Choosing the right pediatrician for your kid can be a tough decision. It’s one of the most vital choices you’ll be making as pediatricians usually care for your child up until they turn 18.
With this in mind, you’ll want to make sure you’re choosing one of the best pediatricians in Calgary to care for your child. Read on and we’re going to let you know all about who’s the best, why they’re the best, and how to get in contact with them.
Table of Contents
The Best Pediatricians in Calgary
Here are a few of the things we checked out before deciding that these were the best pediatricians in Calgary for your child:
1. Infinity Pediatrics
Infinity Pediatrics is a medical center with 10 different pediatricians who specialize in diagnosing and managing different kinds of disorders. These include behavioral, medical, and developmental disorders.
This medical center doesn’t provide primary care for children who are healthy. With this in mind, we want to note that you should get a primary care provider who will work closely with your Infinity Pediatrics pediatrician.
One thing we really appreciate is that they also offer phone consultations with their physicians. You can easily call them up to set up an appointment or, if a physician is available at the time, get that phone consultation right away.
Take note that they only accept patients on a referral basis. This referral must be from a health practitioner with a valid PRACID.
You can also request to be referred to a specific pediatrician, just be sure to indicate the name of that pediatrician on the referral form. Otherwise, you’ll be booked through their central referral pool and be matched with the next available pediatrician.
If you feel like your child’s medical issue needs immediate help, you may call up the clinic and ask about the urgent medical consult spots that their pediatricians offer. This usually takes 1–2 weeks.
For medical issues, it usually takes around 1-2 weeks as well. Development, school, and mental health issues currently take around 3-6 months which we think is a bit too long but this is due to the backlog from the pandemic.
Another thing we noticed with reviews left by clients is they seem to have a bit of an issue when it comes to setting appointments. To counter this, be sure to double-confirm your child’s appointment before heading on over to the clinic!
Pros
- Has urgent care
- Allows specific pediatrician referral
- Available for phone consultations
- Available for in-person consultations
- Free parking
- Has multiple pediatricians
- Wheelchair accessible
Cons
- Long waiting times
- Issues with scheduling
- No online contact form
- Charges cancellation fee
Customer Reviews
Amazing at following patients and staying on top of issues
“We have seen Dr. Webber for I think at least 5 years for all 4 of our kiddos. She has been amazing at following them, staying on top of issues and referring to specialists as needed. She has supported us through the FSCD process as well as applying for DTC. We love her dearly and our experience when she has been on vacation with the other doctors has been similar. Yes frontline staff can occasionally be curt but they are never rude and are just very busy. Yes they have a cancelation policy just like most doctors. As for location , I appreciate that their parking lot is free!” -Mischa
Very positive experience, friendly staff, informative doctors
“Had such a positive experience at Infinity Pediatrics, from the intake phone call and our clinic visit. The front staff were very friendly, we did not wait long for an exam room or to see the doctor. This was a bonus when you have a busy toddler. The doctor was very informative and had amazing bed side manners. She sent us for testing and the next day personally called me with the results. I was very impressed. The clinic was clean and I felt safe there with the covid-19 precautions in place. I would highly recommend.” -Ashley
2. Calgary Children’s Clinic
For the past 19 years, Dr. Saini has worked as a consultant pediatrician in his clinic called Calgary Children’s Clinic. You can find their office in Northeast Calgary.
Dr. Saini works mostly with children with developmental delays, ADHD, Autism, behavior problems, as well as speech or motor problems.
His clinic only accepts children who have been referred by a physician. You may get a referral to go to him by asking your family MD or by going into a walk-in clinic.
A downside about him being the only pediatrician is that it may take a bit longer to get an appointment due to the number of patients he has lined up. Partnering this with the fact that he doesn’t offer urgent care services at the moment tells us that if you need immediate assistance, this might not be the right clinic for you.
If your child is experiencing issues with repeated infections, allergies, asthma, and has trouble gaining weight then we highly recommend Dr. Saini for these as well. These are also cases he’s handled for years.
