Choosing the RIGHT doctor for your child is extremely important. A large part of a pediatrician's job is to educate you about your child's health and to help you deal with behavioral issues that may have little to do with illness. From the time your baby is born until he or she becomes an adolescent, your child's pediatrician will be one of the most important people in your life. That's why the time to carefully choose a pediatrician is before the baby arrives.

So where do you begin?
About three months before you're due, start compiling a list of potential pediatricians. Ask your obstetrician or primary care physician for a referral and tell them the qualities you are interested in. Ask other parents, friends, relatives or neighbors. Children's Hospital of Palmetto Health has a list of pediatricians with privileges at the hospital. Click the link at the top or bottom of this page to view it. Browsing the list can be helpful if you want a certain specialty or if a convenient location is important to you.

The American Academy of Pediatrics can give you a list of member doctors in your area. A pediatrician must meet certain criteria to become a Fellow of the AAP. Visit the AAP website or write to the Pediatrician Referral Department, AAP, PO Box 927, Elk Grove Village, IL 60009-0927. Be sure to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope and the name of the city and state you are interested in.

If you belong to a managed care plan, it also is important to find out what pediatricians are affiliated with it. Let your primary care physician pick out a few names from the list.

Schedule Interviews
Now that you have a list, you need to decide what things are important to you and schedule interviews with the pediatricians that make the short list. You certainly want someone with expertise and experience in children's heath and development, good credentials and hospital privileges. Just as important, though, is someone you can trust and feel comfortable with. That is something that you will only be able to determine from an in-person visit.

Most doctor's offices will accommodate your request for an interview with the doctor. You'll want to start the process about two months before you're due.

Questions to Ask
Try to understand that the doctor is busy treating other people's children. You wouldn't want your child ignored because the doctor was tied up in an interview for an hour, would you? Try to keep the interview around fifteen minutes. The goal of this meeting is to get to know the doctor's philosophy and personality. Discuss family medical history and issues important to you like breast-feeding, nutrition, sleeping habits and circumcision. Ask about office hours, scheduling procedures, phone inquiries and emergencies.

Here are some specific questions to consider...

How long have you practiced?
Do you have any sub-specialties?
What kind of parents do you work best with?
Do you encourage parents to call for routine questions?
Will you discuss behavioral and developmental issues?
Will I get reminders about immunizations in the mail?
Are there separate appointment times or waiting rooms for sick and well children?

Other Considerations
Knowing when you have met "Dr. Right" is really a gut reaction. Were you seen within a reasonable time of your appointment? Was the office staff courteous and helpful? Did the doctor ask probing questions and listen to answers? Is the doctor well-informed about preventive health measures? Was the office clean? Was it conveniently located?

Also, pay attention to the doctor's style. Do you want a pediatrician who offers you choices and lets you decide, or do you want one who gives a lot of direction? Do you want a warm doctor with a sense of humor, or would you prefer someone very clinical and straightforward? Two of the most important qualities you should keep in mind are competence and compassion.

If you feel uneasy at any point after your initial interview or visit, don't hesitate to talk to other pediatricians until you find one you feel comfortable with. After all, the pediatrician is going to be a partner in your child's health and development for many years to come.