How to tell if it's time to find a new pediatrician

One of the most important decisions you will make as a parent is choosing what pediatrician to take your baby to. After all, this is the professional who will help take care your little one during the first couple years of her life.

But, despite the fact that you may have been satisfied with your physician's service in the past, that doesn't mean that you have to continue visiting his office if you feel your baby is no longer getting the attention or care that she needs.

Parenting.com recently published an article that gave mommies and daddies some tips they can use to determine when it might be time to start looking for a new pediatrician:

1) You don't have a chance to speak
If your baby's doctor is taking charge of the appointment and he's not letting you get a word in edgewise, then it's probably time to pack your bags and start looking. It's important that you, as a parent, get to speak, voice concerns and ask questions. If that isn't happening, then it's a red flag that your pediatrician may not be interested in what you think or have to say.

2) Your pediatrician doesn't follow through
Sure, we all know that physicians are busy. But, if your doctor says he is going to do something, like call you back and doesn't, then it's a sign that the office may be flooded and short-staffed. You and your baby should always see a pediatrician that follows through on his promises and if that isn't happening, then you may want to reconsider taking your bundle of joy to see him.

3) Your doctor rushes through the appointment
No matter how busy your pediatrician is, he should never try to finish the appointment as quickly as possible. One of the benefits of taking your baby to see the doctor in person is that you can expect a thorough exam, that means, having your baby examined from head to toe and being able to ask questions that you can't find answers to by simply browsing the internet. If you feel that your physician isn't giving his time like he should to you and your baby, you may want to think about whether you will be visiting his practice again.