I have very fond memories of my childhood Pediatrician. His name was Dr. Louis Wellington. He sported a 1970s fro and always greeted everyone with a smile. He loved his job and his patients loved him. He set the standard for every other doctor that I would encounter in life. He had 62 years of experience and I remained a patient until I aged out. Did I forget to mention that he was of Haitian descent? My people! 🇭🇹💪🏾
So, of course, when it came time to find a Pediatrician for my munchkins, I took great care to select someone as knowledgeable, caring, and thorough as my own doctor.
Would you believe we just came from her doctor’s visit here? That child of mine!
I did my research and read every review available. I checked forums, mommy newsletters, directories, and Google searches until I found the right one. When hubby and I identified a possible option, we scheduled an interview and I wobbled my pregnant self to the doctor’s office to meet with him.
Nothing like having two appointments on the same day!
7 years and 2 kids later, we are still just as satisfied and happy as we were from day one. It was important for us to find a Pediatrician who our kids could relate to. We wanted a kid-friendly office, convenient/flexible access, and a knowledgeable and thorough provider.
We wanted to make sure our kiddos didn’t end up with a doctor who was only interested in collecting a copay. Not with my babies’ health on the line 👀!
Premier Pediatrics (Brooklyn, NY) won our hearts and has yet to let us down. From the time we entered the space, we could tell that they cared about children and went to great lengths to create a friendly, safe, and happy space for their little patients. Every visit includes an assessment of your child’s WHOLE health and an assessment of how the parents are doing. (We matter to them too!)
Our doctor will have a whole conversation with our daughter to see how school is going. What does she like and dislike, etc? She absolutely loves it and talks his poor ear off. Literally! 🤷🏾♀️
Our appointments never feel rushed even though every room is filled with a patient. I really wouldn’t trade our Pediatrician for the world.
“So what should I look for in a Pediatrician?”
Glad you asked.
How do they relate to your child AND How do they relate to you?
Why does this matter? Well, if your children feel uncomfortable around them, if they have no interest in building a relationship with you or your children, then walk away. Think about it, you’ll probably be dealing with this provider until your child turns 18 or 21. Why would you want to deal with someone who doesn’t want to deal with you or your child? Remember, your child’s health should never just be a means of collecting a paycheck.
I remember for a split second, my husband and I considered switching to a pediatrician closer to our home. We read the reviews and decided to set up an initial visit. From the moment we met the doctor, scanned the space, and saw how he assessed our newborn, hubby and I said NOPE! 🙅🏾♀️
Epic Fail! 🤦🏾♀️
We have been so spoiled by the great care our princess gets with our current pediatric practice, we could not allow our son to experience anything less.
As a parent, you have this inner voice that tells you whether to stay or flee and our voice simultaneously said RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! I don’t know what the reviewers were talking about but – no thanks! 😳
They are knowledgeable!
Listen, you definitely want a doctor that knows their stuff. They should stay up to date with new findings, treatments, etc. Things are always changing and you want to make sure your doctor stays on top of things. Our doctor has a plethora of downloadable resources right on their website. If I need to know what dosages to give our little prince, it’s there! If a new breakthrough is made in the pediatric world or a change in treatments, I guarantee that it will be mentioned in my next doctor’s visit.
As parents, we have enough to keep up. Knowing that we don’t have to also keep track of all medical updates is a relief. I mean, I can’t even remember when my kid’s school fundraiser is due. 🤪
They acknowledge that you are the parent and have the final say.
If our child is due for a vaccine or a couple, our doctor will provide us with a breakdown of every vaccine a week in advance so that we can take the time to review and decide if we want to proceed.
We always feel as though we have a choice and that makes us feel like a partner in the care of our children which means a lot to me. I never feel like I am treated less because I don’t have a medical background. Because of their transparency, I can say that I feel more informed when it comes to the needs of my children health-wise.
Flexible Schedule and Accessible.
I’m gonna be real with you! You are going to want a doctor who is available more than twice a week and with some late hours. Children are unpredictable. So when you get that call from school saying your daughter ran into a wall (that literally happened) and you need to take her to see the doctor, you don’t really want to have to fight with voicemail prompts.
I’ve been able to schedule early appointments and appointments as late as 6:20 p.m. I mean I do have a job, hello somebody! Flexible schedules matter and you will be grateful you took this into account.
These tips are just some things to look out for when interviewing docs for your little bundle. Of course, I am sure there are plenty of other things to consider. The point of the matter is to make sure you do your due diligence. Don’t rush and don’t settle!
There are plenty of amazing doctors out there. Take the time to find the right one for your family.
“How about you, mommies? How did you find your Pediatrician? What did you look for? SHARE AND COMMENT BELOW!”
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