How many times have you felt "I have a dumb question, but...." and then either not asked that question or have forgotten to ask that question before leaving your Pediatricians office? First off, there are no "dumb" questions. The more you ask as a parent the more you know. No question is inappropriate, foolish, etc. Most pediatricians want you to have your questions answered, and you shouldn't be afraid to ask us. We do not expect you to remember all about the differences between Otitis Media and Serous Otitis, diarrhea management or vomiting, Strep pharyngitis vs.recurrent tonsillitis, colic vs food allergies, etc. Asking your physician about what is happening with your child is always a proper priority and leads to better medical care for your child. Sometimes however, there will be days when an office is so busy or your pediatrician has been up all night, that everything that should be said may not be said. Sometimes we just plain forget, and assume you may already know all about the problem. But, remember what you're in thedoctor's office for, and go ahead and ask the questions which will help make things clear for you.

There are several reasons why parents forget to ask questions they may mean to while in the office: 1) Some parents may feel INTIMIDATED in the presence of the physician.Remember: we're here to help your child, and you should understand how to give the medicine, if or when your child should return to the office, what's going to happen that afternoon or evening, over the next few days, etc. 2) Some parents get too "caught up" in dealing with keeping their child out of the doctor's drawers, getting them dressed, etc....so much so that they may not TUNE INTO what the doctor is saying. It's been shown that parents often forget about 80% of the doctor's instructions. If you are one of those people, don't be afraid to write down what your doctor is saying (if he is not already giving you written instructions). "Tune in"!...most of the time the doctor can "tune out" the noise and distractions while in the room with you. Focus on the medical aspects of your child's illness and your visit. 3) Some parents feel that the doctor is too busy to answer questions. Sometimes that can be the case . . . and we can occasionally get quite ANXIOUS in our attempts to accommodate all of the distractions and problems that me our way. But, it is important to have all of your questions answered. Sometimes, other personal in the office can help. In other cases, we can get back to you with additional answers or for a longer discussion. So, if you have a question, do not be afraid to ask it. It's usually easier for everyone to ask while your in the office, but, if you remember something at home and it's a question that's important for you to know, don't hesitate to call back. It is frequently stated that nobody "TEACHES" us to become parents. Thankfully, nowadays there are many resources available to help with "parenting". We as pediatricians are here to help you as a parent (your kids already know what they are doing!).