How to Find the Right Pediatrician to Care for Your Newborn

One of the first decisions you’ll make as a new parent is choosing the right pediatrician for your newborn. Your pediatrician will be a key partner in your baby’s health and development and provide support when they are sick. Parents should look for a pediatrician who offers comprehensive, integrated care as well as someone who meets your family’s unique needs.

It’s important you feel comfortable with your child’s doctor to ensure they receive the best possible care from the start. From newborn well-exams and vaccinations, to comprehensive care services, there are so many factors to consider and it might feel overwhelming.

Below we’ll cover some important considerations when selecting a pediatrician, offer practical tips on what to ask during your search, and explain why finding the right pediatrician is such a significant decision for your baby’s care.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Pediatrician

Picking a pediatrician for your brand new little one is all about finding the feel-good fit, someone who will give your baby top-notch care, and make you feel totally supported. Here are some key things to keep in mind as you make your choice.

Board Certification and Experience

• Board Certification: A doctor who is also a pediatrician has a higher level of training and education specifically focused on medical care for children. Board certification signifies that a pediatrician has undergone rigorous training and passed the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) certification exam. This voluntary process ensures they meet the highest standards of pediatric care. By selecting a board-certified pediatrician, you can be confident that your child will receive top-notch medical care, backed by continuous learning and skill improvement.
• Experience: Look for a pediatrician who has lots of experience with newborns and toddlers. A knowledgeable pediatrician has seen a wide range of concerns from typical sniffles to things that are more serious. They’ll know how to handle common childhood illnesses and offer advice on everything from feeding to sleep. With this experience you can have peace of mind and confidence as they help with the ups and downs of early childhood.

Office Hours and Accessibility

• Flexible Office Hours: Kids sometimes need care beyond standard business hours. Your pediatrician’s office should offer flexible hours, including evenings and weekends. This extended time is particularly important for working parents and those with busy schedules.
• Same-Day Care: It’s common for a parent of a newborn with concerning symptoms to want support from a provider as soon as possible. Your doctor’s office should provide flexible appointments so you can get in the same day.
• 24/7 Nurse Advice: Access to round-the-clock nurse advice is a valuable resource for parents. It’s comforting to get phone support when a baby feels unwell. An advice nurse will listen to a parent’s concerns anytime, day or night, and help with home remedies or instructions for a doctor’s appointment. They can also help assess the need to be seen immediately at their primary care clinic, an all-night urgent care, or hospital emergency room.
• Location: Choose a practice that is conveniently located. A nearby practice will make it easier to schedule appointments and minimize travel time, especially for sick visits.

Billing and Insurance

• Billing: Contact the pediatric practice and inquire about their insurance network and how it aligns with your plan for health coverage. By speaking to their billing team, you can get a sense of how helpful they are for patient service concerns around invoices and insurance reimbursement for services.
• Covered services: Most of the regular well-exams with newborns and young children, including vaccinations, are paid for by your insurance plan as part of preventive treatment. However, there may be some health screenings, sick visits, and other services that are not paid by insurance as part of your co-pay or deductible. It’s best to check on these items to prevent surprises in billing.

Bedside Manner and Communication Style

• Bedside Manner: A pediatrician’s bedside manner is how they interact with their young patients and their parents. A good pediatrician takes the time to listen to concerns and explain things clearly. They can also make stressful situations less scary and help both the child and the parent feel comfortable and understood. With a good bedside manner, a parent is more likely to seek the care a child needs, heed the provider’s instructions, and get the continuity of care necessary to ensure the child is thriving.
• Clear Communication: You should expect your pediatrician to be clear and articulate so there’s no question as to the health of your child. The pediatrician should clearly explain medical terms, treatment plans, and answer any questions you might have, ensuring you feel informed and confident in your child’s care.

Family-Friendly and Supportive Environment

• Welcoming Atmosphere: The environment of the pediatrician’s office should be welcoming and child-friendly. A comfortable waiting area, friendly office staff, and a supportive atmosphere for kids can make visits pleasant for both you and your child.
• Inclusive of the Entire Family: Ensure that the pediatrician’s office is accommodating to the entire family. Whether you have other children or family members who will be involved in your baby’s care, the office should be inclusive and supportive of your family’s needs.
• Support for New Parents: Expectant parents and new parents often have a lot of questions and concerns. A pediatrician’s office that offers educational resources, parenting classes, or support groups can be invaluable as you navigate the early stages.

