How to Choose a Pediatrician?

When parents are asked when they first realized they started worrying about this tiny being, the answer is always the same: from the moment we knew they existed. The worries and concerns begins with the initial pregnancy test and seems to never end. We worry about nutrition, development, clothing, safety – and especially about their health. Every cough, fever, or sore unsettles us. We understand that children get sick from time to time, yet when it's your child, it keeps you up at night.

The Role of a Pediatrician

This is where pediatricians come in. They know how to reassure us, exactly what to say to make us feel better and more confident. They know how to listen, to look at the whole picture rather than just the specific issue that brought us in at that moment. They monitor the child’s development and progress. A pediatrician is there to answer concerns and questions, to guide parents, and to be a partner in their child's health journey. They will be there for the first tooth, the first cold, as well as for injuries and illnesses.

Choosing a pediatrician is not a simple decision. Various factors make the choice challenging, from technical aspects such as availability and even parking, to alignment between the doctor’s medical philosophy and the family’s approach. We've compiled information to help you choose the pediatrician who will accompany you and your child through the crucial early years.

What is the Definition of a Pediatrician?

Pediatricians undergo special additional training in children's medicine. They provide medical care from birth until enlistment (and sometimes beyond) and are responsible for the child’s health and proper development. Their role includes preventive care for healthy children and medical treatment for sick ones. It also involves monitoring growth, promoting safety and healthy habits, identifying developmental issues, referring to specialists, diagnosing and treating illnesses, and more.

Key Considerations When Choosing a Pediatrician

• Education and experience (where they studied, their specialty, and years
• of practice)
• Publications (whether they write medical articles or content related to child health and development)
• Online presence (availability of a website with information, articles, and guidelines)
• Availability (how many days and hours per week, consultation hours)
• Substitute coverage (who replaces the doctor during vacations, and whether reception hours change)
• Ease of contact (how accessible the doctor is for communication)
• Clinic accessibility (proximity to home, public transportation options, parking availability, stroller access)
• Philosophical alignment (does the doctor support your choices regarding breastfeeding, vaccinations, integrative medicine, dietary preferences, antibiotic use, etc.?)
• Approach to children (do they directly engage with the child, show interest in their well-being and development, and work to comfort and reassure them?)
• Approach to parents (patience, responsiveness, explanations, understanding parental concerns and needs)
• Emergency protocols (procedures for emergency hospital referrals—do they communicate with ER staff, follow up with hospital caregivers, or visit hospitalized patients?)

How to Choose?

• Dr. Efraim Rosenbaum, a pediatric specialist at Leumit, explains that in Israel, parents typically do not interview pediatricians before the first visit. He recommends using the initial visit to ask questions and gather information. Research shows that forming an initial connection with the pediatrician while the child is healthy—rather than when they are sick and the parents are stressed—can be beneficial.

Ask friends, talk to other parents at the playground, and seek recommendations. Then, consider the logistical aspects and rule out doctors who are too far or inaccessible. Finally, schedule an appointment, visit the clinic, and talk to the doctor.

Dr. Rosenbaum emphasizes that the current recommendation is to schedule the first pediatric visit at two weeks old, followed by check-ups every three months until the child turns one, and then annually. These routine visits include height and weight measurements, developmental assessments, scoliosis screening, and discussions about nutrition, sleep, physical and mental health, and more. Meeting the pediatrician during these well-child visits allows parents to get to know them in a calm and thorough manner.