Closer one 100%

Anonymous wrote:We live in a city and don't have a car- Our only way of getting around is by walking or uber/taxi. Should we go with a pediatrician that is walking distance or one that is a 10 min uber ride away? I like the ped that is further away more and that practice has more frequent well-visits for baby, whereas the practice that is closer sticks to the bare minimum schedule of visits.

My main concern is about taking baby in an uber since baby won't be able to wear a mask and it will soon get too cold to open the car windows (baby is due in winter). Which would you go with?

If it's too cold to open car windows, it's equally too cold to walk 10 minutes.

Our pediatrician has been an enormous resource to us during covid with a medically fragile kid. I'd pick the one I thought best, and get one of those carseat covers, which will filter the air just like a mask, and keep them warm, especially with a fleece outfit, and a blanket tucked on top of the straps.

Does either parent drive? Could that parent walk, pick up a Zip Car and come get the other parent and the baby?

I would go with the closer one. I did in fact faced with a similar choice (made before COVID) and have been so grateful these past few months to be able to walk to the doctor when I need and not have to juggle a car seat as you’re trying to get your baby checked in and keeping them calm. My ped didn’t do 3 or 5 month visits and I did not find that a problem. We didn’t have a formal two week visit, but they had you come back regularly until baby regained birth weight, so I had one at 3 days and one at 7 days and then the 1-month.

It's never too cold to open a window in a car.

I took my baby in taxis and then ubers when they became available. We're also in a city, never driving fast.

If your kid was 6 months old, I'd see why this was a question. But the baby is due this winter? ABSOLUTELY go with the place you can walk to. I would NOT take a baby less than 2 months old in an Uber during covid unless it was a serious emergency. Remember that even if they get some tiny cold if they pop a fever of 100.4, you're going to the ER and getting a spinal tap, and I don't want anything to do with that with Covid.

You can always revaluate in the spring and switch to your preferred practice if you want.

The only other option is to reconsider your definition of walkable. We are also car free and have a baby and live in the city, and we've really expanded our definition of walkable during the pandemic - probably to an hour and a half. Now, if you're in Vancouver, that's a bit tougher in winter, but even in DC, we would go on an hour walk with a baby in the middle of the day in winter, even a newborn. Get a carrier that's good for tiny babies (we loved the mini baby Bjorn for our newborn), put him in a long sleeved onesie, pants, sweater, socks, booties, gloves, and a big hat, strap him to you, then put on a warm maternity coat - you'll be able to zip it right up over him, and he'll stay nice and toasty on the walk. My baby was born in January, and I did that all the time, an hour walk was nothing for us. If you were thinking of trying to get through the winter without buying a big maternity coat (I could see how you'd be tempted, especially if your baby is due in early November or something), think again - I wore that maternity coat over him in the mini baby Bjorn for months - it was a lifesaver.

Your husband may need to take him the first couple visits if you go this route - I wasn't up for hour long walks after delivery for about a month. But they're only going to let one of you go during Covid anyway.

Anonymous wrote:Some car seats come with retractable drapes, (“dreamshade”) and it was great for peace of mind when going places with a winter newborn. There are also clear plastic rain covers you can add on.

Having a good pediatrician you trust is invaluable for new parents. I would go to the one you have to Uber to. I would not trust a pediatrician who skimps on those new baby visits.

I don't think not having a 3-month or 5-month visit as standard qualifies as "skimping." 2 weeks I would probably want but I would also suspect that most babies end up going in then anyway to check on things like weight gain.

Some car seats come with retractable drapes, (“dreamshade”) and it was great for peace of mind when going places with a winter newborn. There are also clear plastic rain covers you can add on.

Having a good pediatrician you trust is invaluable for new parents. I would go to the one you have to Uber to. I would not trust a pediatrician who skimps on those new baby visits.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walking distance, for sure. The closer doctor sounds smart for reducing the number of well visits, especially right now. I'm sure that if there's an issue they will be available.

Op here- To clarify, the closer doctor didn't reduce the number of well visits, they've just always had a more bare bones AAP schedule. The practice further away has additional visits at 2 weeks, 3 months and 5 months all of which the closer doctor doesn't have. Their check ups last longer as well.

I think that's really an unimportant distinction. Extra well visits just increase the risk of picking up germs right now. The only thing to keep an eye on is weight gain in the first 2 weeks if you're breastfeeding - but I'm sure you could come in for an extra weigh-in or go to an LC's office if you're concerned about that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walking distance, for sure. The closer doctor sounds smart for reducing the number of well visits, especially right now. I'm sure that if there's an issue they will be available.

Op here- To clarify, the closer doctor didn't reduce the number of well visits, they've just always had a more bare bones AAP schedule. The practice further away has additional visits at 2 weeks, 3 months and 5 months all of which the closer doctor doesn't have. Their check ups last longer as well.

Does insurance cover these or do you pay out of pocket for extra well visits? Regardless I don't think it's "better" to bring a healthy baby in to a doctor's office more than the standard of care. It raises the risk of you or the baby catching someething (even just a cold).

Closer practice, and if you aren't satisfied with the one you have identified, keep looking. I say this as someone who had an early preemie and no car.

Even without Covid, taking a baby in an uber isn't always that easy. In the short term, I'd say the closer ped. In the longer term, you are likely to find that you want to get a car once you have a kid.

Agreed. At first you will like the frequent visits because you'll be anxious new parents, and then you will quickly become annoyed with schlepping to another neighborhood all the time. Plus, if you actually do have an issue an need a sick-visit, do you want to be loading your sick baby into an Uber to go get a troublesome rash checked out or get a referral for a tongue tie? Unless there is a problem with the closer doc, I would pick the more convenient one every time for a newborn. The standard of care is pretty universal at that age.

Anonymous wrote:Walking distance, for sure. The closer doctor sounds smart for reducing the number of well visits, especially right now. I'm sure that if there's an issue they will be available.

Op here- To clarify, the closer doctor didn't reduce the number of well visits, they've just always had a more bare bones AAP schedule. The practice further away has additional visits at 2 weeks, 3 months and 5 months all of which the closer doctor doesn't have. Their check ups last longer as well.

Walking distance, for sure. The closer doctor sounds smart for reducing the number of well visits, especially right now. I'm sure that if there's an issue they will be available.

We live in a city and don't have a car- Our only way of getting around is by walking or uber/taxi. Should we go with a pediatrician that is walking distance or one that is a 10 min uber ride away? I like the ped that is further away more and that practice has more frequent well-visits for baby, whereas the practice that is closer sticks to the bare minimum schedule of visits.

My main concern is about taking baby in an uber since baby won't be able to wear a mask and it will soon get too cold to open the car windows (baby is due in winter). Which would you go with?