One more thing we’d like to highlight about him and his practice is that he has worked with multiple different clinics and departments. He tackles how to maximize a child’s potential and quality of life.
Now, aside from calling the clinic to set an appointment, you may get in touch with him by filling out this online contact form on his website.
Pros
- Has online contact form
- Available for phone consultations
- Available for in-person consultations
Cons
- No urgent care
- Only one pediatrician
- No mention of wheelchair accessibility
Customer Reviews
Wonderful doctor, takes time to listen, very knowledge and thorough
“I searched for a paediatrician on RateMd for my daughter. His reviews were excellent. I asked my GP to send me to him to get a second opinion for my 21 month old baby girl. I am very happy to write my own reviews to say he is a wonderful doctor! I work in the medical field and have met many doctors ! He is a GEM! He takes the time to listen during our appointments, he is a hard worker, very thourough in his approach, very knowledgeable and most importantly very caring. He even called at home to check on my daughter . His staff is very organized and welcoming. I am very relieved that he is my daughters paediatrician and that he figured out the health issues we have been struggling with all summer. Thank you Dr Saini and staff.” -Rym
Very knowledgeable and caring, ready to answer all questions
“Dr. Saini is a very knowledgeable, humble and caring doctor. We’ve been in his care for our daughter since she was just 2 months old. He is ready to answer all your questions and just one glance and he knows the root of the problem. We appreciate his knowledge and care for our daughter. I recommend him as a pediatrician.” -Nupur
3. Sunnyhill Pediatric Clinic
With 10 pediatricians all dedicated to providing children ages 0-18 with quality health care, Sunnyhill Pediatric Clinic definitely belongs on this list.
These pediatricians specialize in all the different kinds of patient care to make sure your child has a holistic care team with them. They take on patients with mental disorders, speech & motor impediments, feeding issues, physical issues, medical issues, and more.
For new patients, we love that you can check out these forms for you to fill out. All you have to do is choose the form that best suits your concern for your child so you and your doctor have a clearer idea of what you’re going to be working with.
One of their highlights is that they offer phone appointments. We think this makes it a lot easier for parents with busy schedules or who would rather keep their children at home for now.
However, they do also do in-person clinic appointments, but you need to set a schedule with them beforehand. Take note that they request that you take off your footwear before entering the clinic.
To get a doctor at Sunnyhill Pediatric, you´ll need a referral from your family doctor. For your first appointment, take note that these usually take around 60-90 minutes for the assessment and diagnosis of your child.
Sadly, they have no mention of whether or not they offer urgent appointments so this probably means they don’t. They also don’t mention whether or not their clinic is wheelchair accessible.
Pros
- Available for phone consultations
- Available for in-person consultations
- Has multiple pediatricians
- Online assessment forms
Cons
- No mention of urgent care
- No online contact form
- No mention of wheelchair accessibility
Customer Reviews
Kind, patient, extremely thorough
“Dr. Lever has been our pediatrician for over a decade. He is kind, patient, extremely through and has consulted with other medical colleagues to suggest best direction of care for our complex needs. I am so thankful for the care and attention he has provided for my children. Thank you Dr. Lever” -Millar
Easy to understand explanations, great with kids
“We have attended this clinic twice and loved our visit. Dr flexhaug explains things in a very easy to understand manner and is great with kids. There was no issue that I brought both of my children, in fact he made us all feel very welcome. Reception gives a sticker at each weigh in which is a lovely touch.” -Rebekah
4. Ladybug Pediatrics
Ladybug Pediatrics is a clinic made up of 7 consultant pediatricians whose aims are all to care for children aged 0-18 through all kinds of medical, development, and physical anomalies they may face.
To see a pediatrician at this clinic, you must be referred by another physician. Preferably your family doctor but a referral from a walk-in clinic would do just as well.
One thing we really appreciate about this clinic is they mention that there are handicap parking stalls located near the front entrance of their building. This way we can be sure that those who require these kinds of stalls won’t have trouble.
