Finding a paediatrician or family doctor for the kids

We registered with a GP practice in Ireland that takes children, and the practice nurse was often the first person we saw for the small things. Ask whether your health centre has a nurse you can see without an appointment.

From the nursing side, a few things for the waiting period. Find out now where the out-of-hours service is and how it works, before the first 2am fever. Keep a simple health record for him on your phone: vaccinations, allergies, any medication and the doses his doctor at home gave you, so any doctor can see it quickly. And don't feel bad about using the phone advice line if there is one. Most of us would much rather a parent calls early than waits too long.

Good paediatricians in Germany had waiting lists for new patients. We went private for the first few months, then got a place.

Chinedu, thank you, the health record on the phone is such a simple idea. I've done it tonight.

Other parents at the school gate were our source. Every mum had an opinion, and two names kept coming up.

The school gate recommendations were the most reliable for us too.