I had the hardest time finding a pediatrician for my son, no one was taking on new patients. I finally found one and although I love the doctor he’s told his patients that he will be retiring in a year. So I’m back on the hunt for a pediatrician.
My question is what do you have for your kids pediatrician or family doctor and are there benifits of chosing one over the other ?
Re: Pediatrician vs Family doctor
I am going with a family doctor.. I have been with her for 3 years and absolutely love her!! I didnt listen to her once and that was for choosing midwives over ob and I am suffering teh consequences of that.. I still call her during my pregnancy to put some pressure on my midwives for things!
I made my husband switch to her as well and now our baby will be going to her.. she is just very kind, sweet, and so far I like her!!!and the fact that I have always been accomodated for urgent visits, I feelc omfortable going to her!
She has evening appts so it is great for working parents.. and that was one of the reasons I chose her!
Make your list of things that you absolutely want in your doc and then go from there :-)
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We go to the same family doc...me and the girls. They had pediatricians until they were toddlers, then we switched as we moved and couldn't find a good peds. Family docs are trained to treat the entire family so really, there's no need unless there is a special issue that only a ped can address.
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hmmm…I’m not too fond of my family doctor either 
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My daughter goes to a pediatrician.It is a group practice and I like it.
Can I ask a related question...do you guys have pediatric dentists for your kids or regular dentists,where you go yourself...??
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my Bro N Bhabhi raised 3 kids and they never had a pediatrician...they took their kids to the family doctor all this time...all the kids are now adults. in Canada, you take your kids to Pediatrician if your family doctor refers to one ... if there is a need.
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My daughter goes to a pediatrician.It is a group practice and I like it.
Can I ask a related question...do you guys have pediatric dentists for your kids or regular dentists,where you go yourself...??
They go to a regular dentist. He takes many kids and is great with them.
Re: Pediatrician vs Family doctor
My daughter goes to a pediatrician.It is a group practice and I like it.
Can I ask a related question...do you guys have pediatric dentists for your kids or regular dentists,where you go yourself...??
Our dental insurance allows us only a regular dentist for the entire family. A pediatric one only if there is a special issue.
I have used both peds as well as family docs. I like peds better. But there areother things involved such as location andgender. Mys on will begoing to thegroup pratice of peds he always has as they are all male. But I am switching my daughter over to my family doc who is a female.
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I have been looking for a pediatric dentist for my daughter.I need to take her for her regular check up.Her pediatrician recommended a group but they are out of our insurances's network.I searched other pediatric dentists in our county and almost all are out of network.
I actually hate my own dentist and do not want to take my daughter there.I think I need to search a lil more...:-//
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I have been facing the same dilemma however I have always found the diagnosis of our family doctor to be correct and his treatment much better than any paediatric
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Our daughter goes to a pediatrician. My OBGYN recommended the practice, and we have been very happy with her pediatrician as well as the rest of the doctors in the practice. And it's located very close to our house! They have Saturday hours and are very quick to respond after hours as well. In addition, there is a female pediatrician on staff who is very nice, and we may switch to her when our daughter is a bit older.
We don't actually have a good family doc atm. We're on the lookout.
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in Canada, you take your kids to Pediatrician if your family doctor refers to one ... if there is a need.
not true... that referral only comes if you need to see a specialist and then you'd be seeing the specialist, not the pead. you just have to find a pead who is accepting patients- no referral needed. i went with the paed because she's 10 minutes from our house vs. our family doctor who is 20 minutes away.
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I would personally go with a pediatrician. Primary care physicans are just as good now because of the training they get now but I think pediatrician specialize in kids so probably know few more things that general doctors are not familiar with. We recently changed our insurance so although our last doctors/pediatrician were awesome, I just can't go with them anymore :( They were all my husband's co workers so I didn't even need appointment, I would just walk in and umm although they would have 20 patients before me, they would call me in first. Can't have those same doc with these new insurance :(
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I love my ped...why does he have to retire ?
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^ Can't you ask him to recommend someone? Or ask other parents who live near you? Or ask Google? :D
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My daughter goes to a group ped practise and i really like them all. They are very quick to respond and always tell me to call no matter the time of the day if i am worried about something.
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It took me a while to actually be very comfortable with her primary pediatrician.But now I just love the group,including everyone there.They have been great throughout.I have seen a few doctors from the group especially when I take a sick child there,and there is nothing to complain about...!
Still looking for a dentist.Called a place this morning,they are not taking new patients...:(
To the OP,the benefit of one over the other...I am not sure.I never thought about it.I always knew it will be a pediatrician for my child and I interviewed a few before I had her.I chose this group because they were affiliated with the hospital I delivered at and was very conveniently located (just a few mins drive away..!!).The other groups were a bit far,one had a doctor who was retiring soon and said that his patients will be divided amongst others and stuff like that.Also my family doctor is just fine so I never thought of taking my daughter to her.
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^ Can't you ask him to recommend someone? Or ask other parents who live near you? Or ask Google? :D
LOL I tried both but no one seems to be taking on new patients.....its a huge problem in the GTA. I did find one but he's 30 minutes from home so I was considering a family doctor for the convinience
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I have no idea how and why I replied in the same thread twice...!!..:(
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^ lol mommy brain. btw how come you're looking for a dentist? should i be taking my daughter to a dentist now?