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How to Prepare to Go Back to School

School is back in session! If you’re a parent with kids in school, you know how much work this can be. It’s not just about preparing your little ones ready for their first day at school. It’s also about preparing yourself for the changes that are coming up. As you know, during the pandemic, there was a lot of uncertainty in our daily lives. We have all been working together to create new routines that help us feel more comfortable with what we can control.

One thing you can control this back-to-school season is your child’s stress levels. Now that they return to school or daycare, they will have more social interactions outside their home environment. This is great because children learn from each other, but it can also cause some anxiety if they are unprepared before starting this new chapter in their lives.

Whether your child is starting kindergarten or moving on to middle school, there are some things you can do ahead of time to make sure you and your child are prepared for what’s ahead.

As a parent, you know that returning to school stresses everyone involved. For parents, this transition can be tricky—not only do you have to prepare your child for a new school year, but you also have to adjust your schedule around them. There are so many ways in which your child’s life will change, but one thing that should never change is your love for them.

Here are some tips for preparing yourself, your child, and your whole family for back to school:

Preparing to Go Back to School

You don’t want to wait until the last minute to start getting ready for back to school. Start early so you can take care of your shopping and planning in one fell swoop. If you wait until August, it’ll be too late. Start thinking about what your kids need now so you can make a list, organize, and complete your shopping.

Whether it’s asking family members or friends to watch the kids while you go grocery shopping or asking them to help organize their clothes, having extra hands can make a big difference when it comes to preparing for back-to-school season.

Choose the Learning Mode

Many schools offer online learning environments or hybrid programs that combine online learning with in-person instruction. Consider these options if available because they reduce stress on families. This is especially true if one parent works while another stays at home with their children.

Setting Clear Expectations

Parents must set clear expectations with their children about what will happen at home and in school. This includes setting limits on screen time, making sure homework is done on time, how they will be spending recess (playing outside), etc.

How to Prepare to Go Back to School Blog Image1 - MHA of WNY

Please make sure you tell your kids that they need to respect their teachers. For example, by not talking during class, staying focused on the task at hand, and following directions given by their teacher (no matter how silly). If possible, take them out of class once in a while so they can see what happens in other classrooms. This can help them understand why rules are important and why it’s best if everyone follows them so everyone can learn from each other.

Set clear expectations around behavior, grades and homework so everyone knows what is expected of them. Even if you don’t have any rules right now, make sure all family members understand why certain things need to happen when they happen.

For instance, set times when homework needs to be done each day (like after dinner). This helps your children learn how long homework takes. Thus, they don’t rush through it just before bedtime or skip doing it altogether because they don’t have enough time during the day.

Emergency Details

Make sure you have emergency contact information on hand that includes all family members’ names, phone numbers, addresses, emails, and any other important information about each individual in case there’s an emergency that requires immediate attention.

Prepare Materials

You may want to prepare materials ahead of time, for example, having all necessary supplies ready so they don’t get lost during the move or forgotten at home because they were packed away somewhere else while preparing for school.

Before starting the packing process, take stock of what your child needs before heading back to school. This will help you avoid missing items at the last minute. You may want to consider creating an organized checklist so that you can easily refer back to it when needed. Here are some items that might be helpful on your list:

  • School supplies – notebooks, pencils, pens, folders, and binders
  • Clothes – sneakers or tennis shoes, socks, and outerwear such as raincoats or umbrellas. It depends on the weather conditions in your area
  • Electronics – cell phone/ipad charger, earbuds/headphones**(if your child has one)

Managing Your Child’s Back-to-School Stress

The first step in managing your child’s back-to-school stress is ensuring they are prepared to do their best at school. This may involve:

  • Checking their immunizations are up to date.
  • Getting them comfortable with their new teachers and classmates or reconnecting with old ones if they have been out of school for a while (e.g., due to illness)
  • Communicating with teachers about any changes in your child’s health since last year that may impact how well they do at school (e.g., new medications, asthma flare-ups)

To avoid feeling anxious about the whole process, set up an area where you can work without distractions. Do this on a weekend when everyone else has gone out to focus on accomplishing tasks without interruptions. Then, allow enough time for breaks if needed without worrying about rushing through things.

Your child’s pediatrician is also better placed to help you with your child since you both have their best interests.

A young girl having her oatmeal outside the house.