By considering these key factors, you’ll be well on your way to finding the right pediatrician for your newborn. The right fit will not only provide expert medical care, but also create a supportive and reassuring environment for you and your child.

Evaluating the Services Offered by a Pediatrician’s Office

As mentioned, all pediatricians have additional education and training in medical care for children. But some pediatric clinics and providers have more services and deeper experience than others. Parents should evaluate the range of services offered by a clinic as an important factor in their choice. To get the best possible care throughout a child’s life, choose a group with comprehensive and accessible services under one roof.

Here are some key services to look for when choosing a pediatrician’s office:

Comprehensive Pediatric Care Services

Your child’s primary care medical home should offer a team-based approach to providing comprehensive healthcare. It’s like a central hub where your child’s primary care doctor coordinates care with other providers as needed to ensure they get all the necessary services. Your medical care should be all-encompassing, family-centered, coordinated, compassionate, and culturally respectful. You should expect the following services:

• Well-child visits: Regular well-visits are a foundation for a child’s good health on a schedule as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. At these visits, your physician will monitor your baby for development milestones and highlight any areas of concern. This is your time to ask any questions and get support for issues around growth, feeding, nutrition, sleeping, and more!
• Vaccinations: Immunizations for serious childhood illnesses are a foundation in preventive medicine that helps keep your child healthy as well as the community at large. It’s understandable to have some anxiety about your baby getting pokes from needles. Look for a provider that is happy to answer your questions about vaccines and respects your concerns for your child’s comfort.
• Sick and Injury Care: Your pediatric clinic should have experience in sick and injury care offering same day appointments and 24/7 phone nurse advice.
• Lactation Support: International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) offer a tremendous support service for parents wanting more help with breastfeeding. IBCLC teams are educated in a variety of issues around feeding and can help with a number of transitions and situations from nursing to supplemental bottle feeding and solid foods.
• Circumcision: While this procedure to remove the foreskin from the penis of male newborns is not medically necessary, we understand it may be a choice for some parents. You should choose a pediatrician with experience in circumcisions for the safety and comfort of your child.
• Behavioral Health: As a new parent/child family unit, the relational health between you and your child is key to long-term health and well-being. Being a parent comes with many challenges, and a behavioral health provider on the team can be a tremendous help in proactively optimizing the relational health between parents and children. As a child grows older, you’ll want the security of knowing your primary care pediatric clinic offers mental health services for anxiety, depression, ADHD, learning disorders, or other mental and behavioral concerns.
• Chronic Care Management: Choose a pediatrician that offers an extended team for complex care coordination and management. These services help with referrals and scheduling of multiple providers the child needs for their complete care.
• Pediatric Specialists: Access to pediatric specialists within the same office or through close referral networks is a significant advantage. Integrating specialists within your primary care clinic can ensure your child receives the best coordinated treatment.
• Medical Ear Piercing: Getting your baby’s ears pierced can pose serious risks of infection and allergic reactions. Choose a pediatrician with medical ear-piercing experience and medical grade products to reduce the chance of complications.

Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Potential Pediatrician

Interviewing a potential pediatrician is a crucial step in finding the right care provider for your newborn. By asking the right questions, you can ensure that the pediatrician’s approach to care aligns with your family’s needs and values. Here are some important questions to consider during your search:

Important Questions to Address

• What is your experience with newborn care?
  • Gauge a pediatrician’s expertise in handling the specific needs of infants, from well-baby checkups to managing illness. Ask about unusual symptoms to look for and what concerns might be expected with common illnesses. What advice do they have for feeding and sleeping?
• How do you handle same-day appointments and sick visits?
  • Knowing the office’s policy on same-day appointments is critical, especially when your child needs immediate care. This question ensures that the pediatrician’s office can accommodate urgent needs.
• What are your office hours, and do you offer weekend hours?
  • Ask about the office hours and the availability of weekend hours. Flexible scheduling options are important for busy parents and ensure that your child can receive care when it’s most convenient for your family.
• How accessible are you for questions after hours?
  • Inquire about after-hours support, such as 24/7 nurse advice. Having access to medical guidance outside of regular office hours provides peace of mind in case of emergencies or urgent concerns.

