You've picked your birth location, assembled your birth team, and maybe even started putting together your baby registry. But have you thought about who will be caring for your little one after they're born?
I'm talking about your pediatrician! Choosing a pediatrician is one of those things that can easily get overlooked during pregnancy. After all, you've probably spent the last several months focused on getting your baby safely into the world, not necessarily thinking about who will be checking their weight, monitoring their development, or answering your questions about that weird noise they keep making in their sleep.
But here's the thing: your pediatrician will likely be one of the healthcare providers you see most frequently during your baby's first year of life. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends well-child visits at 3–5 days, 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months, with additional visits as needed. That's quite a few appointments!
As a doula, I encourage my clients to start researching pediatricians during their third trimester. Ideally, you'll want to have someone selected before you deliver, since your baby's first appointment will typically take place just a few days after leaving the hospital. So, how do you choose the right pediatrician? And what should you be asking when you interview them? Don’t worry, I’ve done the heavy lifting for you!
First, Do You Really Need to Interview a Pediatrician?
Technically, no. You could simply choose someone your insurance covers, make an appointment, and call it a day. But would I recommend that? Not necessarily.
Think about how much consideration you put into choosing your birthing location, OB or midwife. You probably wanted someone whose approach to care aligned with your preferences, who listens to your concerns, and who makes you feel comfortable asking questions. Well, the same should apply to your baby's pediatrician!
Many pediatric offices offer prenatal consultations, sometimes called meet-and-greets, where expecting parents can learn about the practice and ask questions before their baby arrives. These appointments are a great opportunity to get a feel for the provider, understand how their office operates, and decide whether they're someone you can see yourself working with for years to come. And no, you don't need to show up with a three-page questionnaire. But there are a few topics I think are particularly important to cover.
1. What Does Newborn Care Look Like at Your Practice?
Let's start with the basics. Your baby will typically need to be seen by a pediatrician within 48–72 hours of hospital discharge, depending on their individual needs and discharge timing. These early visits are important because your pediatrician will be monitoring things like weight loss, feeding, hydration, and jaundice.
Questions to ask:
When should we schedule our baby's first appointment?
Do you have privileges at my birthing location, or will we have our first visit at your office?
Will we see you at every appointment, or will we rotate between providers?
What does the newborn appointment schedule look like?
How do you handle concerns about jaundice or excessive weight loss?
One thing worth knowing is that some pediatricians have privileges at local hospitals and may be able to examine your baby before discharge. Others only see patients in their offices, in which case your baby will typically be examined by the hospital's pediatric team before going home.
Neither arrangement is necessarily better, because regardless, your baby will be seen by a pediatrician before leaving the hospital; but it's helpful to know what to expect.
2. What Is Your Approach to Feeding?
This is a big one, especially if you're planning to breastfeed. We often spend so much time preparing for labor and delivery that we forget breastfeeding is an entirely new skill that both you AND your baby must learn. Unfortunately, while breastfeeding is natural, that doesn't necessarily mean it comes naturally to everyone.
Some babies latch beautifully from day one, while others need a little more help. Sometimes, despite doing everything "right," feeding just doesn't go the way you anticipated.
Questions to ask:
How do you support breastfeeding families?
Do you have a lactation consultant on staff or someone you refer to?
How do you determine whether a baby is gaining enough weight?
Under what circumstances would you recommend supplementing with formula or expressed breast milk?
How do you approach concerns about tongue ties or lip ties?
What support do you offer for families who choose formula or combination feeding?
Personally, I think it's important to find a pediatrician who supports your feeding goals while also prioritizing your baby's health. For example, if your newborn is losing more weight than expected, you want a provider who can explain why they're concerned, help assess what's happening, and work with you to create a feeding plan.
Sometimes supplementation is medically necessary while other times, additional lactation support may be enough. The important thing is having someone who evaluates your baby's individual needs. Side note: we have wonderful lactation consultants on our team that would be happy to troubleshoot any issues you may be facing!
3. How Do You Handle After-Hours Concerns?
Picture this: it's 2am, your baby feels warm, and you're trying to figure out whether you need to head to the emergency room or if this is something that can wait until morning.
I’m going to tell you right now, this situation will likely happen to you at some point in your child’s life. It’s frustrating and unfair, because why don’t those pesky viruses rear their ugly heads during the day when everything is open?? Anyways, believe me when I say that this is not the situation you want to be navigating without a plan!
Young infants, especially those under 3 months, require prompt medical evaluation for a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. So having access to timely medical guidance is particularly important during those first few months.
Questions to ask:
Do you have an after-hours nurse line or on-call pediatrician?
What should we do if our baby develops a fever overnight?
