Health Topics for Child Health and Development

UI Children's Hospital

UI Family Care Centers

Divisions Within the Department of Pediatrics

Iowa Registry for Congenital and Inherited Disorders

Choose Your Baby's Doctor

Plan to visit the physician you select for your child's care during your pregnancy. This is especially important if this is your first child or if you are new to the physician's practice.

Topics discussed with the infant's doctor include:

• care of the infant immediately after birth, in hospital and after discharge
• infant feeding choices
• circumcision
• car seats
• family history review

You may want to interview a number of physicians before making your selection. Your choice should make you feel comfortable about your children visiting the doctor and assure you that communication will be open. The first visit should be the beginning of a long-term, supportive relationship.

Before your visit, decide what questions you want to ask. The following may serve as guidelines for the interview.

1. What is the doctor's training, competency, communication skills, approach to child rearing and routine for well-child care? Does the doctor have any specific "parenting philosophy" for moms and dads?

2. What is the doctor's primary hospital affiliation?

3. How many partners, if any, does the doctor have? Are there other health care providers on staff, such as residents, pediatric nurse practitioners or child health associates? How are patients assigned?

4. What are the office hours, and are there extended hours for working parents? What is the policy and coverage for after-hours care and telephone calls?

5. What hospital emergency department do they recommend?

6. If there are older siblings, will the physician care for them as well?

Last Reviewed 2005

Source: Department of Nursing: Children's and Women's Services/OB-GYN Patient Education Committee

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.