Finding the right pediatrician for your child is an important decision for you to make. Your child’s pediatrician will be responsible for your child’s health, starting in infancy and continuing through adolescence. Because of this, you’ll want to find a pediatrician that cares for your child, one who is proactive in your child’s health. This can sometimes be difficult to find, but it is possible. Here are a few tips to help you find the right pediatrician for your child.
Check Recommendations
Before deciding on a pediatrician, you’ll want to do your research and check recommendations. The Internet is a great resource for this. With the click of a button, you can find information on all of the pediatricians in your area, including their credentials, as well as testimonials from prior patients. You can also ask friends and family to recommend a trusted pediatrician, helping to narrow your list of potential candidates.
Meet Face-to-Face
Once you’ve selected a few pediatricians that you’d like to learn more about, it’s time to schedule a face-to-face meeting. This allows you to get to know the pediatrician candidates a little better, helping to eliminate any fears and concerns you might have. It will also help learn more about the pediatrician’s practice, such as how the office is run, what the wait time is, etc.
Ask Questions
During your face-to-face meeting, be prepared to ask some questions. You should come up with these questions before your meeting so that you don’t forget anything. Some questions you might want to include have to do with the pediatrician’s practice beliefs. Some doctors tend to lean towards more natural treatments while others prefer prescriptions from standard medication. Know what you’re looking for in a pediatrician, and write down some questions that will help you decide if this pediatrician is the right one for your family.
Have a Trial Run
Before committing entirely to your selected pediatrician, you might want to have a trial run. If your child is sick, you could schedule a appointment to help get medication so your child can recover. If your child is perfectly healthy, you can schedule a quick check-up. Regardless of why you make an appointment, a trial run gives you the chance to see the pediatrician in action. You’ll be able to see how the pediatrician responds to your worries, as well as check to see how well your child and the pediatrician get along. This step is especially important since you want your child to feel safe with their pediatrician, not afraid.
Don’t Be Afraid to Quit
After your trial run, don’t be afraid to “quit” a pediatrician that doesn’t meet all of your requirements. Even if the pediatrician is the most highly recommended doctor in the area, you might be looking for something slightly different. If this happens, you can feel free to go back to get to know some of the other pediatricians you considered, or you can start fresh with a new list of pediatricians.
Finding the right pediatrician can take a long time, but eventually, you’ll find the best pediatrician for your family.
What are some qualities you look for in the “right” pediatrician?