Right now my children have a pediatrician and a allergy/asthma specialist and my hubby and i go to a family practice doctor. i am thinking about bringing both kids (7 and 10) over to our doctor. we do not see the pediatrician unless the kids are sick. they do see the allegry/asthma doctor on a regular basis. so my question is how many of you go to one family doctor and at what age did you take your children? thank you in advance
thank you for all the responses. i am going to interview the family doctor i want to move us all too and then go from there. thank you again
DD is 6, and we have separate doctors. I'd rather have her seen by someone who specializes in children.
I prefer the pediatrician. They have to have extra schooling above and beyond a general doctor and they have equipment made for children as opposed to adult size. Our pediatrician actually recommends us taking the kids to her instead of the Urgent Care because she is better equipped to care for the kids then the Urgent Care in the same building and practice is. Even if she squeezes us in for 2 minutes in order to refer us over to the specialist for something, she would rather do that.
We plan to take them to her until they are too old to go there.
We just switched our 14yo son to our family doctor because he felt silly sitting in the pediatrician's waiting room. We really love our pediatrician though, so we still take our 8yo to him. We like our family doctor, too, but we don't know him as well, yet. In a few years we will switch our youngest, too, and we will all go to the family doctor.
I've always taken my kids to the pediatrician. My oldest is now 20 and still goes LOL. She likes it there and they said they could see her until age 21. My son is 17 and I don't think he cares one way or the other. They've been seeing him and treating him for ADHD for years, so I see no reason to change.
I find it easier to get in to see the pediatrician on short notice than I do our family doctor. So I'll just stay as long as I can.
My son is now 17, but he's been going to my family doctor for years.
He likes the doctor, and that's the main thing. It's also easier to get him an appointment as opposed to the pediatrician's office.
I switched him when he was about 8. By that age, he didn't need the play area or the "baby" shows on the television. He was perfectly fine sitting in a waiting room and waiting his turn.
I guess it all depends on the kids and the doctor and if it's a good match.
It worked out well for my son.
Best wishes.
I too prefer the pediatrician as he specializes in kids' development along w/ illnesses...and a decent pedi will refer you to a specialist when your child really needs one...
...perhaps when mine is in high school and finished with puberty (o boy!) I may reconsider...
As long as my kids are in elementary school at least I will continue to take them to the pediatrician. The staff is awesome and they keep themselves up to date on all the illnesses going on in our area. Because they see kids all day, they know exactly what is being spread in the school at the moment, the progress of the illness, the recovery time frame.
I think it depends on your doctor. What experience does he have in kids. Treating kids is very different than adults.
We have only our family doctor. (and my son also has an allergist) While I don't always think he is quite as thorough as a pediatrician, he is great for most run of the mill illnesses, and he is also not at all afraid to refer us on to a specialist when needed.
The reason I liked a ped better than a family doctor was because I didn't want to have to compete with appointment times with adults.
If your family doctor has a smaller practice and you can get in same day or at least next day for sick appointments, then it makes sense if you want to switch. If that's not the case, I'd stay with the ped.
What is the most important is having a doctor who knows your children and who you can call on in case of problems. I have chosen doctors who fit that description and have always been happy. (That, along with offices that use butterfly needles to take blood and have quick strep tests, LOL!)
Dawn
I've always taken my kids to my family doctor never to a pediatrician. It is a group practice and has two pediatricians on staff but I like our family doctor and refuse to see any of the others unless absolutely necessary. Plus she's used to seeing kids of any age. I would ask your family doctor if they are comfortable seeing kids and discuss this question with them.
We have a very close family friend who is a pediatrician. When my kids were born, he said it was important for children to see an actual pediatrician and not a family doctor. Kids' bodies are different from adults' and you need a specialist to get the best treatment.
