FAQs

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Please take a moment to read our most commonly asked questions. We're always available to answer your questions and encourage you to contact our office if you have a question that is not answered below.

Q: Can I meet my pediatrician before my baby is born?

A: Yes, in fact we strongly encourage parents-to-be to visit our office for a prenatal appointment. This is a great way to get acquainted with our office and our doctors. During this visit, we will answer any questions that you have about our practice or your new child. Visit our expectant parent's page for more information.

Q: How often should my child see the pediatrician?

A: Your child should not only see the pediatrician for an illness. It is also important to schedule well-child-care exams regularly, beginning in infancy. Also called well-baby or well-child visits or checkups, these routine examinations provide the best opportunity for the doctor to observe the progress of your child's physical and mental growth and development; to counsel and teach parents; to detect problems through screening tests; to provide immunizations, and to get to know one another. Well-child visits are strongly recommended as part of preventive pediatric care.

Well-child visits are also a good time for parents to raise questions and concerns about a child's development, behavior, nutrition, safety and overall well-being.

We recommend this schedule for routine well-care visits:

  • 3 to 5 days (Usually 1-3 days after being discharged from the hospital)
  • 10-14 days ("2 week check-up")
  • 1 month
  • 2 months
  • 3 months
  • 4 months
  • 6 months
  • 9 months
  • 12 months
  • 15 months
  • 18 months
  • 24 months
  • 30 months
  • 3 years
  • 4 years
  • And once every year thereafter for an annual health supervision visit that includes a physical exam as well as developmental, behavioral, and learning assessments.

Q: What is the best way to schedule an appointment with your office?

A: You can schedule an appointment by calling our office during regular business hours, or by requesting an appointment online. You also may leave a message on our voicemail. If it is after hours, please do not push "0" as the on call doctor is not able to schedule appointments after hours.

Q: Can I bring all 3 of my children in for their check up at the same time?

A: Our policy is that we will only schedule 2 well visits at the same time.  It is difficult for both us and you to focus on one child at a time when there are more than 2 children present.  And rarely can a child sit through three (or more) physicals without being disruptive. We realize that is more convenient for you to bring several children in at once but in the end, it isn't fair to your children to have the quality of their well visits be sacrificed by the convenience of having them all together.  If you have questions, please feel free to ask us.

Q: Is your office accepting new patients?

A: Yes, we always welcome new patients. Contact our office for additional information or request an appointment.

Q: Why does my child need to receive vaccinations?

A: Immunizations are a series of shots given to children at different ages to help ward off serious, and potentially fatal, childhood diseases. Making sure your child receives immunizations when scheduled is the best way to help protect your child from these potentially fatal diseases. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, vaccinations have reduced the number of infections from vaccine-preventable diseases by more than 90%. If you're apprehensive about vaccinations, please do not hesitate to contact our office.  We will be happy to discuss your concerns.  If you decide that you do not want to vaccinate your child at all, we respect that this is your decision to make.  However, we do not agree with this decision and therefore you would need to choose a different practice for your child's care.  

Q: Why does my newborn need a Vitamin K shot at birth?

A:  Vitamin K is a nutrient used by our bodies to make factors that help our blood clot.  We get Vitamin K in our diet and from the good bacteria in our intestines.  Newborns have low Vitamin K stores and therefore are at risk for serious bleeding from their umbilical stump, in their intestines and in their brains in the first few months.  There is no oral liquid formulation of Vitamin K available in the United States and the oral formulation isn't as effective as the injection formulation. Therefore the only option for Vitamin K for newborns is the shot.  It is very important that the Vitamin K shot be given within the first few hours after birth.  We feel very strongly that Vitamin K is essential for your newborn's health.  If you decide you don't want to give Vitamin K to your newborn, we do not agree with this decision and you will need to choose a different practice.  However, we will be happy to discuss your concerns with you.

 

View map and directions to our location and office hours.

Larchmont Pediatrics
321 N. Larchmont Blvd,
Suite 1020
Los Angeles, CA 90004
(323) 960-8500

Our Office Hours are 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday (excluding holidays)

[email protected]

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