How to Pick a Pediatrician (video/podcast)

Pediatricians are physicians who specialize in caring for children from birth through childhood and adolescence to the end of their teenage years. Your child’s pediatrician is a significant partner in their health and development.

When you’re expecting a baby, it’s important to find someone who is a good fit for your family. Moreover, it’s extremely helpful for everyone to have a pediatrician in place well before giving birth.

In this video, San Diego Health host Susan Taylor talks with Dania Lindenberg, MD, a pediatrician at Scripps Coastal Medical Center Hillcrest, about choosing a pediatrician who is right for you and your child.

Soon after your baby is born, a pediatrician will care for them in the hospital. Not all pediatricians make hospital visits; if yours does not, the pediatrician on staff will care for your baby until you go home.

Generally, your pediatrician will see your baby within a day or two after you leave the hospital and have regular visits during the first year to make sure that they are eating well, gaining an appropriate amount of weight and developing properly. As your child grows, they will see the pediatrician for continued wellness care, as well as for illnesses, such as colds and flu. 

“We like to think of ourselves as a guide for the entire family unit, helping a family adjust to having a baby, a child, a teenager and then into adulthood,” says Dr. Lindenberg. “We really focus on the physical, emotional and mental health needs of the whole family unit.”

Whether you are getting pediatrician recommendations from friends with children, using a physician referral service, or researching it on your own, the first step in choosing a pediatrician is to list which factors are important to you. Here are a few questions to consider:

• Does the doctor’s age or gender matter to you?
• Do you want someone who has been practicing for decades or someone who is newer?
• Are the doctor’s office and hours convenient for you? Are weekend or evening hours offered? What happens if you need care outside of regular office hours?
• If you prefer to communicate in a language other than English, does the doctor speak that language?
• Does the doctor accept your insurance plan?
• If your child needs to be hospitalized for some reason, where does the pediatrician have hospital privileges?
• If you are having a boy and interested in circumcision, does the pediatrician offer that?
• What is the pediatrician’s philosophy of care?

Many of these questions can be answered by using the “doctor finder” or “physician referral” service on your hospital’s website. If you can’t find the information you need, call the office directly.

It’s also important to find a pediatrician you are comfortable talking with and asking questions, which can be difficult to do without meeting them. Many pediatricians will meet with expectant parents before their due date to get to know each other and determine if they’re a good fit.

“We’re always happy to meet with parents-to-be, probably within a couple of months of delivery when things are really starting to feel real for them, and they’re wanting to make a firm decision about a pediatrician,” says Dr. Lindenberg.

Once you have decided on a pediatrician, take advantage of their knowledge and expertise.

“I just really want my patients always to know that there are no dumb or silly questions. Honestly, anything they ask I’ve probably been asked before,” says Dr. Lindenberg.

“Questions about how to hold a baby, what about this rash, diapers and cleaning? These and many others are all good questions and not things that you should necessarily know. So please feel free to ask. You should be made to feel comfortable.”

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