Read Online What to Expect the First Year by Heidi Murkoff - Free Book Online Page B

wheel of your car or onto a bus or subway. And the farther you have to go, especially in nasty weather, the more complicated every outing will become, including those trips to the doctor. Factor in an illness or injury, and a nearby office isn’t just convenient—it can mean faster care for your little bundle. Your favorite candidate by far isn’t the closest one? Baby Doctor Right may be worth the trip.
    Office hours. Working 9 to 5? Then you’ll probably prefer a doctor who offers some early morning, evening, or weekend hours.
    Office atmosphere. You’ll get your first impression of a doctor’s office before you’ve even stepped inside. When you called for an appointment, were you treated to a voice that was eager to help or one that can’t be bothered? Remember, you’ll be on that line often as a new parent—phone friendliness matters, and compassion counts. You’ll gain more insight when you step up to the front desk of the doctor’s office. Is the front desk staff warm and welcoming, or frosty and brusque? Are little patients (and their parents) treated patiently? Or with equal parts annoyance and exasperation? Read between those lines—and you’ll learn volumes.
    Office decor. A baby doctor needs more than a couple of magazines on the table and a few tasteful prints on the wall to make the right design statement in the waiting room. On your consult visit, look for features that will make long waits less painful for both you and your expected: a fish tank, a comfortable play area, a selection of clean, well-maintained toys and books appropriate for a range of ages, low chairs or other sitting space designed for little bodies. Walls painted in bold colors and child-friendly patterns (orange kangaroos and yellow tigers rather than understated earth tones) and bright pictures also score comfort points with the smaller set. A welcome addition in the family doctor’s office: separate waiting areas for adults only and adults with children, as well as separate entrances for well visits and sick visits.
    Waiting time. A 45-minute wait when you’re pacing with a fussy infant or trying to distract a restless toddler with yet another picture book can be a trying experience for everyone. If you’re running on a tight schedule yourself, an inconveniently long wait may also be a logistical nightmare. Keep in mind, though, that squirmy babies and sick kids are (and should be) given priority over consults with expectant parents—so don’t judge the average waiting time by how long you’re kept waiting. Instead poll the parents in the waiting room (and ask how much of the waiting generally goes on in the exam room, too—since that wait can be the hardest of all).
    A long average wait can be a sign of an inefficiently run office, of overbooking, or of a doctor’s having more patients than he or she can handle.But it can also mean that the doctor or doctors in the office spend more time with their patients (or answering parent questions) than allotted—something you’re likely to appreciate more during the exam than during the wait. It can also mean that it’s office policy to squeeze in sick kids (or phone calls with worried parents) even when there’s no room in the schedule—something you’re sure to value when your child is the one who’s sick or you’re the parent who’s worried.
    House calls. Yes, a few pediatricians and family practitioners still make them, though often at a premium cost. Most of the time, however, house calls aren’t only unnecessary, they aren’t best for baby. At the office, a doctor can use equipment and perform tests that can’t be stashed in a little black bag. Still, situations may come up when a house call may be just what the doctor ordered—say, when your preschooler is home from preschool with a bad stomach bug, baby’s down with a high fever and a chesty cough,