Fun and Healthy Snacks Ideas Kids Will Love This Summer

Summertime is here and whether your kids are at home for the summer or they are still in daycare, the changing seasons can cause a fluctuation in scheduling. Drop the stress and try some of these healthy snacks for kids and toddlers this summer. Whether you’re looking for toddler snacks, fun snacks, quick and easy snacks, or snacks on the go, there’s a little something for every lifestyle!

Healthy Snacks and Child Development

It can be easy to just grab a bag of chips or a box of goldfish and hand it to our children when we’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed. We’ve all done it and we’re still going to have days where that’s the go-to snack because none of us are perfect! However, these snacks should be grabbed sparingly as the foods kids eat will impact their overall development!

Physical Benefits of Healthy Food for Kids

Live Strong provides a variety of benefits that healthy foods will have on your child’s physical well-being, including:

  • Optimizing their growth
  • Prevents childhood obesity, which nearly 1 in 3 children suffer from in the U.S. and places them at risk of chronic diseases as adults
  • Promotes a lifetime of healthy eating choices

Cognitive Benefits of Healthy Food for Kids

Not only are there important physical benefits to choosing healthy over-processed foods, but there is an array of cognitive benefits as well. Pediasure notes that these include:

  • Healthy brain functioning
  • Optimal brain development
  • Neurotransmitter formation
  • Better concentration, mood, and behavior

Additionally, children who aren’t receiving enough of the right nutrients can suffer from Failure to Thrive, leading to delayed mental, social, and physical skills!

Tips for Getting Your Kids to Eat Healthier

Portrait of a young girl eating yogurt.

Trying to focus on healthy snacks for kids and toddlers (especially the picky eaters) feels daunting, but we’re here to help share a few tips to make it easier!

Focus on healthy eating habits, it should be more of a lifestyle than a daily battle. Don’t worry about specific foods they should be eating, but a variety of foods that fall within a whole foods diet. You can also mask the taste of healthy foods, cook more at home, and get your kids involved. Remember to lead by example as kids love to imitate you!

Work to make mealtimes more than just eating healthy by eating together often, taking an interest in their lives, teaching by example, and monitoring their eating habits. Incorporating daily social interaction into your kids’ lives relieves stress and boosts their mood and self-esteem!

Cut down on sugar with fun treats that are just made with less sugar (like popsicles and baked goods). You don’t need to cut out sugar and refined carbs entirely as this will lead to overindulging and uncontrollable cravings.

Come up with junk food alternatives like baked fries instead of fried, frozen yogurt or sorbet instead of ice cream, and baked veggie chips instead of potato chips!

Healthy Summer-Inspired Snack Ideas for Kids and Toddlers

Creating healthy snacks for kids can feel overwhelming on your best day, but we’ve found a variety of recipes to try out for all lifestyles!

Mother feeding child in a fun environment

Healthy Snacks for Toddlers

Choose colorful fruits and veggies, a variety of textures, and utilize cutout shapes all in the name of keeping toddlers amused and interested! Give some of these ideas a try:

Find more toddler-friendly snack inspo here!

Quick Summer Snacks

Sometimes we don’t have an hour or two to prepare healthy snacks that are a little too complicated to make. Try out some of these healthy, quick, and easy kid-friendly summer snacks:

  • Fruit and cheese kabobs
  • Peanut butter yogurt fruit dip
  • Veggie dip cups (make dip ahead or purchase a healthy veggie dip)
  • Ants on a log (celery topped with peanut butter and raisins)
  • Fun and healthy snack mixes
  • Sliced pears with ricotta cheese
  • Turkey and avocado roll-up (warp sliced avocado in turkey slices)
  • Carrot sticks and hummus

It’s not always about making it overcomplicated, but making it look fun to eat!

Healthy Summer Snacks for Kids

If you have the time to try out some new recipes to spice up snack time and keep the options healthy, give these recipes a try:

Find even more recipes here!

Healthy Snacks on the Go

If you need snacks for daycare, a day at the park, or a road trip, they can still be healthy! Great snacks for kids on the go are easy to eat out of a container or just with their hands and aren’t very messy such as:

  • Homemade cheese crackers
  • Homemade potato chips
  • Carrot and zucchini bars
  • Muffins
  • Energy balls
  • Veggie and dip or hummus cups
  • Fruit and cheese kabobs
  • Fruit dip with fruit cups
  • Snack mixes
  • Ants on a log
  • Soft granola bars
  • Oatmeal bars

All these recipes can be found in the links above!