Initial appointments usually take around an hour while follow-up appointments take around 30 minutes. Initial appointments are where your pediatrician assesses and diagnoses your child while follow-up appointments are where the doctor checks up on any progress made.
If you ever wish to cancel or change an appointment, be sure to do so 24 hours before your scheduled appointment. Otherwise, you’ll be subject to a missed appointment fee.
Take note that Ladybug Pediatrics is also a teaching site for medical students and residents so there’s a high chance that your child will see them for their medical visit. However, there will always be a pediatrician supervising and afterward, the pediatrician will still take a look at your child.
Pros
- Has urgent care
- Available for phone consultations
- Available for in-person consultations
- Has multiple pediatricians
- Wheelchair accessible
Cons
- Has missed appointment fee
- No online contact form
Customer Reviews
Takes concerns seriously
“Absolutely amazing!!! Whatever my concern is they take it seriously and my pediatrician will call and speak with me and then decide if we need to come in. My daughter has multiple health issues and Dr Patrick has been with us every step of the way and i cannot Express enough how thankful we are for her.” -Melissa
5. Kiwi Pediatrics
Kiwi Pediatrics is a pediatrics office located in Calgary that specializes in dealing with childrens’ developmental, mental, and behavioral growth.
Right now, their clinic has 6 different pediatricians and an appointment with any of them requires a referral from a physician.
One thing we can say really sets this clinic apart is their use of online questionnaires or scales to help diagnose your child better. You can view the ADHD rating scale here and the Ages & Stages Questionnaire here.
We love this because it makes it easier for you to understand your child and figure out the questions you want to ask your pediatrician as you go through this online assessment. You’ll also be asked to fill out specific forms by your pediatrician which you can also view here.
If you wish to cancel or change your appointment with them, be sure to call and let them know 24 hours before your appointment or you will be charged a missed appointment fee.
As we know, doctor’s appointments in Calgary are usually paid through Provincial Health Care. However, you can pay privately in cash for your child’s care, although you won’t be given priority over other patients.
Pros
- Has urgent care
- Available for phone consultations
- Available for in-person consultations
- Has multiple pediatricians
- Wheelchair accessible
- Has online assessment forms
Cons
- No online contact form
- Has missed appointment fee
Customer Reviews
Incredibly knowledgeable
“We absolutely Love Dr. Clark. She is incredibly knowledge, down to earth, real and realistic, and always has our child’s best interest at heart.” -Katy
Wonderful pediatrician, helpful & professional staff, thoroughly recommended
“My son has been attending this clinic for over two years. Dr Zaver is a wonderful Pediatrician with a very caring nature. The staff are always helpful and professional. I would thoroughly recommend this clinic.” -Sarah
Things to Know Before Visiting a Pediatrician in Calgary
1. Insurance coverage
Most healthcare services in Calgary are free. However, there are some services that aren’t covered by insurance so be sure to ask your pediatrician about this beforehand especially if fees can turn out to be an issue for you.
2. Referrals are required
Pediatricians are specialists so seeing one requires a referral from a physician. It’s recommended that you have your own family physician so your pediatrician can work side by side with them for any possible treatment plans.
However, referrals from walk-in clinics work just as well.
3. List your questions
The wait before your appointment with a pediatrician is a long one. It could take anywhere from days to months because of the number of people bringing their children to these specialists.
With this in mind, it’s best to prepare all your questions beforehand and make sure you get everything down. This is also because both initial consultations and follow-up consultations have a set time limit so you want to make sure you ask all the questions while you’re there.
FAQs about Pediatricians in Calgary
That brings us to the end of our list of the best pediatricians in Calgary. We hoped this was helpful in helping you decide which clinic you’d want to request a referral to from your physician.
If you went to any of these clinics, please feel free to let us know all about your visit! We’d love to hear all about it.
And if you ever need any more resources for healthcare in Calgary, just check out our other articles below.
