Why do I need a pediatrician for my child? What does a pediatrician in Gaithersburg MD will do for my child? These are the few common questions asked by parents. Let’s find out having why having a pediatrician is important when your baby arrives.

Specialized Child Doctor

Pediatricians are specialized child doctors who are graduated from medical school and completed a three-year residency program in pediatrics. They are specially trained for treating infants, children, teenagers, and adults up to age 21. They are qualified for diagnosing and treating minor to serious health issues of babies, toddlers, adolescents, and young adults.

When your child falls sick, or you need reliable advice relating to your child’s health, a pediatrician is the one whom you see. Your pediatrician in Gaithersburg, MD will see your child many times from birth to age 2, as per the schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and most health insurances cover the cost of a pediatrician.

Provide Complete Child Healthcare

A pediatrician provides a gamut of services including vaccination, well-child visits, ear piercing, lactation consultancy, sports physicals, travel consultation, allergy testing, nutrition guidance, obesity education, and travel vaccines. If your child has a health condition that requires close monitoring, your pediatrician also offers specialized care for that. Your pediatrician provides complete child health care. When you use a pediatrician, you do not have to worry about, finding the doctor every time your baby fall sick or you need advice related to the health of your child.

Education about Child’s Health

A pediatrician gives you information about your child’s health, nutrition, safety, and fitness needs. Your pediatrician educates you about the growth and development of your little one. As your pediatrician in Gaithersburg, MD seeing your child right from the birth, he or she is the best person to counsel you about the health and development of your child. A pediatrician also gives age-appropriate counseling to the child and anticipatory guidance to parents for better parenting.

How to choose the right pediatrician?

Choosing a pediatrician is one of the most important decisions parents have to make before the baby arrives. Here are the few tips to choose the right pediatrician in Gaithersburg, MD for your child:

Get Recommendations and Search Online

The first thing you need to do is find the names of best pediatricians in your area. And the best way to start your search is to get recommendations from friends, family, and colleagues. If they have kids, there are probable chances that you will get some good referrals in your area. If you are short of names, you can also check the referral website of the American Academy of Pediatrics. You can also ask your primary care doctor for references. And, in the end, never forget to search online for best pediatricians in Gaithersburg, MD. Once you have a few names of pediatricians in your area, start narrowing down your options.

Check Credentials

Check the credentials of a pediatrician which are usually displayed on the practitioner’s wall. To become a qualified pediatrician, pediatricians have to be graduated from medical school and attend a 3-year residency program in the pediatrics. Make sure pediatrician is qualified and licensed to practice. Parents are also advised to choose a pediatrician who is board certified. American Board of Pediatrics conducts the test for certification of qualified pediatricians. Being a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP) shows your pediatrician has a certain level of skill, expertise, and knowledge.

Interview Pediatrician

And the last step is to interview pediatricians you are interested in, after all, your chemistry with your pediatrician matters a lot. Make sure you are comfortable explaining your concerns to the pediatrician. Prepare the list of questions you want to ask. Ask your pediatrician, how can I reach you in case of emergency? What are other specialists working in the hospital? What is the best time to call if I had queries? Is there anything you would want to know about my family?

So, these are the few tips you can follow to find the best pediatrician in Gaithersburg, MD.