Talk to your pediatrician about ways to boost your kids’ nutrition today!

A father took his daughter to the park to practice skateboarding as one of their summertime activities.

9 Summertime Activities for You and Your Kids

Summer is right around the corner, and that means that your kids are out of school, and you get to enjoy a lot of extra time with them. This is an excellent time to engage in some fun summer activities. There are so many things that you can do both indoors and outdoors during the summer, and these are activities that everyone will enjoy. Here are some great ideas for summertime activities!

1. Go on Bike Rides for Summertime Activities

One awesome summer activity to consider with your kids is to go on a bike ride. Depending on the age of your kids, this can be a trip around the block, or it could be a much longer biking excursion. The awesome thing about this is that it is something that kids of all ages can do, and it is a wonderful way to enjoy the great outdoors and stay active.

2. Make Homemade Shaved Ice

Another fun summer activity for you and your kids to enjoy is making homemade shaved ice. The ingredients are very simple and the shaved ice doesn’t take long to make. You will just need ice cubes, flavored syrup, and a blender or some other machine to shave your ice. Having multiple kinds of flavored syrup will make it even more fun. Then, you can blend the different flavorings together to create a whole new flavor.

3. Have a Picnic

A great outdoor activity to enjoy is a picnic. This is a very low-key event that you can do during lunchtime. You can either make all the picnic food at home or go to pick up some food. Having a picnic at a local park is an excellent idea because your kids can enjoy their meal, and then they can go play on all the playground equipment, play ball, or some other fun park activity.

A father and his kids participating in backyard camping as one of their outdoor summertime activities.

4. Go Camping in the Backyard

If you are a family that loves spending time outdoors, then a backyard campout is a great idea for summertime activities. You can set up a tent, roast some hot dogs and marshmallows, stargaze, tell stories around the campfire, and play camping games like kick the can. The convenience of having the campout in your backyard makes it possible for everyone to be involved. This involves babies or small children who will likely end up sleeping indoors.

5. Whip up Some Playdough

A very simple and fun recipe to make at home is playdough. All you need is flour, hot water, cream of tartar, vegetable oil, salt, and food coloring. You can mix up the playdough in around ten minutes, and you can let your kids choose what colors they want the playdough to be. Not only is the activity of making the playdough fun, but it gives your children something to play with for the next several days.

6. Go to the Library

It is so important that your kids continue to read during the summer, especially since they won’t be reading at school. Making time to visit the library during the summer will allow your kids to check out new books that they find fun and exciting. The library will have books for all ages, and they have a huge selection when it comes to genres, so your kids will have no problem finding books that they are interested in. You can also include your kids in library activities, such as story time, young adult activities, reading programs, and more.

7. Make Chalk Art

If you have some chalk and a sidewalk outside, you can make some pretty awesome chalk art. This can be as simple as going outside and drawing whatever you and your children would like, or it can be more extravagant, and you can host a contest where everyone draws a themed piece of art and an impartial judge will determine the winner.

8. Plant a Garden as One of Your Summertime Activities

An awesome learning activity for your kids is to plant a garden. This will teach them several skills that will help them to have life-long success. They will learn when to plant a garden, how to plant seeds, what is required to take care of them, how to weed a garden, when to harvest the fruits and vegetables, and so much more. You can then use the vegetables and fruits from the garden to make different dishes. Your kids can help with this process as well.

A mother and her kids participating in gardening as one of their summertime activities.

9. Go to the Water Park

When it starts to get really warm outside, this is a great time to head to the water park with your kids. The water park has different water features that appeal to a huge age range. Thus, you can easily monitor your children while they are playing. Water parks are also excellent for important family events during the summer, such as a birthday party. They, indeed, have plenty of space and provide a lot of fun.

Enjoy The Summer Together

Regardless of what activities you and your kids chose this summer, enjoy this time with your family. Summer is short and a great opportunity to create some memories that last a lifetime.

A Child's Development Depends Upon Strong Mental Health-MHA of WNY Blog Featured Image

A Child’s Development Depends Upon Strong Mental Health

We worry so much about our children reaching physical and cognitive milestones that we can sometimes forget about cultivating their mental health, starting the day they are born. We hold them close when they cry, speak to them in sweet voices to keep them calm, and tell them how perfect they are.

