Does the staff actually like babies and children? Do the nurses like children--yours in particular?

What about the doctor? Is he board certified and are his credentials on display? Does the children's doctor have admitting privileges at the hospital of your choice?

Do you and your child connect with the doctor? Not every pediatrician or children's doctor, however skilled, works well with every patient. Do you like a children's doctor who is formal or more informal? Do you prefer a male or female children's doctor or pediatrician? Keep in mind that as your child grows older the child probably will prefer a children's doctor or pediatrician of the same gender. This can make all the difference in how open and honest the child will be with the doctor.

Does the pediatrician or children's doctor listen to and take what you say seriously?

Often we spend more time choosing a new outfit than our children's doctor. Somehow, it is embarrassing to ask the questions of a doctor and the office staff though we don't think twice about asking pertinent question when choosing a day care or even a car. But choosing the right pediatrician or children's doctor for your child makes all the difference in a child's willingness to see the doctor and to take the doctor's advice. And, when an emergency happens, as they do more often than we'd like, you want a children's doctor who'll be there to take care of your child.

Take the time to choose the right children's doctor for your children.