2. Which medical school did you attend?

3. Where did you do your residency?

4. Why did you choose pediatrics as your specialty?

5. Are you Board Certified or Board Eligible?

6. Are you a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics?

7. With what hospitals are you affiliated?

8. What are your office hours?

9. Do you make house calls?

10. Do you have telephone hours? How do you handle phone queries?

11. How are emergencies handled?

12. Solo Practice: Who is your covering doctor? Does he/she follow your principles in their practice?

13. How are financial matters handled? Do you accept any insurance? What are yourstandard fees?

14. What is your position on breastfeeding? Bottle feeding?

15. What is your position on children's nutrition (ie When do you introduce solid foods?) When do you feel vitamins should be given? Fluoride?

16. What is your position on circumcision? What are its pros and cons?

17. When do you think prescription drugs are necessary? Why?

18. What tests do you routinely do after birth? Why?

19. How do you handle jaundice?

20. What is your criteria for early discharge? Rooming in?

21. Breastfeeding: How can you assist us in getting a good start? Can you enforce a "no pacifier/no supplementary bottles" request? Can you facilitate a request for "on demand " feeding?

22. Bottle Feeding: Do you have a preference for types of bottle, nipples and formula? Why?

22. Do recommend specific supplies and equipment? Why?

23. Do you prefer cloth or disposable diapers? Why? Is there a difference in the health of the babies skin? What are the pros and cons of each?

2. Upon arrival at the office, did you get a cheerful welcome? Was the receptionist friendly/distant? Were the staff responsive and patient to the children?

3. Were there age appropriate toys/books for the children ? This is important as your child grows.

4. Ask parents in the waiting room how long the average wait is. Emergencies do happen, but you should be able to get a good idea. Remember, personality of the doctor affects the appointment punctuality. A doctor that takes the time to soothe a distraught child is worth the wait.

5. How is the office decorated? Is there child-size furniture? Is there comfortable furniture for Mom and Dad? What is the state of the office: tidy with everything in place; dirty/dusty; cluttered with toys, books and children playing? Perfect order is lovely, but are the children encouraged to play? Dirty is not exactly healthy.

6. Does the doctor HEAR or just listen to your questions and what you have to say? Is he/she in a rush to get to the next patient?

7. Although you can expect some guarded answers, especially regarding hospital procedures, is the doctor open and willingly responsive to questions? Remember the doctor cannot control all hospital policy/employees, even though he/she wants to assist you in the best possible manner. Does he/she solicit questions?

8. Is the doctor fun, compassionate and knowledgeable? Does he/she genuinely like children?