Still, an average of 17.1 million kids have reported suffering from a mental health disorder each year in the U.S., with half of them officially diagnosed before the age of 14. There are still many who go undiagnosed and end up in trouble more and more each year.

So, what do we do about our kids? How can we, from the very beginning, give them the tools for great mental health? What can we do to increase the mental wellness of our children? How can we tell if our children need more? 

What Children Need For Strong Mental Health 

The quality of our child’s mental health can be dependent upon what we emphasize in our way of parenting. We make faces at them until they learn to smile, teach them to walk, and encourage them to talk, but is this enough to support their psychological growth?

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Setting our children up for success, mentally speaking, is one of the greatest gifts we can give them. And a healthy mindset begins at home, with supportive and engaged parents just like you. The fact that you are reading, or skimming, this blog means that you are mindful of change. 

  • Our kids need to feel safe wherever they are, such as in daycare, the park, and especially at home. Losing a sense of safety causes anxiety and fear.
  • They need a strong sense of independence, which means giving them the ability to test their limits while keeping them safe. They need to be able to rely on themselves as well as you. 
  • Our children need to know, even when you are not around, that they are loved unconditionally. Feeling alone can be detrimental to anyone’s mental health, but especially to a child who is dependent on you to survive.
  • A strong sense of self, confidence, and high self-esteem, most of which come from the family dynamic and how they are brought up. A confident child knows themselves, feels safe, and learns to trust their own instincts. 
  • Encouragement and support in all areas of their life. Just be there for them and support their ideas, activities, and even their failures. 
  • The opportunity to play freely with their peers, especially imaginative play, without fear of teasing or shaming. Children learn from other children and mimic the behaviors and actions that they witness. Shame gives them a reason to give up and can cause ruminating thoughts and anxiety in the future.

As parents and caregivers, we have a lot on our plates, but we should still sit back and watch how our young ones interact with the world. How is their self-esteem? Do they seem fearful, angry, or agitated? Are they choosing to embrace destructive behaviors or is there a hesitation when needing to interact with others?

Much like any disorder, the earlier the intervention, the better the prognosis. Connecting with your child’s pediatrician is a great way to start helping them before any of these negative feelings become a permanent part of them. Sometimes, it does take a village to raise a child, and you can build your own with trustworthy and empathetic people who have your kid’s best interest at heart.

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Child’s Development Depends Upon Strong Mental Health

While their physical and cognitive abilities are incredibly important, both are supported, consistently maintained, and strengthened through a positive sense of self and an innate feeling of safety. The truth is, our babies, toddlers, and children cannot reach their milestones on time, and effectively, if they aren’t yet able to cope with the obstacles that they will naturally face.

  • We can help our kids by setting realistic expectations and goals for them to reach, and praising them when they reach them. This can show your child how to effectively deal with problems as they arise, without so much anxiety, while reinforcing their independence.
  • Encourage them to try new things and allow them to fall before you pick them up. We can learn just as much from falling as we do from flying. Reinforcing a sense of security after the fall strengthens their self-esteem and general confidence. 
  • Admit when you are wrong and apologize when it’s warranted. This not only shows our kids that none of us are perfect, but that we all fail, and it’s okay to admit our flaws, especially with a heartfelt apology. Show them what to do by modeling the more humble response and encourage them to do the same.

All in all, our children’s mental health can be affected by genes, but the tone at home really sets the stage for their future. Scheduling the services of a great pediatrician is the first step toward ensuring the quality of your child’s health.

If you are worried about your kiddo, or you need to find a pediatrician for your new bundle of joy, contact us at Medical Health Associates of WNY. We promise direct communication, compassionate care, and a knowledgeable team wholly dedicated to the health and safety of your children.

Medical Health Associates of WNY is always happy to help our families in Western New York.

Top 5 Reasons Your Child Should Exercise - MHA of WNY Featured Image

Top 5 Reasons Your Child Should Exercise

Exercise is vital at all ages of life, including in children. It doesn’t necessarily mean going to the gym. Any physical activity that increases the heart rate can be counted as exercise. Being physically active is important in children as it determines how their bodies and minds develop.

