Tips for Finding the Right Pediatrician for Your Baby

Choosing a pediatrician for your newborn is one of the most important choices you’ll make for your child. Not only will this doctor provide crucial medical care for your baby, but they’ll also be instrumental in guiding you along as a parent. They’ll be there to answer your questions and assuage your fears, so it’s important to find someone who is trustworthy and makes you feel comfortable. If it feels overwhelming to try to find a doctor with everything else that you’re trying to figure out as you journey into parenthood, here are a few places to start.

Research Online Reviews

The internet has made it easier than ever to find reviews on doctors in your area, and it’s a great place to begin your search. The majority of patients search online reviews first when choosing a pediatrician. As you wade through the comments, look for answers about how easy it is to set appointments, average wait times, and how knowledgeable the reviewer feels their doctor is. These are great ways to narrow down your selections.

Ask Friends or Your Hospital for Recommendations

If you have friends or family members with small children that live locally, they will be a fantastic resource for you as well. You’ll be able to ask them several questions about the office itself and they’ll be more likely to share personal stories about their visits than an online reviewer would. Additionally, your local hospital can provide you with a list of doctors with which they are affiliated, and they may have some advice if you’re looking for someone who specializes in a particular field as well.

Conduct Personal Interviews

The best way to ensure you’ve made the right choice when looking for a pediatrician is to sit down and talk to them yourself! Many doctors will allow a consultation to speak with parents one-on-one before they make their decision. This is the best way to see if your personalities will work well together, and to gauge how open and responsive the doctor is to any questions you may have at this time. Even those who come highly recommended by others might not be the right fit for your family, so be sure to take the time to speak with them in person whenever possible.

Even though this is a challenging time in your life, there are plenty of things you can do to make sure you choose a pediatrician who you can trust. Take the time to find the right one and you can be assured that your baby will be in good hands for years to come.

If you’re a new parent and want to capture memories with your child, sign up for a newborn photography session!