Choosing a pediatrician: a practical checklist

Choosing a paediatrician is one of the first major healthcare decisions new parents make — and one of the few that will be quietly tested at 2 a.m. on a school night for the next decade. A little structure makes the choice much easier.

Start with logistics

• **Distance and parking.** A clinic that's a 45-minute drive will be visited less often than it should be. Aim for under 20 minutes door-to-door.
• **Hours.** Same-day sick appointments, evening or weekend cover, and after-hours phone advice are the difference between calm and a midnight A&E trip.
• **Hospital affiliation.** Which paediatric hospital does the practice admit to? You want one with a strong paediatric ICU within reach.
• **Insurance / fees.** Confirm the practice is in-network, and ask about charges for after-hours calls, vaccinations not covered by insurance, and developmental assessments.

Credentials worth checking

• Board certification in paediatrics.
• Years in practice, but also ongoing education — a paediatrician who lectures or supervises trainees usually stays current.
• Any sub-specialty interests (allergy, asthma, neurodevelopment) that match your family's history.

The questions you actually want answered at the first visit

• How are after-hours calls handled, and is there an extra fee?
• What's your approach to antibiotics for ear infections and coughs?
• How do you communicate routine results — portal, email, phone?
• How long is a typical well-child visit, and how long a sick visit?
• What's your vaccination philosophy? (A clear, evidence-based answer is the right answer.)
• If a specialist is needed, who do you usually refer to?

Signals of a great practice

• The front desk knows your child's name on the second visit.
• Routine 15-minute appointments don't feel rushed.
• The paediatrician explains to your child, not just to you, from age 3 onwards.
• You leave with a written plan, not just a verbal one, for anything more than a cold.

Red flags

• Hard to get a sick appointment the same day.
• Antibiotics prescribed for every viral illness.
• A practice that won't see you if vaccinations are delayed — or one that's casual about evidence-based vaccination at all.

Beyond the paediatrician

A good pediatrician is the anchor, but you'll occasionally need specialist input — a paediatric dermatologist for stubborn eczema, an ophthalmologist for a suspected squint, or a gynecologist for adolescent care. When the time comes for a complex decision, our piece on getting a second opinion walks through how to ask without burning a bridge.