Physical Inactivity

Research has shown that physical activity in children has decreased worldwide. Many children lead a sedentary lifestyle, and parents are anxious if the amount of time children spend sitting in front of screens playing video games, watching television, and using tablets or cell phones will hinder their development.

Many factors contribute to this lack of physical activity in children, and they include:

  • Urban living
  • Technology
  • Academic pressure

The consequences of children having a sedentary lifestyle may not show when they are young. They are likely to have issues when they reach a certain age. According to research, inactive children are likely to become inactive adults.

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Being inactive has consequences like:

  • Energy imbalance that puts your child at risk of becoming obese
  • Increased risk of developing conditions like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease
  • Low bone density

Exercising in Children

Instilling positive exercise habits at an early age encourages your child’s development by enhancing motor skills and promoting bone and muscle growth.

Parents should encourage their children to do a variety  of exercises that promote:

  • Strength
  • Flexibility
  • Endurance

Strength exercises

Exercises that promote strength include exercises like crunches and pushups. These exercises will strengthen your child’s muscles and bones and tone their muscles.

Flexibility exercises

Exercises that increase flexibility include stretching activities such as dancing, yoga, martial arts, and a simple activity such as stretching to pick a toy for smaller children.

Endurance exercises

Exercises that build endurance are mainly aerobic. These activities help strengthen your child’s heart and improve their body’s oxygen circulation. Such activities include;

  • Cycling
  • Swimming
  • Walking
  • Jogging
  • Dancing
  • Playing soccer or basketball

Exercises Based on Your Child’s Age

Please encourage your child to be physically active for at least 60 minutes daily. The best way to engage your child in physical activities and keep them fit  is by:

  • Making it fun that they look forward to the activities
  • Involve the whole family
  • Schedule physical activities that are regular and are consistent
  • Be a good role model by being physically active

Activities for a child below 1 year

This age group involves children who are not mobile. As a parent, you can keep them active by including activities like tummy time and stretching to pick a toy for at least 30 minutes spread throughout the day.

Screen time is discouraged for this age group; instead, read a book or tell a story to your child as they rest. Also, ensure a good balance between physical activities and rest. Your child should get at least 17 hours of sleep daily.

Activities for children aged between 1-2 years

Children in this age group should get 180 minutes of activities spread out throughout the day. They should not be restrained for more than an hour at a time. Sleep is recommended for at least 11 hours every day.

Children in this group are slightly mobile and should be engaged in moderate-intensity activities. During resting time, avoid screen time and instead read a book to your child or tell them a story.

Activities for children aged between 3-4 years

Physical activities for 180 minutes spread out throughout the day for this group are recommended. This age group is normally very active, so this should not be a problem. Include fun activities in your daily routine, like running around.

Activities for children aged 5- 17 years

These are school-going children, and they should be encouraged to be physically active for at least 60 minutes every day. They should engage in moderate to vigorous aerobic activities like swimming, cycling, and other sports. Strengthening exercises should be encouraged and discourage them from being sedentary for long.

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Reasons Your Child Should Exercise

Parents should ensure their children exercise every day since exercise benefits their bodies and minds as they grow. Here are some reasons why you should encourage your child to be physically active;

1. Exercise Improves  fitness and overall health

Exercise will help your child keep fit and reduce the chances of becoming obese or overweight. It also protects them from health problems like cardiovascular diseases and Type 2  diabetes linked to obesity.

Exercise also strengthens your child’s bones and muscles, reducing the risk of conditions like osteoporosis.

2. Exercise improves brain function

As your child exercises, their heart rate increases, promoting cardiovascular fitness. This prompts the growth of new blood vessels in the brain and improves blood circulation to the brain.

According to research, exercise increases brain size, hence improving academic performance in children.

3. Exercise improves your child’s coordination, balance, flexibility, and posture.

It helps your child to be able to perform daily tasks with ease.

4. Exercise is good for your child’s mental health.

Exercise reduces the likelihood of a child getting anxiety and depression. When a child exercises, there is a release of endorphins in the brain, making your child happier.

Endorphins also improve your child’s self-confidence, give them better sleep, and increase their energy levels.

5. Exercise gives your child an opportunity to socialize

When your child engages in physical activities with other children, they learn to socialize, make friends, and share.

Final Thought

Parents should prioritize keeping their children active to promote their health and wellbeing. Ensure your child has protective equipment when exercising to avoid injuries, to minimize the risk of injuries.

