When it comes to having a new baby, especially your first, there is so much to figure out and so many decisions to make. Do I have the right OBGYN? What do I want my birth plan to be? What do I need for the nursery? That daycare waiting list is HOW long? When you first discover you’re pregnant it seems like you have all the time in the world, but those 9 months fly by. One of the top decisions you’re going to have to make is finding the right pediatrician.
If your state, county, etc. is anything like mine, switching pediatricians at a later date is tough. There are only so many around within a reasonable drive and a lot of kids that they have to care for, so many of them won’t accept new patients that aren’t newborns. Also, your baby has to see their pediatrician typically no more than a week after their birth. In our case, as we learned during our newborn class at the hospital, we weren’t even allowed to leave the hospital with our baby without proof that they had a pediatrician and their first appointment scheduled. For choosing our pediatrician, there were three things on my checklist before I could make a decision.
Vaccination Policies
The first thing I wanted to look into was the pediatrician’s vaccination policy because they differ from doctor to doctor. Personally, we are a family who vaccinates and it was very important to me that my daughter not be exposed to anything (preferably ever), but especially before receiving her vaccines. There are pediatricians who require routine vaccination for all their patients (this does not include things like the flu and Covid-19 shots) and there are others who allow you to sign a waiver and opt your child out.
It was important to me that my daughter not be in a waiting room, especially as a newborn, with children who potentially did not receive their vaccinations, so any pediatricians with the “opt-out” option did not work for our family. This narrowed down the list for us until we landed on the pediatrician we have currently based on the remaining criteria on the checklist. My advice here is simply to make the decision for your family first before you begin your search and keep it in mind as you continue to making your final decision.
The Facility & Staff
Growing up, I liked my pediatrician’s office and therefore didn’t mind going. They had this really big fish tank that was wall-to-wall that separated the well-visit side from the sick-visit side. I can’t recall a single doctor or nurse that ever made the experience negative. I feel these things are important when looking into your pediatrician and there are a few ways to do so. The first is simply to call. Who they choose to represent their practice at the front desk speaks volumes in my opinion. I spoke to some receptionists who were some of the kindest, most patient humans I’ve met and I spoke to others who genuinely couldn’t be bothered to give me the time of day. This really sets the tone for how scheduling appointments and any potential billing/ insurance conflicts will go, so pay attention to those initial calls.
In addition, some places will allow you to come and do a little tour of the facility. Our onboarding tour was to meet virtually with one of the doctors at the practice who walked us through the facility virtually, reviewed their policies, and answered any questions our group had. She was so patient and attentive, and this ultimately sealed the deal for us.
Finally, make sure their hours work for you. When we decided on a pediatrician, we were still on the fence of whether or not I would being staying home or returning to work, so it was important that they had some days they were open late. Not all offices will be, so if you work a job that doesn’t allow for much time off, make sure the office has hours that will accommodate your schedule.
Public Opinion
I really rely on the testimony and recommendations of my fellow community members. I am a part of my local community’s Facebook page, as well as my community’s moms group page. Whether it is myself or someone else asking for recommendations, I live in those comment sections. I always want to know the best places for free play, the best kid-friendly restaurants, and more.
When it came to finding a pediatrician, the first-hand testimony was the last step for us. I wanted to know not only what pediatrician these local moms took their kids to, but why. Or, if they left a pediatrician, why it didn’t work out for them. Any company or business, including doctors, can sell you whatever version of their service, product, etc. that they want, which makes first-hand experiences so valuable. If you are not a part of a local mom or community group, I recommend that you do so. This way, you can get some first-hand accounts and really weigh the pros and cons yourself.
Final Decision
Remember, when it comes to healthcare it can be tough. It needs to work for you and your family, but chances are nowhere is ever going to be completely perfect. Some places may have limited ability that you have to work around. Some offices may have a doctor that you just really don’t like and have to avoid scheduling with. Some practices may be perfect staff-wise, but not implement the policies that you value. There will be pros and cons to every office you look into, so decide what you can work with and what you cannot, gather all the information that you are able to and make the best decision for you and your family because, at the end of the day, that is what is more important.