Between vaccines and minor illnesses, the baby visits the pediatrician at least once a month. It is therefore essential to choose the right one! Here are some tips for finding a specialist who will best meet your expectations.
You have returned from the maternity ward with baby in your arms, and in a few days, you will have to take him to the pediatrician for his first visit. No question of choosing lightly the one who will follow your child perhaps for years.
Choose a welcoming practice
Even before the consultation, take into account the practical aspect. Better to choose a practice not too far from your home. Forcing a sick baby to travel a long way is not really desirable.
When making an appointment, do not hesitate to inquire about the prices charged (from 27 euros and up to more than fifty).
Once there, the practice should be clean and welcoming. Games or books for children and a changing table are very useful because you will probably have to wait before being received.
It is up to you to determine what is the bearable waiting threshold: half an hour, an hour? It’s long, but there are specialists who are worth it.
Choose an available pediatrician
However, make sure the doctor is available :
- How quickly do you get a follow-up appointment?
- How many places are reserved for sick children?
- How urgently can your baby be received?
Some professionals also agree to give advice over the phone. Even better, after a consultation, others call your home to inquire about the child. A great proof of investment!
The indisputable human qualities of the pediatrician
During the first months, parents are often anxious and helpless in the face of their infant’s crying and minor ailments. During the consultation, it is essential that the pediatrician knows how to get his message across without making you feel guilty or worrying. On the contrary, it’s up to him to reassure you and play down the situation. A relationship of trust is essential.
You don’t have to be embarrassed to ask questions. And above all, he must take the time to answer them. Nothing could be more unpleasant than a visit sent with the obligation to dress his little one in the waiting room! Usually, a first consultation lasts half an hour, enough time to get to know each other and make sure everything is fine.
The doctor’s behavior with the baby, how he “handles” him, how he talks to him, must also be suitable for you. You will quickly realize if this pediatrician simply enjoys contact with children. And yes, sometimes the question can arise!
Finally, if he is an authority in the medical field, the pediatrician does not have to ask you his views on education.
Note: You can completely orient yourself towards a general practitioner, whose field of expertise covers babies and children. Some even display a university or inter-university diploma in pediatrics, in addition to their general medicine diploma.
Some choices are yours
Choosing a pediatrician also depends on your desires. So you may prefer (for example):
- A woman or a man
- A newly graduated pediatrician or one with more experience,
- A homeopathic pediatrician, it is about a pediatrician having followed a specialization in homeopathy.
- A pediatrician attached to the hospital or not.
Also, if you have chosen a pediatrician and it does not suit you (for any reason), do not hesitate to change the pediatrician . No need to feel guilty, the baby’s health monitoring will not be impacted.