Your baby is due in the next few weeks, and worry starts to set in. Will I be a good parent? What will I do if my child gets sick? Who can I turn to for reliable advice? Rest assured, many new parents fret about such matters. So relax and do what you would normally do in a crisis – Go to Oakland Bay Pediatrics!

Experts say it's a good idea to actively look for a pediatrician that is not only competent but is agreeable to you. After all, this person will be your healthcare soul mate. You'll need to feel comfortable enough with this doctor to discuss your child's ailments, immunizations, thumb sucking, bed-wetting, and changes during puberty. For now, let's concentrate on how to choose a doctor that's right for you and your family.

The best time to start searching for a pediatrician is in the last few weeks of pregnancy before your expected due date, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Families who move or change insurance are encouraged to find a doctor well before the child needs a checkup or becomes sick.

To find a good doctor, it's always nice to get positive referrals from family and friends. If that fails, ask your OB/GYN or primary care doctor for suggestions. There are also printed guides on the topic. The AAP's Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5, and The Mother's Almanac by Marguerite Kelly and Elia Parsons are two books recommended by Philip Itkin, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician in private practice at the Omaha Children's Clinic.

Parents are also advised to check credentials, which are usually displayed on the practitioner's Profile Card or office wall. Appropriate training in pediatrics involves medical school and at least three years of residency in either pediatrics or family medicine. After that, many doctors take a test given by the American Board of Pediatrics or the American Board of Family Medicine, and if they pass, become board-certified. Websites for most insurance companies list the credentials of physicians in their plan.