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I love being a Pediatrician! My husband always jokes that I just get to “play with babies all day” (which is honestly my favorite part!). And while I love it, there are some parts that really drive me crazy. As a pediatrician, I’m responsible for taking care of children, but also have to interact with their parents and family members. Some interactions are a little tougher than others. As a parent, have you ever felt like you were doing the absolute right thing for your child, but was later told that it was wrong? Based on my experience, here are 20 things your Pediatrician wants you to STOP doing as parents. Stopping these things will make life easier for us all!

1. Googling!

Yes, this has to be number one on the list. “Dr. Google” can be very dangerous. He can convince you that your child has cancer when they really don’t. He can also tell you things that aren’t really based on medical evidence. It’s difficult, without a medical background, to tell the difference between the right and wrong information that pops up when you google, so I encourage you not to. Your Pediatrician has gone to school for a long time, and kinda knows what they’re talking about! Please use us as a resource!

2. Using old medications

This is a huge no no, especially when it comes to antibiotics. All antibiotics should be thrown out at the end of the course that they were originally prescribed, if there is medicine left in the bottle. If a new infection comes up later on down the line, don’t use old prescription medicines. You should, instead, rely on your pediatrician to determine if a new prescription is needed – and use the new one not the old one!

3. Demanding antibiotics for a virus

Using antibiotics when they aren’t needed leads to antibiotic resistance. Pretty soon, we’ll be limited on the antibiotics we can use to treat even the simplest of things, like an ear infection. I urge you to not contribute to antibiotic resistance and listen to your pediatrician when they tell you that your child’s virus does not need an antibiotic.

Download and keep this handy printable with Natural Remedies for Kids (for common illnesses your kids may catch)

4. Hearing “your child has nothing wrong” when they have a virus

Believe me, I know it’s tough to watch your child suffer through an illness, especially with high fevers, a bad rash, lots of congestion, or a bad cough. I’ve been there with my own children. I’ve also had to tell hundreds of parents that their child has a virus and we can only provide supportive care for them as their body fights it. This is not dismissive. This does not mean that your pediatrician feels there is nothing wrong with your child. We feel your pain. We sense your child’s discomfort, and we’re doing everything that we can to help.

5. Using over-the-counter medication incorrectly

Please follow labels appropriately! Ibuprofen is only for 6 months and older. Cough medications are only for 4 years and older (besides the all-natural ones). Your pediatrician cannot recommend a dose for a medication that’s not intended for your child. Please, keep your children safe and stay away from medications they shouldn’t have.

6. Not giving medications as prescribed/not following the treatment plan

I have seen parents on both ends of the spectrum. Some want antibiotics even after I’ve explained that they are aren’t needed. Then, there are those that refuse antibiotics for their child even when they are absolutely necessary. Please, please, please listen to your pediatrician! I only prescribe the same treatment for my patients that I would for my own children. In order for your child to get better, it’s best to follow exactly what your doctor recommends. We can work together on a plan in the office, but Pediatricians rely on parents to make that plan happen. We can’t know if a treatment has failed if it wasn’t followed the way it was intended.

7. Stopping antibiotics just because your child feels better

This ties into antibiotic resistance and following the treatment plan. It’s important to finish an entire treatment course of all medications, in order to ensure your child’s illness has been fully treated and won’t come back.

8. Not treating your child’s fever because they’re coming in to the office

Speaking for pediatricians everywhere, we believe you if you come in and say that your child has had a fever. It is helpful for us to know how high the fever was, if you can remember. But, please don’t feel you have to prove your child’s fever by not giving them a fever-reducer before bringing them into the office. The same goes for breathing treatments. I believe you if you tell me your child was wheezing. If it’s time for a treatment before they get to the office, please, please give it to them!

9. Belittling your kids or allowing them to belittle you

I’ve witnessed a lot in my few years in practice. There are some awesome parent-child dynamics, but also some really terrible ones – some right in front of me (ridiculing kids about school, being overweight, their hygiene, etc). I’ve had to intervene in some of these instances that may have gotten ugly in front of me! Nowadays, there’s way too much anxiety and depression in kids that can sometimes be directly related to the mistreatment they receive at home. I also find that many of these children tend to turn around and belittle their parents as well, since it’s a learned behavior. In some of these dynamics, it’s hard to tell who the parent is!  Please, lift your children up. Don’t belittle them. There are many nice ways to correct your children and to show them who’s in charge, without ruining their self esteem.

If you’re looking for an easy way to show your kids some love, download my FREE printable Love Notes for Kids

10. Isolating an overweight child

I have tough discussions with children and parents in the exam room. We talk about weight at least at every well visit, and I make it clear when the child’s weight is becoming a problem. During this discussion, I also encourage parents to make healthy eating and exercise a family thing. Don’t make one child feel they’re being singled out like they’re the only one that needs to eat healthy and be active. It can really lower a child’s self-esteem if we do this. Everyone in the house should practice a healthy lifestyle, no matter their weight. Make it a family affair!

