Finding the right doctor for your baby is well worth the effort it will take. Ideally, you'll want to find someone who shares your philosophy of raising children or at least your general attitude if you don't have a full-blown philosophy yet. That way, you'll feel more comfortable expressing your concerns and thoughts about your child's health. Not only do you need to trust your doctor, but you need the doctor you choose to trust your mother's intuition. Here's how to shop for a doctor.

 

• Decide whether you prefer a pediatrician or a family practitioner. A pediatrician is specifically trained to treat children and is well versed in baby's stages of development and childhood illnesses. Family practitioners treat patients of all ages and provide the convenience of "one-stop" doctoring by treating everyone in a family.

• Make a list of potential doctors. Ask friends and family members for references, or call your hospital for a list of pediatricians or family practitioners who are accepting new patients. Also check with your health insurer for a list of approved physicians.

• Call each doctor on your list to schedule a consultation before your baby is born. Ask if there's a fee when you set up the appointment.

• Arrive for your appointment with a list of questions. Talk to both the doctor and the staff to get a better idea of how the office operates. Sit in the waiting room for a while to soak up the atmosphere and get an idea how the staff interacts with patients.