What Is a Developmental Pediatrician? 11 Qualities to Look For in Your Child’s Doctor
For many parents, finding high-quality medical care for their children can be stressful. But for parents of babies who’ve graduated from the NICU, the task can feel overwhelming—especially with all the other responsibilities they’re juggling, from preparing their home for their baby to finding early intervention services. The good news? There are doctors specially trained to help NICU grads and children with disabilities thrive: developmental pediatricians. In coordination with your child’s regular pediatrician and other specialists, they work to provide medical services that are informed by your child’s unique development.
What Is a Developmental Pediatrician?
A developmental pediatrician is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating developmental and behavioral disorders in children. These doctors do not take the place of your general pediatrician; rather, they serve as an additional member of your child’s medical team who can offer treatment and advice based on their extensive training in child development and behavioral pediatrics. They work with children who have a range of conditions, including:
Developmental delays
Learning disabilities
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Developmental pediatricians typically work closely with your child’s team of medical professionals—any psychologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, social workers or other support services— to understand their unique challenges and provide comprehensive care. They evaluate a child's development and behavior through detailed assessments, including standardized tests and observations of the child's interactions with others, and develop individualized treatment plans that address your child’s specific needs.
Developmental pediatricians also work closely with parents and caregivers, providing support and guidance to help them best to support their child’s development. For school-age kids, they may also collaborate with teachers and/or school staff to ensure that their patient’s needs are being met in the classroom and that they are receiving appropriate accommodations and support.
For many children who began their lives in the NICU, developmental pediatricians play a crucial role in helping them achieve their full potential and live happy, fulfilling lives.
How Do I Find a Developmental Pediatrician?
Developmental pediatricians make up a small portion of the field of pediatrics in the U.S., which can make finding one in your area challenging. Referrals and recommendations from NICU staff, other professionals your child sees, and your broader community can make a big difference in helping you connect with the right doctor for your child.
Try these tactics to find a developmental pediatrician near you:
Ask your child's NICU team for a referral. The doctors, nurses and other hospital staff at the NICU understand your child’s needs and challenges, and will likely be able to refer you to a developmental pediatrician they know and trust.
Contact your insurance provider. Check with your insurance company to see if they have a list of developmental pediatricians in your area who are covered under your plan.
Ask your child’s post-NICU support team. Therapists who specialize in developmental disorders, such as speech language pathologists and occupational therapists, are often knowledgeable about the broader community of support their clients use, including developmental pediatricians.
Reach out to parent support groups. Joining a parent support group for children with developmental disorders can be a great resource for finding a developmental pediatrician. Other parents in the group may be able to recommend a pediatrician they have worked with in the past.
What Should I Look For in a Developmental Pediatrician?
Once you have a developmental pediatrician in mind—or better yet, a list of potential developmental pediatricians—schedule a consultation to discuss how they can help your child. Asking these questions can help you better understand if the doctor is a good fit for your family:
1. What Experience Do You Have in My Child’s Diagnosis?
Look for a developmental pediatrician who has extensive experience working with NICU infants, and if possible, with children who share your child’s diagnosis or developmental delays. Doctors who have seen a wide range of cases are better equipped to understand the struggles your child may face and handle any challenges that may arise.
2. What Professional Certifications Do You Have?
Ensure that the pediatrician is board-certified in developmental-behavioral pediatrics. This means that they have undergone specialized training and have met rigorous standards in this field. You may also want to ask about certifications related to your child’s specific diagnosis. If your child has cerebral palsy, for instance, you may want to find a doctor who’s a member of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine.
3. How Will You Collaborate With My Child’s Team?
Your pediatrician should be willing to work collaboratively with other professionals involved in your child's care, such as therapists, medical specialists and even educators. This can help ensure that your child receives comprehensive care that addresses all of their needs.
4. When and How Often Can You See My Child?
Choose a pediatrician who is accessible and available when you need them. They should be able to provide timely appointments and be responsive to any concerns you may have. Appointments should not feel rushed or as if they have a time limit.
5. Do You Accept My Health Insurance?
Find out if the doctor’s practice accepts your insurance, whether they are in-network, how much co-payments cost, and if there are any other costs to take into account.
6. What Are Your Operating Hours?
Are the practice’s operating hours during times when you will be able to attend appointments? Do they offer emergency hours or walk-in hours? Are virtual appointments available?
7. What Rules Do You Have About Appointments?
Different practices have different procedures when it comes to things like separating sick and well patients in the waiting room, or who’s allowed to attend sick or well visits.
8. What Are Your Hospital Affiliations?
In the event of a hospitalization, it’s important that your doctor is allowed to work within the hospital setting. This is another reason it can be helpful to ask your NICU staff for a referral.
9. What Services Are Offered at Your Practice?
Some developmental pediatric offices offer special services tailored to families of children with developmental or behavioral concerns, such as:
Sub-specialities
Lactation consultants
Support groups or counseling services
Early intervention referrals
On-site lab testing (for faster/more convenient medical testing and results)
10. What’s Your Communication Style?
What’s the best way for you and your doctor to communicate? Will you have to call and go through a switchboard to be connected to your doctor, or can you contact them directly? Do they email or use an app for messaging? Also ask about the protocol for nighttime calls—can you contact them at any time? Is there an emergency number available after hours?
It’s also important to understand what they consider to be their communication responsibilities. For example, if your child is due for a test or vaccine, will they call you?
11. Other Details to Consider
Depending on your personal preferences, these factors may also help you make your decision:
What is the size of the practice (number of doctors and other medical staff)?
Is the office close to your home, job, or day care?
At any given visit, will you be seeing your primary doctor, or will it rotate based on availability?
Do doctors see patients at each visit, or are any appointments covered by nurses, PAs, NPs, or other professionals?
What is the practice’s philosophy on topics like vaccines, or alternative and holistic medicine?
What is the practice’s philosophy on sharing counsel on non-medical parenting techniques, such as feeding and sleeping habits?
When Should I Start Looking for a Developmental Pediatrician?
There’s no time like the present! Because developmental pediatricians make up just a small portion of pediatric care in the U.S., some doctors may have longer wait times than you may expect. Start asking around now!
Looking for more post-NICU tips and advice? Check out the NICU Alumni Resource Library and Podcast, and sign up for our next Parent Support Group to gather even more information on how to help your child thrive.