Many soon to be parents will ask a family member of friend who recently had a baby for references when it comes to finding a pediatrician. Perhaps you have a co-worker or neighbor that had a positive experience and you want to talk to their doctor as well. Even if you get a great reference for a pediatrician from someone you know, it is still recommended you talk to several doctors before making your choice. After all, one pediatrician may click with your friend but possibly not you. Therefore, use the references you get but then do some searching on your own too.
For instance, check out the American Board of Pediatricians (www.ABP.org) where doctors are listed. Keep in mind that any pediatrician certified by this organization has to meet strict guidelines to include completion of four years of medical school, three years of resident training, and the successful completion of all written exams. This organization provides names for some excellent doctors, making it a top resource.
Another possibility for finding a pediatrician is by going through the American Academy of Pediatrics (www.AAP.org). This online website offers a tremendous database of qualified doctors. In this case, you would have access to more than 60,000 pediatricians from around the country, some specializing on general care and others on children with specific health issues. With such a huge selection, you are sure to find the perfect doctor.
Finally, you can always talk to a trusted family doctor, asking him or her for recommendations. Usually, a family doctor will be very selective in who is referred. Since most doctors network, the information provided is likely trustworthy. After all, your family care doctor is not going to want to lose you as a patient so the reference provided would be someone qualified and of the same caliber.