How do I choose a pediatrician?

Watch as Dr. Christina Johns explains what to look for in a pediatrician in this video from Discovery Health.

A pediatrician is going to be a big part of your life beginning with the birth of your new baby through the teen years.  It is important that you find a knowledgeable and well trained pediatrician.  However, just because a doctor has great credentials, it does not mean that they have a great bedside manner.  Also, the pediatrician that is right for your best friend may not be right for you.  Parents must feel comfortable with the physician as a person.  You will be spending many hours with your pediatrician and if you don't like their personality, it will not be a good working relationship even if you have the best pediatrician in town.

Once you get past the personality issue, you must ask find out if the pediatrician has views that are similar to yours.  Good questions to ask or think about are 1) Is the pediatrician board certified? This speaks to quality and knowledge base; 2) What does the pediatrician say about vaccines?  Is this compatible with your beliefs and practices? 3) What is the pediatrician's philosophy on the use of antibiotics? 4) What style does the pediatrician use?  Do they dictate what to do or do they try to educate you and let you help in making treatment decisions; 5) Is the pediatrician open to parents asking questions about why things are done or not done a certain way? The list could go on and on but this gives parents a starting point to use in  chosing a pediatrician.  Basically, as long as you have chosen a well qualified, board certified pediatrician, your final choice should be determined by a personality and style that makes you comfortable as a parent.

First, get recommendations for pediatricians from the most obvious sources: your obstetrician or nurse midwife, and your own primary care doctor. If you’re adopting, you can also ask the adoption agency for recommendations. Then ask friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors. Getting word-of-mouth referrals from people you trust is incredibly important (it’s how I get most of my patients). It’s like getting the name of a good caterer from a neighbor or an aunt -- except, of course, a caterer won’t be meeting your child in an emergency department at four a.m.

If the same one or two names keep coming up, great. Put those doctors at the top of your list. But don’t discard the others yet. There’s always the teeny chance that some of the people who give you enthusiastic recommendations 1) are satisfied with mediocre health care; or 2) have been lucky recipients of sporadic good treatment from a doctor who disappoints many other patients. You’re just gathering information now, so throw all possible candidates into the pool.

From The Smart Parent's Guide: Getting Your Kids Through Checkups, Illnesses, and Accidents by Jennifer Trachtenberg.

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