Encouraging Healthy Home Habits - Medical Health Associates of WNY Blog - Featured Image

Encouraging Healthy Home Habits

New Parent Resources: Building Good Habits for Children

Your home is where you are instilling lessons your children will carry with them for the rest of their lives. As parents, we have a responsibility to help build healthy home habits with our children early-on, so they are set up for success into adulthood. Here’s how you can start encouraging healthy home habits with your children to ensure they have a strong foundation for the future.

Your Example is Massively Influential in Childhood Development

It’s important to keep in mind that one of the most powerful influences on childhood development is the example parents set. Children look to us to learn how to navigate the world. Given our influence, engaging our children in everything we do is extremely beneficial to establishing healthy habits. In the household, one way we can promote positive growth includes involving children in chores and interacting with our children with intention.

As you are navigating your day-to-day life, the way you speak and conduct yourself impacts how your children perceive tasks and situations. As an example, if you make doing chores seem like it’s just a normal part of the day (or even something that can be fun), your children won’t think of chores as the same level of burdensome they would if you were visibly dreading the chore. The same is true for encouraging nutritious meals, staying active, and managing emotions. Your example at home is essential to your child’s ability to build healthy habits.

Empower Your Children with Age-Appropriate Chores

When you are working toward building healthy home habits, ensure you are setting you and your children up for success. Age-appropriate chores are a great way to do that. They allow you to form habits early that can be built upon as your child grows.

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Starting early is key to making tasks seem less daunting. If your child has been accustomed to some type of chore for as long as they can remember, maintaining new responsibilities as they get older becomes much more seamless. Based on childhood development, here are some suggestions to help you navigate age-appropriate chores.

2-3 Years Olds

Around the toddler stage, your children will need the most guidance as they navigate their chores. Keeping in mind you will need to be involved with these chores, around 2 years of age, you can begin showing your child how to do things like:

  • Put away their toys when they’re finished
  • Organize books
  • Put clothes in the laundry hamper
  • Help make their bed

4-5 Years Olds

While your example is still influential to your child’s learning, now your child is moving into a stage where they can complete some chores independently. The chores they need help with versus chores they can do alone will vary by child, but around this age, children can do chores such as:

  • Water flowers and plants
  • Sort laundry to be washed
  • Clean up the dinner table
  • Help bring groceries inside
  • Tend to pet bowls

6-9 Years Olds

In this phase, your child is more capable than ever before to take on chores themselves, but they probably are the least interested in it. Before, your child was excited to help mom and dad, but this stage is typically where some rebellion sets in. That makes consistency through this stage even more important. Chores your child can now take on include:

  • Sweeping
  • Cleaning their room
  • Loading the dishwasher
  • Preparing snacks and breakfast for themselves
  • Helping to make dinner
  • Vacuuming around the house

10+ Years Olds

There are some differences in the chores a 10-year-old can do versus chores a 15-year-old can do, but the differences aren’t as drastic as we have seen in each previous stage. Once your child is 10 or older, that is a great time to give them specific chores they manage in the household. That could include things like:

  • Doing their own laundry
  • Taking out the garbage
  • Cooking simple (to more complex, as they age) meals
  • Washing the dishes
  • Overseeing pet care
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Using Childhood Development to Build Good Habits for Children

The foundation you lay with your children in your home is the groundwork to how they will approach adulthood. Beginning with the example you set from the time they are born to the consistency you uphold through each stage of their life, you are preparing your child to have healthy home habits not only when they live with you, but when they begin living on their own, as well.

While it can feel like we are always searching for the latest parenting hacks, sometimes going back to the basics of childhood development will help us make the largest impact on our children. If you have continued questions about how to build healthy home habits with your child as they develop through various stages, your pediatrician is always a fantastic resource. For Buffalo families, Medical Health Associates of Western New York is always happy to help.

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How to Find the Perfect Pediatrician for Your Child

Whether you are a new parent or a seasoned parenting pro, expecting a new baby is an exciting – and chaotic – time. There’s a lot on your to-do list, and finding the right pediatrician is one of many important decisions you have to make before giving birth.

Choosing the right pediatrician to care for your children is no easy task. When you select a pediatrician, you are establishing a relationship with a medical expert who will become close to your family and provide you with guidance through all stages of your child’s development.

