The pediatrician is one of the most valuable players in your child’s life. It is critical that you feel comfortable talking with your doctor and sharing the most intimate details of your child’s life, growth, and development. This way, your doctor can help your child stay well.
If you do not already have a pediatrician that you like and trust, take the time to interview a few. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests asking about the doctor’s background and training, general office procedures, medical school, residency, finding someone who is conveniently located, learning the office policy on taking and returning phone calls, and deciding if you want someone in a group practice with other physicians. Other important deciding factors may include whether you can make an appointment on short notice if your child has a sore throat or infection, if the doctor communicates clearly about illnesses and treatments, and what the fees are for sick visits, routine examinations, and immunizations.
Once you have identified who this essential player in your child’s life will be, try to give a holistic picture of your child’s overall wellness.
“First and foremost, make sure your pediatrician thinks your child is developing normally in terms of physical development, mental health development, and social and emotional development,” says Dr. Kirsten Cullen Sharma, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at New York University Langone Medical Center. For some, language development may be a concern and a developmental pediatrician may come in handy.
“They can comment on whether children are hitting language or motor milestones, and if further evaluation is required, they can take the extra step and do more of an in-depth evaluation,” says Dr. Sharma. The pediatrician should not just be someone you see when your child is sick.
“You should have a relationship with the pediatrician from the time you come home from the hospital with your baby, and you should have a schedule so you feel like you are getting regular checkups annually and making sure whatever vaccines, hearing, and vision screenings are followed according to the time table,” she adds.
Allowing the pediatrician to get to know your child makes it easier for him to be counseled on healthy living.
“Recommendations can be given on healthy eating, physical activity, and how much media and technology access kids should have,” says Dr. Sharma.
Parents should pay attention to their kids and point out any changes to the pediatrician.
“If you see your child is not talking much, maybe he is shy or quiet and that is within the normal range, or maybe he needs more clinical support to help him speak more in public,” says Dr. Sharma. “If a child is anxious in general or has specific fears about things, find out if that is within normal limits or something that requires help, strategies, and support for the family and child.”
If you suspect your child has a delay, address it and seek therapeutic support so you can have the best outcome. The pediatrician will let you know if he is on par in all aspects of growth and development, both physical and otherwise.
“There is a growth and weight chart of what is considered normal, but there is also a range for other domains like language and fine motor skills, and parents need to be aware of those things,” says Dr. Sharma.
Help your child view the pediatrician as a friend and advocate, rather than someone to be feared.
“It is helpful for families to have a support person in the medical field who can pay attention to those things that parents might not pick up on their own,” says Dr. Sharma, adding let nervous children know that everyone sees a pediatrician. “It is important for them to know that all kids go and the pediatrician helps them stay healthy, gives the family good advice on how to live a healthy lifestyle, and is a support person who really cares about children.”
Of course, it is normal for children to feel anxious about visits.
“Some kids are scared to go because a common fear is getting shots, so one of the best things the pediatrician can do is explain to the child and parent exactly what is happening before he does it,” says Dr. Sharma. This means if your child is getting a shot, the pediatrician should tell what it is, why it is being done, how long it will take and what it feels like.
“It is about helping the child to be comfortable and let them know what is going to happen at every step along the way because it eases anxiety for a lot of them,” she says.
Let your child do some talking.
“It is helpful for kids to bring questions to the pediatrician because it helps them feel involved,” says Dr. Sharma.
Take a journal with you and write down your child’s measurements and how he is doing. Ask questions about medications, vaccines and vitamins. Remember that your child does not want to spend a lot of time with the pediatrician, and time is limited.
“If you come in with your list of questions in advance and maybe tell the nurse what concerns you want answered, the doctor can focus that time on your concerns and it is helpful,” said Dr. Jennifer Shu, spokesman for the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Jamie Lober, author of “Pink Power” (www.getpinkpower.com), is dedicated to providing information on women’s and pediatric health topics. She can be reached at jamie@getpinkpower.com. © 2013 Jamie Lober
