Do you use a family doctor (PCP), a "pedi" or other for your LO?

[lellian]

We were seeing a PCP for our family when we lived in Boston that I just adored. She didn't attend our birth, and understood that I wanted to see a midwife for that (she actually ended up giving birth to her baby at the same midwife center) but she did see DD for her monthly check ups (not that we are vaxing, but she wanted to keep an eye on things.)

Now we are in Ohio, and I have to start searching again. I'm not looking for recommendations for a local doctor, but wonder what you do for your child's health care needs? Do you see a PCP, does your child have a pediatrician (are there pros and cons for having one vs not having one?), or do you see someone else altogether?

[sugarpop]

We see a family dr...I feel like we develop more of a relationship with them this way. They know us...all of us and our daughter. Not just one of us.

[MsVyky]

DD has a pediatrician (and a wonderful one at that after I left the original one that was assigned to her at the hospital when she was born). DH and I see a GP

[mama81]

Originally Posted by sugarpop

We see a family dr...I feel like we develop more of a relationship with them this way. They know us...all of us and our daughter. Not just one of us.

We love our family doctor! We switched from a pediatrician to a family doctor when our oldest was about 3 months and it's been great. Our youngest (7 weeks) sees the family doctor too.

[chel]

i just moved, and while i wanted a ped, i could only get dd2 into a family doctor
so far the issues dd has had required her to be refered elsewhere, but i feel the issues would have been missed if i didn't bring them up

[Mamabeakley]

I took DS1 & 2 to a pediatrician as infants. We now all see a family doctor, although his practice is really not focused on kids/teens much. I actually like this - I felt like the pediatrician tended to overreact to stuff and definitely was more interested in making sure the kids made all their appointments, etc. DD has been seen once, around 3 months, and will go again near her birthday - and of course we could take her in if she were ill or having problems. I feel like I have a good grasp on normal development at this point and don't need constant appointments (especially hauling two big brothers along).

[Katie T]

We see a family practice Dr. All of us see the same one and I adore him, very natural and laid back. I by luck picked him when I needed a Dr when my oldest was born. I has been to him a couple times for myself and felt like we clicked on our views but I wasn't his "patient" till DD1 was born.

I will cry the day he retires!

[phathui5]

We switched from a ped to a family doctor. I found that our family doctor put less energy into trying to convince us to vaccinate than most pediatricians I've heard about.

[ShadowMoon]

My son sees a pediatrician that I adore and has, thankfully, been on the same page with our parenting choices and style.

[Alisse]

My son sees my GP. I thought she would be great given that she has a little girl who's 1.5 years old, and so would be very familiar with the standards of practice and current recommendations.

[texaspeach]

we see a ped for ds because the family dr dh and I use is 45 mins away. I wanted someone close to the house because 45 minutes in the car with an ill child sounds awful

[Sharon, RN]

My DH and I see a PA, and both the children see a General Practitioner. I met her when DS#1 got Swine Flu (eeek!) and we just really got along, so after Noah was born we kept going to her.

I had a few pedi's with DS#1, some were ok, but they always seemed to be looking for things to be wrong. It got really tiring really fast.

[LindsC]

Right now both of my kids see the same family physician that I see. We are in the process of looking for a pediatrician though. The office we have been going to has been going downhill and the wait times have been outrageous lately.

[akind1]

DS sees a ped - neither DH and I have a PCP (DH does see the chiro regularly though) - I haven't seen the need for family doc for myself; I got my BC through a doc-in-a-box before having DS, and saw a midwife practice through my pregnancy. I wouldn't mind having all of us go to a family doc, just don't see the need to switch.

Our ped is at least open to selective/delay and non vaxing. (that is the most I could hope for in our area) and he is laid back about his growth. he's the rare one (on here at least) who is more on the lean side - 15 lbs now at 5 1/2 months. I wish we had a naturopath in the area, but I think the nearest is Charlotte (we are in Columbia) and I want someone local in the even DS gets sick enough I think he needs a doc.

[Biscuits & Gravy]

We see a family doctor who happens to also be a MDC mama.

[JennTheMomma]

We use a Pediatricain.

[CallMeMommy]

We all see the same FP doc. He's totally laid-back. He's getting close to retirement age, though, and I'm worried about who I'm going to find to replace him when the time comes!

[sunfish21]

We see both a pediatrician and a chiropractor, although for most things the chiro comes first! Not vaccinating but see a pedi as rec to build a relationship and keep an eye on things.

[angelpie545]

We used a pediatrician who is a member of a large practice-the same large practice that saw me and me siblings when we were babies. There are a few doctors there who I like to avoid due to personality/philosophy conflicts, but overall my children have received excellent care. They don't give me a whole lot of crap for delayed/selective vaccinating either, which is nice. We just started seeing a new doctor for my ds (2 months old) and so far she seems very nice, respectful, and competent.

[jillmamma]

Have you tried asking around in your area of Finding Your Tribe? Maybe another MDC mama in your area could recommend someone.

My kids go to a ped that is about 1.5 miles from our house. I have been pretty happy with the practice, and they are good about getting you in right away if you have a sick kiddo or concern. They are really supportive of long term breastfeeding too...the pediatric nurse there nursed her DS for 2.5 years.