This trusted expert will be there to support you through all sorts of bumps, bruises and sniffles.

When should you choose a pediatrician?

Who you’re entrusting with your child’s healthcare is an important decision. If you’re expecting, you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to find the right doctor.

Start looking for a pediatrician 2-3 months before your baby is due. Schedule a face-to-face visit at their offices or a virtual call to give yourself the opportunity to ask questions and see if they fit your needs.

After all, you’re going to see them quite a bit. Especially in your baby’s first year. A newborn will see a doctor between five and eight times for well-baby checkups and visits. And those visits don’t account for the unexpected visits for colds, fevers, rashes, and more.

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Your pediatrician will be your partner in your child’s health. You are making a commitment to your child’s health and development with the oversight of a board-certified medical professional.

5 things to consider when selecting your child’s doctor

First and foremost, choosing the right pediatrician starts with trust. Trust is the key ingredient for any working relationship. You have to trust both the provider, their expertise and their ability to listen and respect your wishes as a parent.

With trust in mind, here are five steps to choosing the right pediatrician.

1. Do Your Homework

Your Pediatrician should do more than accept your insurance policy. They should be trusted as an expert amongst the community. So, ask around.

Reach out to your personal network of family and friends for recommendations. You will most likely receive multiple recommendations and guidance on what practices to steer clear of. Then, check out social media and online reviews to learn more about other parent’s experiences.

With some trusted and referred providers in mind, narrow it down by those who accept your insurance policy. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that first-time parents actually meet with their pediatrician before their child is born.

2. Check Reviews

Finding the right pediatrician is not the same as shopping for a new pair of shoes online, but there is a lot you can learn from others’ insights. Read reviews carefully. You will want to pay attention to both positive and negative patient feedback.

How many reviews are available for the doctor or practice? What is the average rating? Have patients provided written reviews or basic star ratings?

Then, dig into the comments that have been left. Identify trends and feedback patterns. When reading through any negative reviews, take into consideration that one bad experience may not be an accurate reflection of the practice or provider. But, if there are 40 reviews in a row complaining about the provider’s inability to listen to a parent’s concerns about their child’s health, you may want to stay away from that provider. Use your best judgment.

Trusted review sites such as HealthGrades can be a great resource for your due diligence.

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3. Check for Convenience and Accessibility

As a parent, you are busy. You need a doctor who is available, accessible and has a supporting team of experts around them. You cannot afford hours of waiting on hold or dropped phone calls with the supporting call line.

A great place to start is the practice website. Ask yourself:

  • Is it easy to navigate?
  • Where is the practice located?
  • What are the office hours?
  • How can the doctor be reached?
  • Is there an easy-to-use patient portal for you to login and keep track of your childs’ health?
  • Are there clear profiles available for providers and their supporting medical staff?

If you cannot locate their office online, chances are they are not the accessible solution you are looking for.

4. Take Your Pediatrician for a Test Drive

If possible, take the time to meet with them face-to-face. You heard us. An initial appointment can allow you to see how they interact with new patients and families, engage with the office staff and experience first-hand what you can expect during the course of your child’s care.

An office visit provides you with an opportunity to speak directly to the doctor. Ask them questions like:

  • How long have you been practicing?
  • Why did you choose to become a pediatrician?
  • Any questions you have about upcoming healthcare needs for your child.

Pay attention to their responses as you will be developing a close relationship with this doctor. A great pediatrician treats the parents emotions just as well as they consider the treatment of your child. They will understand the anxiety of choosing the right solution for you and your family. In fact, some practices may even go as far as providing new-born resources such as online links, lactation consultants, and more.

Do not hesitate, get on the phone and give them a call.

5. Pay Attention to How The Doctor Interacts with Your Child

Trusting your network of friends and family, reading online reviews, and “test driving” the office with a consultation or phone call is only 10% of the journey to finding the perfect pediatrician.

The final deciding factor can come down to that first appointment when you are holding your child and sitting in their office. Trust your instincts and pay attention to the way the pediatrician interacts with you, your family and the patient.

Parents and pediatricians become partners in raising healthy children through all stages of development. Find a pediatrician that meets your needs and respects your family’s unique style, approach and philosophy when it comes to raising children.

A great pediatrician will take the time to listen, learn and educate you each step of the way.