with First Physicians Group Pediatrician Ronald D. Laracuente, MD

Choosing a pediatrician before your baby is born might seem early—but it's one of the smartest steps you can take to prepare for your child’s health. Having a trusted provider in place helps reduce stress, allows time to find the right fit for your family, and ensures your baby gets the best care from day one. We spoke with FPG Pediatrician Ronald D. Laracuente, MD, about why early pediatrician selection matters more than you might think.

“It’s never too early,” says Dr. Laracuente.

Start the Conversation
 

“Just looking for a pediatrician primes parents to start thinking about all aspects of parenting and seeing the details more clearly,” says Dr. Laracuente. “It opens a lot of important conversations that will have an impact on their parenting approach and what they need from a pediatrician.”

These conversations may include:

• How holistic you would like your pediatric care to be?
• Breastfeeding or formula or a combination?
• How to baby-proof your living space.
• What is our local support network? Who can we rely on in case of emergency?
• Preparing for a potential premature or difficult birth.
• General decisions about your child’s wellness in those early days, months, and years, ranging from nutrition to screentime to protection from dangerous childhood diseases.

“It’s a good thing to start having these conversations early with your partner and a pediatrician who fits your needs,” says Dr. Laracuente. “There’s enough chaos after the baby is born.”

Find the Pediatrician Right for You (and Your Baby)
 

Once your bundle of joy has arrived, it’s an understatement to say that you’re going to have a lot on your hands. In addition to caring, fussing, and feeding, there will be several administrative tasks that demand immediate attention: insurance, social security card, birth certificate, etc. Don’t add “driving around town interviewing pediatricians” to the list.

“Finding a pediatrician is one of the only things you can do in advance,” says Dr. Laracuente, “so take care of that one early.”

Plus, starting early in your search for a pediatrician gives you ample time to find the right pediatrician. If all goes well, you and your child will be seeing the pediatrician quite a bit in the coming years, so don’t settle for anything less than what you need.

“It’s difficult to overstate the importance of finding a pediatrician that you really trust and can really feel comfortable with,” says Dr. Laracuente. He recommends scheduling in-person meetings at the pediatrician’s office, to get a sense of both the people and the place. “This is your time to ask all of your questions,” he says. “You want a pediatrician who will help you meet your parenting goals.”

Seamless Care
 

It may seem like a small thing but choosing your pediatrician early also enables your OB/GYN and/or family doctor to coordinate and communicate with them, as they prepare to hand over care. Like a relay race, everything goes smoother if the next person up is ready to go.

A seamless transition with established communication helps eliminate any gaps in care, as well as ensure that all relevant medical information and history follows the patient from one office to the next.

“And if your OB and your pediatrician are in the same hospital system, that’s a huge benefit,” says Dr. Laracuente.

 

Need A Pediatrician?
 

To learn more about Pediatric Services at First Physicians Group, including locations in Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, Osprey and Venice, click here.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Laracuente, click here.
 

 

Written by Sarasota Memorial copywriter Philip Lederer, MA, who crafts a variety of external communications for the healthcare system. SMH’s in-house wordsmith, Lederer earned his Master’s degree in Public Administration and Political Philosophy from Morehead State University, KY, and is the inventor of the bug-based children's therapy, Centipediatrics.