Mom’s Secret Hack to Always Get a Pediatrician Appointment!

Pediatricians are often fully booked when you need an appointment on the same day or within a few days. For new parents, navigating a child’s illness can be quite stressful. “Initially, appointments are frequent and close together, involving regular pediatric visits and home check-ups. Whenever necessary, I also visited the local health clinic, which was comforting,” shares Justine, mother of three-year-old Theo. But as time goes on, securing appointments becomes tougher. “When Theo fell ill, I could never get a same-day appointment. It was impossible to schedule anything with his regular pediatrician unless it was an emergency. That pediatrician only communicated through his secretary or by email,” she explains.

“When Theo had roseola or tonsillitis, I had to book appointments at the first sign of symptoms with any available pediatrician on Doctolib, even if it meant traveling almost an hour from our home,” continues Justine, who also had to prove her absence at work with a ‘sick child’ certificate. Now, she has decided to handle things differently.

Justine uses multiple strategies. Firstly, she still tries to reach her regular pediatrician, persistently asking the secretary for a quick appointment between other patients. She also made a significant change: “I switched my primary care doctor to a physician who treats both adults and children. I find this advice very useful for all parents, especially since she is much more available than my pediatrician,” she tells us. This way, she can book appointments for either herself or her son as needed. Lastly, an option she uses sparingly is to book an appointment in advance in case her child becomes ill, and then cancel a few weeks ahead if not needed. “I mainly do this when I notice the first symptoms, or if he seems a bit off. It’s comforting to know that I have a slot in one or two weeks, especially when there’s an outbreak of stomach flu or bronchitis, or if there are sick people around us,” she adds.

Of course, it’s important to always honor medical appointments to avoid taking slots from those who might urgently need them. “I make sure to cancel or reschedule my appointment to a more appropriate time when he really needs to be seen for his regular check-ups,” Justine mentions.