How did you choose a pediatrician?

RedSoxMom · **How did you choose a pediatrician?**

DS is going to be arriving within the next few weeks (if not sooner!) and we still haven't chosen a pediatrician. I've read the lists of questions to ask potential peds, but what made up your mind? Reccomendations from friends? Interviewing them yourself? What was most important to you when you decided who to use?

...we're stuck!

Sarah M. · 02-28-2008, 12:32 PM

When we went to the day-long childbirth class at my hospital, one of the pediatricians who practices there came in to do a little presentation and answer questions. He was so funny. I chatted with him for a minute before he left, and totally decided to choose him for DS's pediatrician. This guy is AWESOME. I've even considered inviting him and his family over for dinner, but haven't yet because I'm too chicken. But anyway, it ended up being a very easy choice for me.

Heck, I think it would even be worth the drive up from Boston to Peterborough, NH just to see this doctor!!

booker81 · 02-28-2008, 01:16 PM

Mine was easy - my family doctor was my pediatrician, and now he is DD's pediatrician

I like him a TON, and I also like the nurse practitioner lady - she is also a lactation consulant and midwife. I can see either one of them, and they consult each other, so for appointments or after hour calls (they have pagers), I have both available. They are a family practice, so they see babies on up to adult and seniors. It helps that I've known them since I was a small child (my parents switched to them when they got out of the HMO they had - I think I was about 6 when they switched).

They are also a pretty "limited" practice - they only add patients on a case by case basis, so they can keep time to really listen and talk with the patients. I really like that they take their time and listen, rather than see how many people they can pack into the practice at once. That also means the waiting room is generally pretty empty and they can clean the rooms between patients.

I adore my family doctors!

Oregano · 02-28-2008, 01:51 PM

We 'interviewed' a whole bunch when I was pregnant with our first child. We chose one and he was fine...but the office staff was horrendous! They were rude, always got billing statements wrong, it was just a nightmare. I finally had to find another pediatrician, I just couldn't take it anymore! LOL! So I essentially looked up in the phone book for an office near me, picked it that way and we've been there every since (10+ years) and been very happy!

The most important thing for me was someone that was supportive in general...I didn't want someone that was a nazi about anything, because I'm just not like that personally. There were two pediatricians that I could tell from our interview that there would be no way I'd be comfortable. Just a general personality conflict. There are plenty of great pediatricians out there, you just have to find one that you click with.

Kellyandgirls · 02-28-2008, 01:56 PM

I havve my girls at the same office I went to as a kid!
all the drs in the peds officce work together so it makes it easy to get a kid in
if we need to tho we have a main dr who moniters all the things!!

tho I have had issues with the dr we have for our main one! he said in front of dd that she needed to watch her weight (she is only 7)
but that is the only issue! also I think the girls are wanting a female dr so I am looking into a diff dr at the practice there is one there that was a gymnast and coaches so I though that might be a good one for them since they are at the gym soo much and she can understand what there bodies are going thru etc!!

Fluttergirl · 02-28-2008, 05:18 PM

I'm on a local mommy mailing list, so I just asked for recommendations from other moms.

I did a quick search on Yahoo groups and I found one for Boston parents:

bpn : Boston Parents Network

Try subscribing to it and ask them about local pediatricians. Good luck!

skimommy · 02-28-2008, 05:23 PM

We got recommendations from friends. We ended up going with the first office we interviewed. I have a favorite doctor for well visits but we like all of the doctors in the practice.

damv00 · 02-28-2008, 05:41 PM

I got recommendations from friends and my OB. I really trusted my OB and the dr./practice she recommended ended up being 'the one' for my DS. I interviewed other pedes. with my DH but we just really liked the OB receommended one. Glad we went with his practice - they are always available: weekends, nights, sick baby, well baby visits. Trust your instincts.
Danette

misse336 · 02-28-2008, 07:46 PM

My mom works in the NICU at our local Women's and Babies hospital. So I asked her who she would recommend and then asked my friends about the group that she recommended. They've been great. There are 2 doctors in particular that we like best in the practice, but only one that we haven't really cared for.

RedSoxMom · 02-29-2008, 06:15 PM

Thank you all so much! I think we may have found 'the one' today - the biggest thing for us is that we really want someone who's thorough but also laid back and doesn't automatically toss kids onto antibiotics for every sniffle, or diagnose ADHD in every child who doesn't like to sit still in math class. Ya know what I mean?

Again, thank you all so much!!