Do you offer same-day sick appointments?
Can we contact you through a patient portal for nonurgent questions?
If you're unavailable, who will see our baby?
Some practices have multiple pediatricians who rotate after-hours coverage, while others use a nurse triage service.
4. Does Their Approach to Care Align With Your Parenting Preferences?
Here's where I think things get particularly important. Your pediatrician is a medical professional with years of education and clinical experience. Their recommendations should be grounded in evidence-based medicine, and that expertise is incredibly valuable. But at the same time, you're your child's parent, and you deserve to understand the recommendations being made about their care. I talk a lot about informed decision-making when it comes to pregnancy and birth, and I believe that same philosophy should extend into pediatric care.
Questions to ask:
How would you describe your overall approach to pediatric care?
How do you involve parents in medical decisions?
How do you address questions about the recommended vaccination schedule?
What's your approach to prescribing antibiotics?
How do you handle situations where parents have concerns about a recommended treatment?
What guidance do you provide on infant sleep and safe sleep practices?
Now, I want to make one thing clear. Finding a pediatrician who respects your preferences doesn't mean finding someone who will simply agree with everything you say. Sometimes your pediatrician may recommend something you weren't expecting, and there may be very good medical reasons for it.
What’s important is whether they're willing to explain those reasons, discuss the risks and benefits, and answer your questions without making you feel dismissed.
5. What Happens If My Baby Needs Additional Support?
Most babies will only need routine pediatric care but sometimes concerns come up that require a little extra attention. It may be that your baby is struggling to feed, isn't meeting certain developmental milestones, or has persistent reflux symptoms. In these situations, your pediatrician will often be the first person helping you determine what comes next.
Questions to ask:
How do you monitor developmental milestones?
What happens if we have concerns about our baby's development?
Do you refer to feeding therapists, lactation consultants, or pediatric physical therapists?
How do you approach concerns about reflux, colic, or excessive crying?
How do you coordinate care when a baby needs to see a specialist?
I think this is especially important because pediatricians aren't expected to specialize in every aspect of infant development. For example, a baby experiencing feeding difficulties may benefit from working with an IBCLC (International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant) or feeding therapist in addition to their pediatrician. Having a provider who recognizes when additional support is needed and knows where to refer you can make a big difference.
6. Don't Forget the Logistics!
Okay, so you've found a pediatrician you really like. Their approach to care aligns with yours, they answer your questions thoroughly, and you feel great about the practice. Wonderful! Now let's make sure the logistics actually work for your family.
A few final questions:
Do you accept our insurance?
What are your office hours?
Do you offer weekend appointments?
How far in advance do we need to schedule well-child visits?
Are there any additional fees we should know about?
Which hospitals are you affiliated with?
And don't underestimate the importance of location! As someone who has navigated the newborn stage twice, I can tell you that loading a newborn into the car for yet another appointment isn't always the most enjoyable experience. Especially when you're recovering from birth yourself. Having a pediatrician close to home is definitely a bonus.
So, How Do You Know You've Found the Right Pediatrician?
After you've asked your questions, I want you to consider something that doesn't necessarily show up on a provider's website or résumé.
How did you feel during the conversation?
Did they seem genuinely interested in answering your questions? Did they take the time to explain their recommendations? Did you feel comfortable speaking up, or did you find yourself holding back because you didn't want to seem difficult? I think we sometimes forget that healthcare is a relationship. Yes, credentials, experience, and medical expertise matter tremendously. But so does communication.
Your pediatrician will be guiding you through some pretty significant moments in your child's life, and you want someone who makes you feel comfortable asking questions, especially when you're worried. And remember, choosing a pediatrician isn't a lifelong commitment! If you find that the relationship isn't working for your family, you're allowed to find someone else.
Final Thoughts From Your Doula
There's a lot that goes into preparing for a baby, and choosing a pediatrician is just one piece of the puzzle. My biggest recommendation is to start your search during your third trimester, ask other parents for recommendations, and try to interview at least one or two providers before making your decision. You don't need to find someone who shares every single parenting philosophy you have. You do, however, want someone who practices evidence-based medicine, communicates clearly, and respects your role as your child's parent.
As a birth doula, I spend a lot of time helping families prepare for labor and delivery, but I also believe that preparing for postpartum is just as important. And part of that preparation is making sure you have the right support system in place before baby arrives.
At DoulaDiligence, our team of birth and postpartum doulas helps families throughout Los Angeles and Ventura Counties navigate pregnancy, birth, and life with a newborn. If you're expecting and looking for support as you prepare to welcome your little one, we'd love to be part of your village!
Explore our services at DoulaDiligence