When to start looking for pediatricians?

[mrskblack11]

My OB gave me a list of pediatricians on Friday so I would have time to research. She said there were so many and couldn't imagine having to choose one. She said we should choose before the baby arrives and that when we do deliver they notify the pediatrician's office of the birth.

I will definitely be doing a lot of research in the next month and try to make a decision early on.

[hbanana18]

I was going to start this month. I am going to ask some of my friends with kids who they see. I also want to find one that will
only see vaccinated patients (with the exception of people who can't receive vaccinations for medical purposes). My OB also has a list, so I may cross reference that with friends suggestions.

[Deleted]

Two weeks before DS was born I looked at my OB and said "I don't know what to do about a pediatrician. Who do you recommend." He gave me a name. I called the practice to make sure they were taking new patients. I listed him on the hospital form when we checked in and met him for the first time when he came to the hospital to check on us the day after birth. Eight years later we still adore him. I'm not sure I would have even known what to ask if I had been on the ball enough to interview places.

[gingerbabe]

I was in my third trimester with LO#1 when I looked for and set up to meet with a pediatrician. I happened to like the first one I tried so I didn't keep looking. If you are worried about waiting lists or having to meet with multiple before picking one, I would start calling around sooner than later.

My pediatrician does not turn away patients that don't vaccinate but he openly frowns heavily upon no vaccinations. I don't know how many pediatricians would actually turn away an anti-vaxer but if that is a priority I would find out over the phone before you bother setting up a meet/interview.

[ladysif]

Now is a good time to start looking and set up appointments. It seems awkward but they are used to being interviewed. They'll set up a time and you can meet all the doctors in the practice. Have two lists of questions; a base set for the receptionist when you call so you don't waste time interviewing doctors who don't meet your basic requirements (e.g. the vaccines) and the more detailed or specific questions for the doctor. You should have one chosen before delivery. Word-of-mouth recommendations are a good place to start. I asked my OB and the nurses who they used for their kids and that worked out well for us. I always figure those in the industry know the best.

[Deleted]

Feb 8, 2015 22:58:33 GMT -5 @demanda88 said:

The nurse at my OB gave me a list of pediatricians at my 12 week appointment but I'm not sure when to start looking. The nurse did mention that some of them have waiting lists and I'm hoping to find one who doesn't see patients who are unvaccinated. 

So, when are you starting the hunt for one? And are you interviewing them?

If the nurse or the front desk gave you a long list of doctors I recommend showing the list to your OB and asking them to choose their top 3 offices. I found that super helpful and it cut our research legwork down tremendously!

[Deleted]

I'm hoping to get recommendations from other parents that live in my area. I'm planning to ask my OB as well, but he just moved his practice over 30 minutes away (closer to where he lives) and I really want a pediatrician that is close to where we live.

I wouldn't even know what questions to ask during the initial "interview"! So I'm hoping the more experienced ladies can shed some light on that...

[Ana0927]

I started looking for peds when I was around 5/6 months. Some of the practices in our area had orientations where you can tour the office, meet some of the doctors, ask questions etc. I asked them how soon after deliver to the visit the baby, what is their stance on vaccines, what are the procedures for sick calls/visits, do they have on site lab services, what other hospitals they practice at. I am sure I had other questions but I cant remember right now.

[blasto!]

At my last appt. (Thursday, so 23 weeks), my OB told me that we should start looking now or soon. The office gave me a list of ones they recommend so we could have a starting place. DH's pediatrician is actually on the list, so I have a feeling our search will be short because his mom still talks about how much she liked taking DH there.

Thanks all for the questions to ask--I still want to do some due diligence

[sidneyvicious]

We were told in our birthing class that because insurance no longer pays for the doctor's time to meet with you, that interviewing peds are becoming a thing of the past.

[maddielynn321]

We have an appointment to meet with our top choice on April 13th. We were hoping for an earlier date but they only do once a month per doctor. We'll be out of for the March date.

[veggiemo]

Feb 9, 2015 0:39:37 GMT -5 @kej0004 said:

Has anyone actually interviewed a pediatrician before choosing? What do you ask? Like "so...tell me about babies?" Do you give them scenarios and ask what they'd do? I want to make a good decision and get a "feel" for the doctor(s) before choosing someone/a practice, but it just seems really awkward...

I was nervous about this too, but I found the doctor's office to know exactly what to do. Don't think of it like an interview, think of it more like a tour. They know you are a first-timer and have never done it before, so they lead the way. At least that was my experience. They just show you around and tell you about their philosophies and they ask you a lot of questions about you too that spark conversations. It's not at all awkward. Definitely go in with a list of things you want to touch on, but honestly they probably will already offer a lot of the information anyway without you even having to ask.

Another thing, don't discount location. That's where I started my search, I looked for the closest offices to my house. Believe me, when you have a sick kid the less you have to travel the better.

[jcprn]

Some of my coworkers gave me some recommendations of pediatricians they love that are close by so I hope to find one soon.

Add it to my to do list....

[Widget123]

#1 word of mouth is best #2 consider a large pediatrician practice with several peds. that way if you don't like one you can easily try out another until you find one you like then you can keep scheduling all of your appointments with that person (all of this after the LO is born). We had appointments (1 week, 1 month, 2 month, regular post-birth ones like that) with a few different peds all at the same practice until we found one that we really loved and have been with her ever since. If DD is sick we might see a different ped but that really isn't as big of a deal to us as the milestone appointments.

[erbear]

Ours offered a baby care class that we went last week to and met one of the eight peds in the practice. See if any of the practices in your area offer things like that!

[noeliav]

We interviewed two pedi groups about a month before DD's arrival. I'm so glad we did because, although they seemed similar "on paper" and from reviews, one was a much better fit for us than the other.

We asked about the pedis' positions on vaccinations, breastfeeding and extended breastfeeding, bed-sharing and cosleeping, antibiotic use, and "sick kid" waiting rooms/sick visits. (remembering off the top of my head)

We love, love, love our pediatrician and her staff.

[ladysif]

Good advice above. All I'd add is to discuss circumcisions if you're having a boy and doing it.

We went with a group practice and adore them. In that setting, we have round-the-clock availability to a doctor at all times (and things ALWAYS seem worse after hours) and they always keep a block of sick appointments daily so we've never been put off or sent to urgent care/ER instead of them. You just need someone who you feel comfortable with and who has the same values as you do.

[nchauhan]

Such a great thread. I too felt weird about interviewing a dr. But I'll probably ask around and start going through the list our hospital gives us in the next month or two. I feel like time is speeding up or something! I haven't registered, found a pediatrician or done my tour of the labor ward yet! Shit is getting real

[kemdupuis]

I've started asking some if my friends in town for recommendations. I have called a few offices, but both said the Drs were not available for interviews as they are so busy. I also found out that when dealing with offices with multiple Drs, usually, not all of them are accepting patients, and those that are currently accepting patients may not be when our LO finally arrives.

The whole process of finding a Dr and childcare is so unbelievably stressful. I never thought I'd be one of those "hover mothers" but I can sense myself slowly turning into one. I am glad others are thinking/stressing about this, too.