Pediatrician Vs. Family Practice

There was a time I would have never recommended taking a child to a family doctor. Of course I was a Pediatric Nurse in a local hospital and worked with the Peds every day. If you have a good family physician that you really trust, I would not hesitate, and of course, this is assuming that your child does no have and significant health problems. If I had the family physician that I have now when my kids were little, I would not have even had to think twice, because she is wonder. I switched both of my kids there when they were teens and they both love her too.

I take my triplets to a pediatrician because they were preemies and have special concerns. But when we move again, and even with my older boys, a family doc is fine. It all boils down to their experience and if you all feel comfortable with them. If you feel your family doc is experienced and feel good about them, switch!

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HarrisburgPAChat

My son is 5, and my daughter is 1. My son saw a pediatrician once, and that was a referral from a family doc. Both of the family docs in our practice are GREAT with my kids. (Both female with kids of their own.) If you're comfortable with it, go for it! I've never had any cause for regret, even when my son had congestion-related asthma symptoms and needed a nebulizer.

Hi N.,

I chose to take my son to my family practice from the time he was born. I have not had any problems with them. They might not specialize in children, but they do have the same knowledge as pediatricians. One thing I like about taking him to the family practice is that they know him by name since they don't deal with little ones all the time, they find it "special" when they do get to have a visit with one.

L.