Understanding the Pediatrician’s Philosophy and Approach

• What advice does the pediatrician offer on preventive care and vaccinations?
  • This question helps you understand their approach to helping keep your child healthy and preventing illness. It offers insight into how they approach supportive conversations.
• How do you involve parents in decision-making regarding their child’s care?
  • A good pediatrician acts as a partner with parents to ensure you are actively involved in your child’s care. This question will reveal how the pediatrician communicates with parents and incorporates your concerns into care plans.
• How do you handle referrals to pediatric specialists?
  • Understanding the process for referring your child to pediatric specialists is important, especially if your child has or develops specific health needs. This question ensures that your pediatrician is prepared to coordinate care with specialists when necessary.

Assessing Compatibility with Your Family Doctor or Entire Family

• How do you collaborate with other healthcare providers involved in my child’s care?
  • If other healthcare providers are part of your child’s care team, it’s important that the pediatrician is willing to collaborate with them. This question helps you assess how well the pediatrician works with others to ensure cohesive care for your child.
• Is the office staff friendly and supportive of the entire family?
  • The demeanor of the office staff can significantly impact your experience. Asking about their approach to family-centered care ensures that everyone, from parents to siblings, feels welcome and supported during visits.
• What resources do you offer to support new parents?
  • New parents often need extra support, whether it’s through educational resources, parenting classes, or support groups. This question helps you identify what additional resources the pediatrician’s office offers to help you navigate parenthood.

Evaluating the Pediatrician’s Bedside Manner

• How do you comfort children during visits?
  • A pediatrician’s ability to put children at ease is crucial for a positive experience. This question helps you understand how the pediatrician interacts with young patients and ensures that your child feels comfortable and safe during visits.
• What is your approach to communicating with the child in addition to parents?
  • Clear and compassionate communication is essential. This question reveals how the pediatrician balances communicating effectively with both children and parents, ensuring that everyone understands the care plan and feels confident in the decisions made.

Additional Considerations

• Do you have experience with any specific conditions or concerns my child might have?
  • If your child has a known condition or you have specific concerns, it’s important to choose a pediatrician with relevant experience. This question allows you to assess the pediatrician’s expertise in those areas.

By asking these questions, you can gain valuable insights into whether a potential pediatrician is the right fit for your family. The answers will help you make an informed decision, ensuring that your child receives compassionate, expert care from a pediatrician who aligns with your family’s needs and values.

Benefits of Choosing Metro Pediatrics for Your Newborn’s Care

After considering the key factors in choosing a pediatrician, it’s important to find a practice that not only meets your criteria, but also exceeds your expectations. Metro Pediatrics offers a range of benefits that make it an excellent choice for your newborn’s care. Here’s why Metro Pediatrics could be the right fit for your family:

Why Metro Pediatrics is the Right Choice

• Board-Certified Pediatricians: Metro Pediatrics is staffed with highly qualified, board-certified pediatricians who bring extensive experience in newborn care. This ensures that your child receives top-tier medical attention from professionals committed to excellence.
• Comprehensive Pediatric Care: Metro Pediatrics provides a full spectrum of pediatric services with a commitment that all your child’s health needs are met in one convenient location, from birth to teen.
• Experienced and Compassionate Team: The pediatricians, nurse practitioners, and physician associates at Metro Pediatrics are known for their warm and approachable bedside manner and patient-focused approach. The Metro team is dedicated to making both you and your child feel comfortable and supported during every visit.

How Metro Pediatrics Supports Your Newborn’s Care

• 24/7 Nurse Advice: New parents often have questions and concerns, sometimes in the middle of the night. Metro Pediatrics offers 24/7 access to nurse advice, providing you with peace of mind whenever you need it.
• Same-Day Appointments: When your child is sick, timely care is crucial. Metro Pediatrics offers same-day appointments, ensuring that your child receives the care they need without delay.
• Lactation Support and New Parent Resources: Understanding the challenges new parents face, Metro Pediatrics provides lactation support and other resources designed to help you navigate your baby’s early months with confidence. Whether it’s breastfeeding advice or parenting tips, they are there to support you every step of the way.

Schedule a Newborn Care Visit Today

By choosing Metro Pediatrics, you are ensuring that your newborn receives the highest standard of care in a supportive, family-friendly environment. From experienced, board-certified pediatricians to a wide range of services designed to meet your child’s needs, Metro Pediatrics is dedicated to helping your child thrive. Book an appointment today to get started!