Start looking even before baby comes.

Soon as the pregnancy test is positive, get ready to start looking for a doctor who will help you care for your baby. By your eighth month, you should have already made your choice. Ideally, it’s your baby’s own pediatrician who checks on him after birth and discharges him from the hospital.

You will be seeing a lot of the pediatrician throughout your baby’s first years. Note that doc isn’t just there for sick babies. There will be regular check-ups and vaccinations along with growth and development assessments. You will be visiting your pediatrician at least eight times in the first year – not counting baby’s sick days. So choose well!

Start by asking for referrals from other parents. Your trusted primary care physician or obstetrician can also give you some leads. The American Academy of Pediatrics (aap.org) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (aafp.org) have online databases to help you locate providers in your area. Once you’ve got a list of candidates, check your health insurance plan, if you must choose a provider from a list. Consider these other factors before narrowing down your choice of doctors:

Competence. Know the doctor’s credentials. First, any doctor should be board certified. You might want to see if the doctor has additional fellowships or special training that may be relevant to your child. Does he or she have a reputation for being a good doctor? What do other people you trust say about the candidate doctor?

Location. It’s important that you choose a doctor nearby. Proximity is key – considering how often you’ll have to take your child for well-baby visits. And you do not want to have to drive far in case of an emergency! A doctor within your community will also know what services your town offers, including child care, preschool, speech or physical therapy, help for learning problems, and special education – when these are needed.

Bonuses. Some pediatric clinics offer parenting workshops, information web sites or old-fashioned house calls. Some practices have in-house facilities that can handle trauma or asthma crises or other procedures that can save you a trip to the ER. Look into such perks your candidate doctors may offer.

It’s important to choose a doctor you can establish good rapport with. When you go for an initial interview, ask your candidate questions to see how his or her approach matches your own – Do you encourage breast feeding? What if you decide to bottle feed? What is the doctor’s advice on when to start solids? What’s her approach on antibiotics? It’s a lot to ask before your child is born, but you would want a pediatrician who is generous with answers – and answers to such questions can tell you if you will both be in sync.

Pay attention to small details that can say a lot. The doctor’s clinic should be clean but inviting to children – with toys and books to keep them occupied. Do the people in the waiting room go in on time? Are the nurses and staff gracious and kid-friendly?

Your relationship with your child’s pediatrician is going to be very crucial. Make sure you take time and effort to choose the right one. It won’t be easy hopping from one doctor to the next once baby has arrived.

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