Here are some practical ways you can spend quality time with your kids

11. Comparing your kids to others

This can happen starting in the newborn stage on up, before the little ones even know it’s happening. Many moms have close friends with kids that are close in age, or participate in play groups. It’s tough to sit back and watch other little ones do their thing without comparing them to yours, but I encourage you to not do it! There is a wide range of normal when it comes to development – physically, socially, and mentally. Every child is very different, so please rely on your pediatrician to let you know if there is a true problem. There’s no sense worrying or losing sleep over a child when they’re absolutely fine!

12. Lying about shots, swabs, or blood work

It helps to prepare your kids for visits that you’ve planned ahead of time. Explain to them why they need a certain procedure done. Please don’t tell them they won’t be getting swabbed or poked if you know that they will. Please don’t force us to have to break the news. We will if we have to, but we really try not to be the bad guy. We’re all in this together!

13. Refusing vaccines

I could go on and on about this all day, but I’ll make this brief. It breaks my heart to see parents that choose to not protect their child any way possible, and who refuse vaccines based on false information. I encourage you to do your research about vaccines. Don’t rely on your friends or family members opinions. Don’t rely on the false information that’s being spread around the internet. Rely on the medical research and make the decision that’s best for your child.

14. Thinking your question is a dumb question

I have a lot of parents, especially new moms, who preface some of their questions with “this may be a dumb question, but…”. Believe me, I’ve heard it all, and I want parents to ask questions! I want to know what you’re thinking. Please don’t leave the office without all of your questions answered, even if they may seem silly to you. I want to be sure that we’re on the same page when it comes to your child’s care. So, ask away!

15. No-showing for appointments

Pediatricians only have a set number of appointments each day to take care of well and sick children. I know that I would be upset if my child was really sick and had to wait until the next day to be seen, yet someone no-showed for their appointment at the last minute! Please, do the office a favor by calling as soon as you realize you won’t make your child’s appointment so that another child can have that spot. It can make a huge difference for a sick child or another parent with a tight schedule.

16. Complaining when we’re running behind

Anyone with kids knows that Pediatricians offices can get very busy. We see a wide range of ages, from 0-21 years. As a Pediatrician, I spend as much time in the room as the patient and parents need. Parents of newborns and really sick children usually need more time. Emergencies also happen. This all causes me to run behind at times. It’s nice to walk into a room when I’m running late, and to be received by understanding parents. Please know that your Pediatrician will spend the same time and attention with your child when the time comes. Please pack your patience!

17. Taking a phone call in the exam room

Our schedules get very busy, and many times it’s difficult to wait if you have an important call that has to be taken the minute we walk into the exam room. Most pediatricians would be happy to reschedule your appointment, or to see another child before yours. Waiting politely is just not always possible.

18. Asking for an exam on another child, without an appointment

I have many families that I see with multiple children. If I know your children well, I don’t mind giving off-the-record advice on something such as behavior, sleep, etc. But, if it’s something that requires an exam, I would recommend making an appointment so that everything is properly documented – especially if a medication needs to be prescribed! That way, I can ensure I have enough time in the schedule, too, to spend with your children.

19. Waiting til the last minute for school physicals

If you’re in the state of Florida, your child needs an updated physical and shot record when they’re going into Kindergarten and 7th grade. Please, please, please try to get these done early in the summer (unless you’re restricted by insurance). Don’t wait until the last week before school starts, or the first day of school (believe me, we’ve seen it all). It’s pure madness in our offices when that happens. The schools won’t let your child in, so get their stuff done early and enjoy the rest of your summer!

20. Believing we’re just in this for the money

I went through many years of undergrad, medical school, and residency to be able to do what I do today. I’ve sacrificed a lot, just like many other Pediatricians. I love medicine, and I love children. That’s why I chose this field. To be honest, in Pediatrics, we’re at the bottom of the pay scale when it comes to doctors. If I were just in it for the money, I would’ve gone down a totally different path with my medical education! But I didn’t. I love your kids as I do my own. Throughout the day, I get pooped on, peed on, and thrown up on, but still come back for more. Everyday, I work daily to see happy, healthy, thriving children, and work with parents to make that happen.

Bonus: Forgetting to thank your pediatrician and their staff!

I know, I know, I just threw this one in there. This is selfish. But I will admit that sometimes as Pediatricians, we’re fighting against insurance companies, and sometimes parents, who don’t feel we have their child’s best interest at heart. I know that I do! Believe it or not, our staff gets yelled on a regular basis too. So if you appreciate your pediatrician’s office, don’t forget to tell them how much you do! We honestly don’t always hear it enough.

If you’re looking for natural remedies to treat some of the more common pediatric illnesses, fill out the box below! You’ll get a helpful Natural Remedies printable to keep on hand, plus access to my Resource Library filled with a free printable of the above list, and other handy printables. As a bonus, you’ll get my weekly newsletter filled with encouragement, my lessons learned, and tips on making it through this journey as a working wife and mom.

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