Finding the right pediatrician can feel daunting. You’re looking for someone who gets you, supports your parenting style, and—most importantly—takes amazing care of your child.
Whether you’re expecting your first baby (congrats!), fostering a child, relocating to a new city, or simply realizing your current pediatrician isn’t the right fit anymore, the decision feels important. Because it is.
But you’re stuck. Scrolling through endless provider directories, texting friends for recommendations, and wondering what questions to ask during those awkward “meet-and-greet” appointments. The struggle is real, though finding the right pediatrician is worth it.
We’re here to make it easier for you. In this guide, we’ll walk through how to find a pediatrician who not only has the medical expertise to keep your child healthy but also aligns with your family values and communication style.
Read on for:
Ready to find your match? Let’s dive in.
Make things easier on yourself. Start by narrowing down your options based on clear-cut criteria. Dr. Scott Moore, a pediatrician, offers the same recommendations he’d give to his own family.
You’ve likely already been scanning online reviews. But here’s a detail worth noting: “Don’t just look at if the reviews are good, but at how many people write them,” suggests Dr. Moore. If a pediatrician inspires many people to share a positive review, it speaks volumes.
And as you tap into friends and family members for recommendations, consider expanding your circle. This is especially helpful when you’re moving to a new city, where you might not have close ties. Talk to neighbors and parents at school. What names keep popping up? Start your list of potential pediatricians here.
Once you have a list of possible pediatricians, you can compare the convenience of care at each of their practices. Consider how close they are to your home, work, school, or daycare. Do their hours work with your schedule? Is it easy to get ahold of the clinic without waiting through long phone trees?
Availability is about more than just clinic hours. Dr. Moore suggests asking questions like:
Most insurance providers will have a tool that allows you to search for pediatricians in your network. You can also check if they have privileges at your local children’s hospital or preferred hospital location.
When your child is sick, taking them in to see their clinician can feel like an uphill climb. That’s where telemedicine and electronic health records can help. Some common check-ups can be done virtually, and quick digital messages help you decide when it’s time to come in. Ask potential pediatricians how they use telemedicine and technology to make care easier and more convenient.
Even if everything looks good on paper, a good relationship with your pediatrician is more than the sum of its parts. Look for the wave of these green flags.
While it may seem like a “nice to have,” your comfort level can actually lead to better care for your child. When you’re comfortable, you’re more likely to ask questions and seek clarification. You’re not worried about asking a dumb question or repeating a question—because let’s be honest, it’s easy to forget one answer amid everything else you’re juggling that day.
“It takes time to build a relationship where you feel very comfortable with a clinician and office,” acknowledges Dr. Moore. “But you should feel an initial comfort and confidence with the whole team.”
Asking questions and even questioning care decisions is a form of collaboration. After all, nobody knows your child as well as you do. And a clinician that invites your questions has a team mentality.
“Healthcare works better when its two or more people thinking through the problem instead of a clinician saying, ‘This is what we’re going to do,’” says Dr. Moore. “You are part of the treatment team, too.”
Some of your healthcare experience happens outside the office visit. From insurance to billing to medical records, how smooth is the whole process? Has the practice taken time to make things efficient for you? That’s a definite green flag.
Many pediatric clinics offer a meet-and-greet style visit between a parent or guardian and the clinician. This is a great time to assess you and your child’s comfort with the pediatrician and ask questions.
Questions about board certification or vaccines may not be as helpful as you think. Dr. Moore points out that most pediatricians are now board certified, and most will recommend the CDC vaccination schedule.
Dr. Moore suggests asking these questions to get a feel for if a pediatrician is a good fit for your family:
Each relationship between a family and their pediatrician is unique—and that’s the heart of what you’re looking for: a relationship.
By asking the right questions and looking for green flags, you can find the right pediatrician. Someone who encourages you to ask questions, involves you in the care plan, has a plan for the unexpected, and generally makes your life easier.