Questions to Ask a New Pediatrician
Essential questions to ask when choosing a new pediatrician to ensure your child receives the best possible healthcare and you feel confident in your choice.
1What is your approach to preventive care and well-child visits?
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What is your approach to preventive care and well-child visits?
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Why this works
Helps you understand their philosophy on preventive medicine and ensures their approach aligns with your preferences for your child's healthcare.
2How do you handle after-hours care and emergencies?
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How do you handle after-hours care and emergencies?
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Why this works
Ensures you know what to do when your child needs medical attention outside of regular office hours and helps you understand their emergency care protocols.
3What is your philosophy on vaccinations, and do you follow the CDC schedule?
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What is your philosophy on vaccinations, and do you follow the CDC schedule?
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Why this works
Helps you understand their stance on vaccinations and ensures their approach aligns with your beliefs and comfort level regarding immunizations.
4How do you approach antibiotic use and when do you prescribe them?
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How do you approach antibiotic use and when do you prescribe them?
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Why this works
Shows their approach to antibiotic stewardship and helps you understand when they believe antibiotics are necessary versus when they prefer to wait.
5What is your experience with children who have special needs or chronic conditions?
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What is your experience with children who have special needs or chronic conditions?
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Why this works
Helps you understand their expertise with children who may have complex medical needs and ensures they can provide appropriate care for your child.
6How do you handle behavioral concerns and developmental milestones?
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How do you handle behavioral concerns and developmental milestones?
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Why this works
Shows their approach to developmental and behavioral issues, which is important for your child's overall health and development.
7What is your policy on same-day appointments for sick visits?
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What is your policy on same-day appointments for sick visits?
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Why this works
Helps you understand how accessible they are when your child is sick and ensures you can get timely care when needed.
8How do you communicate with parents about test results and treatment plans?
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How do you communicate with parents about test results and treatment plans?
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Why this works
Ensures you understand how they share information and helps you know what to expect regarding communication about your child's health.
9What is your approach to pain management for children?
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What is your approach to pain management for children?
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Why this works
Shows their philosophy on managing pain in children and helps you understand their approach to comfort measures and pain relief.
10How do you handle children who are anxious or fearful about medical visits?
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How do you handle children who are anxious or fearful about medical visits?
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Why this works
Demonstrates their approach to making medical visits less stressful for children and helps you understand how they support anxious patients.
11What is your experience with breastfeeding support and infant feeding?
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What is your experience with breastfeeding support and infant feeding?
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Why this works
Shows their expertise in infant nutrition and feeding, which is important for new parents and infants with feeding challenges.
12How do you approach sleep issues and bedtime routines?
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How do you approach sleep issues and bedtime routines?
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Why this works
Demonstrates their approach to common parenting challenges and helps you understand their philosophy on sleep and child development.
13What is your policy on parent involvement during exams and procedures?
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What is your policy on parent involvement during exams and procedures?
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Why this works
Helps you understand their approach to parent participation in medical care and ensures you can be present during your child's visits.
14How do you handle children with food allergies or dietary restrictions?
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How do you handle children with food allergies or dietary restrictions?
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Why this works
Shows their expertise in managing food allergies and helps you understand their approach to dietary management and allergy care.
15What is your approach to mental health and emotional well-being in children?
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What is your approach to mental health and emotional well-being in children?
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Why this works
Demonstrates their understanding of mental health in children and helps you understand their approach to emotional and psychological support.
16How do you handle children who need to see specialists?
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How do you handle children who need to see specialists?
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Why this works
Shows their approach to referrals and helps you understand how they coordinate care with other healthcare providers.
17What is your experience with alternative or complementary medicine?
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What is your experience with alternative or complementary medicine?
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Why this works
Helps you understand their openness to alternative approaches and ensures their philosophy aligns with your preferences for your child's care.
18How do you approach children who are behind on vaccinations or have missed well-child visits?
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How do you approach children who are behind on vaccinations or have missed well-child visits?
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Why this works
Shows their approach to catch-up care and helps you understand how they handle children who may have gaps in their medical care.
19What is your policy on parent questions and concerns between visits?
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What is your policy on parent questions and concerns between visits?
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Why this works
Helps you understand how accessible they are for questions and ensures you can get guidance when you need it.
20How do you approach children who are resistant to medical care or procedures?
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How do you approach children who are resistant to medical care or procedures?
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Why this works
Shows their approach to working with difficult patients and helps you understand how they handle children who may be uncooperative during visits.
Choosing the Right Pediatrician
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Best Practices
Schedule a Meet-and-Greet
Many pediatricians offer meet-and-greet appointments where you can ask questions and get to know them before making a commitment.
Consider Your Family's Values
Choose a pediatrician whose approach to healthcare aligns with your family's values and beliefs about medicine and child-rearing.
Check Office Policies
Understand their office policies on appointments, after-hours care, and communication to ensure they fit your family's needs.
Question Sequences
The Healthcare Philosophy Sequence
The Practical Care Sequence
Common Pitfalls
Don't Choose Based on Convenience Alone
While location and office hours matter, prioritize finding a pediatrician whose approach and philosophy align with your family's needs.
Avoid Ignoring Your Instincts
If you don't feel comfortable with a pediatrician, don't ignore that feeling. Trust and communication are crucial for your child's care.
Don't Skip the Meet-and-Greet
Take advantage of meet-and-greet opportunities to ask questions and get a feel for the pediatrician's personality and approach.