Pediatrician: How to find the right doctor

How to find a pediatrician?

• Unless you live in a very rural area, you can usually choose between several paediatricians. You can have the state medical association in your federal state send you a list of pediatricians in your area.
• Or you get advice from friends of your parents. It is important to ask exactly what you like about a doctor and what not, your selection criteria may differ.
• Of course, you can also find tips and recommendations from other mothers about paediatricians in your area on the MomaSquad page in the local section . If you don’t find what you’re looking for there, you can also ask for recommendations in the question area .

Find a pediatrician as soon as possible

You should not wait until an acute emergency arises and you are forced to take your child to some unknown doctor. Take enough time to choose the right pediatrician. The decision for or against the doctor is largely based on your personal impression and well-being during an introductory meeting or the next U-examination .

Selection criteria for a good pediatrician:

• The furnishings of the practice should be bright and inviting. The waiting room should be clean and geared towards children.
• Not only the doctor, but also the rest of the practice staff should treat the children appropriately. You should take your time and respond to your child’s needs as best you can. Maybe your baby can sit on your lap for some check-ups or vaccinations to make them feel safe.
• The doctor should be empathetic and interested in you and your child. He should take the time to answer your many questions.
• The question of practice times and availability in emergencies is also important. Do the practice times match your working hours?
• Does he have any special interests or specialties in paediatrics? If you rely on alternative healing methods (e.g. homeopathy), you can of course also choose your pediatrician accordingly. For example, there are additional naturopathic training courses for general practitioners.
• Is he willing to discuss matters that do not require a visit over the phone?

Very important: You can change your pediatrician at any time if you don’t feel comfortable with him (anymore)! You can either cancel your appointment by telephone and have the documents sent to your new doctor. If you are uncomfortable with this, you can simply ask your new doctor to request the documents from the old doctor. Even a change of doctor during vaccination campaigns is not a problem.