Paris

Three kids, foreign country, and you need pediatrician. We've been in that exact spot in Paris.

What We Found

We needed a pediatrician in Paris when our youngest spiked a fever during a trip. The system works differently than what we were used to. In France, you can see a pediatrician directly without a referral, but finding one who speaks English and has same-day availability takes some work.

Cost

A private pediatrician consultation in Paris runs 50 to 90 EUR. At the American Hospital expect more like 100 to 150 EUR. SOS Medecins house calls for children are around 60 to 80 EUR depending on time of day. Keep all receipts since travel insurance usually covers these visits.

Practical tips

The American Hospital of Paris in Neuilly-sur-Seine has an English-speaking pediatrics department and accepts walk-ins, though it's private and pricier. For a more local option, Doctolib (doctolib.fr) is the booking platform everyone uses in France. Filter by language and you can sometimes get a same-day appointment. SOS Medecins (01 47 07 77 77) does house calls around the clock, including for children, and some of their doctors speak English. A house call costs around 50 to 80 EUR.

Language

English-speaking pediatricians do exist in Paris but they cluster in the wealthier arrondissements (7th, 8th, 16th, Neuilly). Doctolib lets you filter by language spoken, which saves a lot of phone calls.

With kids

Parisian pediatricians operate a bit differently from what you might be used to. Consultations are longer and more conversational. For urgent cases, Necker-Enfants Malades and Robert Debre have pediatric emergencies. SOS Medecins can also send a pediatrician to your hotel for house calls.

This is one of those things nobody tells you before you travel with kids.

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This page is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Information may be outdated or inaccurate. Always call ahead to confirm. See our full disclaimer.

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Sources: American Hospital of Paris · SOS Medecins · CDC Travel Health: France