Children are not just small adults. They have special needs in every facet of their lives, and their health is no exception. The articles in this department deal with health problems that frequently affect children. A competent and compassionate pediatrician is someone you and your child will depend on from infancy all the way through adolescence. That's why it is so important for you to find one who can soothe a frightened child, talk frankly with teenagers, and help you keep sane with clear and comforting advice during your children's growing years.

A pediatrician treats children from birth through their late teens and sometimes even into their early twenties. A large part of a pediatrician's job is to educate parents about their children's health and to help them deal with behavioral issues that may have little to do with illness. Both you and your child need to be able to trust and feel comfortable with the person you choose. So in addition to finding a doctor who is a good clinician, it's important for you to find a person you and your children click with.

Regular visits to the pediatrician are a key part of preventive health care. During each check-up, the doctor should give you tips on keeping your children healthy and safe, answer your questions and listen to your concerns, and fully examine your child to:

Make sure he is well nourished.
Update immunizations if needed.
Track growth and development.
Find physical problems before they become serious.

Although pediatricians complete a three year residency in the treatment of children, they're not the only physicians who see children. General and family practitioners can treat the entire family--from infants to seniors. In either case, you should try to select a doctor while you are pregnant. This way, he or she can keep abreast of any health issues that arise during pregnancy that may affect the child and be on hand to give the baby a check-up right after birth.

Ways to Find a Pediatrician
Your first step is to gather names. Here are a variety of sources you can try:

Physicians. If you are pregnant, ask your obstetrician for a referral. Otherwise, ask your primary care physician or any doctor you respect and have a good relationship with. Tell them the qualities you are interested in. Since they know you, they will be able to recommend someone they think you can relate to. If you have recently moved, call your former physicians and ask if they know anyone in your new area.

Other Parents. Referrals from people you know, including friends or relatives, are usually based on trust and confidence, which is certainly a top consideration. Remember, though, your contacts' opinions may be largely based on how they hit it off with the physician's personality and style. Only a visit with the doctor will reveal if these qualities suit your own preferences.

Hospitals. Reputable hospitals usually offer a referral service that can provide you with the names of staff doctors who meet certain criteria you may be seeking, such as specialty, gender and location. If there is a children's hospital close to you, it may be your best choice for a referral. But keep in mind that a hospital's referral service gives a list of names. It cannot vouch for quality of care.

Your local medical society. These organizations frequently offer directories of its members to the public. Similar to a hospital referral, these publications only provide names, addresses, telephone numbers and specialties.

Your managed care plan. If you belong to a managed care plan, find out what pediatricians are affiliated with it and what information the plan has available on them. Some plans will let you look through their folders, which give information on each participating doctor's background and services.