When you have a child, you want to take every step imaginable to ensure they remain healthy and happy. Your child’s pediatrician will play an integral role in making this happen — from routine visits and vaccinations to treating illnesses and monitoring growth over the years. 

You want to feel confident and trust in the medical professional who has your child’s health and well-being in their hands. So, this article explores how to choose a pediatrician. 

Get Started: Make a List of Pediatricians

The first thing you can do on your quest for a pediatrician is to start compiling a list of potential doctors for your little one. There are a few ways you can do this. 

Word of mouth is a wonderful resource. If you have any friends, neighbors, colleagues, or family members with kids, ask for recommendations. This can also give you the perfect opportunity to ask a few questions about their experience with the doctor. 

Other options for your list include asking your OB-GYN for a recommendation, doing an online search, such as “pediatrician near me,” or reaching out to your child’s insurance provider for in-network names. 

Remember, you are just putting names on a list at this stage. You will narrow it down later. 

Consider Location, Experience, and Credentials

After you have your list, you can go ahead and gain some insight into each prospective pediatrician. 

Check out their credentials and experience. How long have they been practicing? Do they have a specialty focus? What services do they offer? 

Although location isn’t nearly as important as their level of expertise, you will want to make sure that you choose a pediatrician that is conveniently located. Traveling longer distances may not seem like a big deal when you can plan for routine checkups, but when your baby is sick, you want your doctor close.

Make Contact with the Office

After some vetting, go ahead and make contact with those pediatricians who remain on your list. This will give you a first impression of the office and it will help you to narrow down your list even more. 

During your phone call, it is important to find out the following — 

• Is the office accepting new patients? 
• Do they have more than one pediatrician? More than one office? 
• What hours do they offer appointments? Specifically, evenings or weekends?
• How quickly can you get an appointment?
• Do they accept your child’s insurance? 

As you ask these questions, make note of the care, concern, and professionalism you receive on the phone. While it is not an indication of how well your visit with the pediatrician will go, it can play a role in your level of satisfaction with the overall office. 

Schedule a Visit

When you have narrowed down your list to your chosen pediatrician, make an appointment to meet the doctor. This will allow you to personally see the office, meet the staff, and establish a connection with the pediatrician. 

Pay attention to their interaction with your child and ask any questions you may have — either about your child or about the doctor. 

Always trust your gut. If you feel comfortable and feel as though you and your child received great care and attention, wonderful! If not, perhaps you need to continue searching. You will know when you have found the right one. 

Consider the Advocare Haddon Pediatric Group

Advocare Haddon Pediatric Group has been providing excellent care for infants, children, and adolescents throughout southern New Jersey for nearly 100 years. They are a trusted resource in the community and continue to grow today. 

Schedule a visit — we’d love to meet you.