Before baby arrives, you'll need to enlist a pediatrician. But how do you find a good one? The key to success is to get started early, preferably during your second trimester. You may not feel up to the search later, and you don't want to be scrambling around for referrals during the last few weeks of your pregnancy.

So where do you start? Arm yourself with the telephone book, suggestions from your childbirth educator, friends, or family with ties to the medical community. Take the time to meet with prospective physicians before baby is born. Ask questions and familiarize yourself with any health-care provider before committing your child's health to her. Don't feel shy about asking for interviews with several pediatricians. Your child's health is important, and choosing the right pediatrician should be on the very top of your to-do list.

A Checklist of Questions for the Baby Doctor
Print out this checklist using the "Print" function on your Web browser, and take it with you for each visit with a prospective pediatrician.

Before the Interview With the Baby Doctor
__ Do gender, age, or other factors make a difference to me?
__ Is the office convenient to my home, workplace, or child-care provider?
__ Are the office hours conducive to my family's needs?

During the Interview With the Baby Doctor
__ Are evening and weekend office hours available?
__ What do I do in case of an emergency?
__ How are after-hours patient needs handled?
__ Is this office a participant in my health-care plan?
__ How are billing and insurance claims handled?
__ To which hospital(s) does this physician have privileges?
__ If this doctor is part of a group, how likely is it that you will see her personally and how often will you see a physician's assistant or other caregiver?
__ How does the office handle phone calls for advice? Is a nurse or other medical professional available for questions?

After the Interview With the Baby Doctor
__ Do I feel I can build a cooperative relationship with this physician?
__ Is the staff cooperative and helpful?
__ Does the doctor respect my feelings regarding circumcision, immunizations, feeding, and use of medications? Are our philosophies similar?

The information on this Web site is designed for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your or your child's condition.

Content courtesy of American Baby.