How to choose a pediatrician for your new baby

Choosing a pediatrician is one of the first major decisions you make as a parent. You may find yourself wondering how to choose a pediatrician and start doing research or asking friends for recommendations. Finding the right pediatrician is more than just picking a doctor – it is about choosing a partner in your child’s health. 

Your pediatrician will be there for newborn visits, routine checkups, illnesses, and developmental milestones. Taking the time to find the right person can ensure your child receives high-quality, compassionate care. 

When to Pick a Pediatrician

The best time to start looking for a pediatrician is during the third trimester of pregnancy. This gives enough time to research clinicians, schedule meetings, and make a thoughtful decision before your baby arrives. 

Some offices may offer a prenatal pediatrician visit, which is a quick appointment where parents can meet a doctor, ask questions, and learn more about the practice.

What to Look for in a Pediatrician

Key Pediatrician Qualifications 

Understanding pediatrician qualifications may be important to helping you how to choose a pediatrician. 

Education and Training

Pediatricians complete medical school followed by a residency program, which typically focuses specifically on the care of infants, children, and adolescents. In this training, they gain expertise in childhood illnesses, development, and preventive care.

Board Certification

Some pediatricians may have board certifications, which demonstrate that they have met rigorous standards in pediatric medicine. Certified pediatricians also complete ongoing education to stay up-to-date with the latest practices and research. 

Approach to Pediatric Care

Pediatrics is about more than just treating illnesses. It is about prevention, development, and nurturing the whole child – physically and emotionally. This can also include monitoring their growth and development, and screening for health promotion and disease prevention. The right pediatrician will not just measure height and weight, but also ask about developmental milestones, social challenges, family dynamics, school readiness, and more. 

Make sure to ask questions to see if your pediatrician aligns with your family’s values when it comes to preventive care, education, and decision-making. 

Availability and Office Hours

Convenience matters when it comes to pediatric care. Look for a practice that is near you and has hours that fit your schedule. 

You may also want to ask about same-day appointments for sick visits, weekend availability, and after-hours support, which could be important when your child is not feeling well. 

Understanding Insurance Coverage

Before making a final choice, it is important to confirm that the pediatrician you choose accepts your health insurance. You can also ask about billing policies, copays, and referrals. Understanding these details ahead of time can help avoid concerns and stress later.

Questions to Ask When Choosing a Pediatrician

When meeting with a potential pediatrician, it is a great opportunity to learn more about their approach to care. Preparing questions to ask when choosing a pediatrician can help guide the conversation. 

Questions may include:

• What are your office hours and appointment availability?
• Do you offer same-day sick visits?
• What is your philosophy on preventive care and vaccinations?
• How does the practice communicate with parents? 
• What hospitals are you affiliated with? 
• What insurance do you accept? 
• How are after-hours concerns handled?

These questions can guide you to determine if the pediatrician aligns with your family's preferences. 

How to Find a Pediatrician 

Recommendations From Family and Friends 

One of the most helpful tools for finding a pediatrician for newborn care is by asking people you trust. This could be friends, family members, or even coworkers with children who can provide some insight into their experiences. 

You can also ask your obstetrician for recommendations. 

Checking Reviews and Testimonials

Online reviews and patient testimonials can help provide insight into a pediatric practice. Experiences may vary, but reviews often highlight common themes such as wait times and patient experience. 

Reviews can also show you what other parents appreciate about a practice.

Researching Pediatric Care Specialists

While a general pediatrician manages most aspects of your child’s health, some practices may collaborate with pediatric care specialists when additional care is required. This could include endocrinology, pulmonology, developmental health, gastroenterology, gynecology, or physiatry.

Researching the practice’s network of specialists can help ensure your child has access to care they may need.

It is also important in general to research options for pediatric primary care to learn about each practice’s services, clinicians, and locations. 

Making the Final Decision

Once you have met with potential clinicians and have gathered information, it is time to decide! Learning how to choose a pediatrician involves more than just logistics, but it is also about finding someone you trust. 

Trusting Your Instincts

Your pediatrician will become a trusted partner in your child’s health and development. Communication is key, especially when it comes to your child’s care. You should feel comfortable asking questions, and your pediatrician should take your concerns seriously and explain things in a way that is reassuring and clear. Open communication is especially important at times when your child is sick or decisions need to be made. Having a pediatrician you can trust can bring comfort in these times. 

When you find a pediatrician who can support your family in these ways, you will know you have made the right choice. 

Pediatric Primary Care at Valley

Valley Medical Group, in partnership with Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital, provides compassionate pediatric care in a welcoming environment for newborns, children, and adolescents.

Valley’s team of pediatric primary care clinicians welcome the whole family, fostering a relationship with patients and parents to address all health concerns. Valley provides trusted care and treatments so that every child may live the healthiest and most fulfilling life possible, while helping parents find satisfaction in the most challenging but rewarding role as caregivers. Same day visits, prioritizing sick patients, are available. Valley provides evidence-based care and follows recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Valley offers pediatric primary care at two convenient locations in Wayn and Montvale, New Jersey. Our Wayne practice is located at 1578 Route 23 North in Wayne. Our Montvale practice is located at 135 North Kinderkamack Road in Montvale. Lactation support for breastfeeding mothers and babies is available at this location in Montvale. 

For more information about pediatric primary care at Valley, please visit ValleyHealth.com/PedsPrimaryCare. To schedule an appointment with a clinician in Wayne or Montvale, please call 201-746-9484.