Did Your Newborn Suffer Cerebral
Palsy or Another Brain Injury Before
or During Labor and Delivery?
Get a FREE guide of resources available throughout Ohio to children and families of children who were born with brain injuries.
Our guide can help you build a foundation of knowledge and tools that will help you help your child
now and in the future.
One of the most important decisions you will make for your little one is to choose the pediatrician who will help them stay well and treat them when they are sick. Since they will play a vital role in your baby’s health, it’s not a decision to be taken lightly. You must consider several things in choosing your pediatrician, and the search can begin even before the birth of your child.
Get A 100% Free CASE EvaluationYou want to find a pediatrician that is close to where you live or work. The medical office should also have hours that fit your schedule if possible. For instance, some clinics accept late or early appointments or even have hours on Saturday for the 9-to-5 parent.
Of course, your child won’t always get sick during regular business hours. Another consideration is contact information for when the office is closed. Gone are the days when you can call the doctor at home, but many pediatric clinics have an on-call nurse who can provide valuable assistance when you have a sick baby. This is an important service that could prevent many late-night trips to the emergency room.
You want to feel confident that your pediatrician knows what they’re doing. Find out if they are board-certified in this field and how long they have been a pediatric doctor. Some practices come with levels of doctors. The higher-level doctor will be your child’s primary physician, but on some visits, they will be seen by a lower level physician.
For example, when you call for an appointment because your little one has a cold or respiratory infection, you may be seen by a level one or two doctor. For regular wellness visits or to get their scheduled vaccines, your primary pediatrician will see the child. Often the trade-off of having a pediatrician in a larger care network is that you don’t always get to see them with every visit.
Another area to think about is how open the pediatrician is to your ideas. It’s important to find out if you can meet the team or get a tour of the office before you have your baby. Find out their views on major issues and ensure they either meld with yours or the pediatrician is open to other viewpoints. Otherwise, you could end up with a battle of wills every time you have an appointment.
For instance, you may believe strongly in being flexible with feeding times while your pediatrician advocates for strict feeding schedules. Will they continually challenge you for not following their advice or are they open to both views?
Your pediatrician should be willing to educate parents and offer training in breastfeeding and other areas of child development that will help you feel more competent in your parenting. If your child has a health concern, they should have direct access to specialists for advice or to refer the baby to ensure the best care.
Don’t be afraid to interview any pediatric clinic before your child is born to determine the right fit for your family. Your pediatrician will play a vital role in helping you raise a healthy, happy baby and giving you confidence as a parent. Take the time to choose the right person for the job.
You want to find a pediatrician that is close to where you live or work. The medical office should also have hours that fit your schedule if possible. For instance, some clinics accept late or early appointments or even have hours on Saturday for the 9-to-5 parent.
Of course, your child won’t always get sick during regular business hours. Another consideration is contact information for when the office is closed. Gone are the days when you can call the doctor at home, but many pediatric clinics have an on-call nurse who can provide valuable assistance when you have a sick baby. This is an important service that could prevent many late-night trips to the emergency room.
You want to feel confident that your pediatrician knows what they’re doing. Find out if they are board-certified in this field and how long they have been a pediatric doctor. Some practices come with levels of doctors. The higher-level doctor will be your child’s primary physician, but on some visits, they will be seen by a lower level physician.
For example, when you call for an appointment because your little one has a cold or respiratory infection, you may be seen by a level one or two doctor. For regular wellness visits or to get their scheduled vaccines, your primary pediatrician will see the child. Often the trade-off of having a pediatrician in a larger care network is that you don’t always get to see them with every visit.
Another area to think about is how open the pediatrician is to your ideas. It’s important to find out if you can meet the team or get a tour of the office before you have your baby. Find out their views on major issues and ensure they either meld with yours or the pediatrician is open to other viewpoints. Otherwise, you could end up with a battle of wills every time you have an appointment.
For instance, you may believe strongly in being flexible with feeding times while your pediatrician advocates for strict feeding schedules. Will they continually challenge you for not following their advice or are they open to both views?
Your pediatrician should be willing to educate parents and offer training in breastfeeding and other areas of child development that will help you feel more competent in your parenting. If your child has a health concern, they should have direct access to specialists for advice or to refer the baby to ensure the best care.
Don’t be afraid to interview any pediatric clinic before your child is born to determine the right fit for your family. Your pediatrician will play a vital role in helping you raise a healthy, happy baby and giving you confidence as a parent. Take the time to choose the right person for the job.