I cannot say enough wonderful things about Dr. Maria. She is an incredible doctor who truly cares about her little patients--as well as their families! We've been with Dr. Maria for nine years and have three kiddos under her care. Every experience we've had with her has been supportive and thoughtful. Dr. Maria is unlike any other pediatrician. She gives out her personal phone number, and you can contact her at any time. This is especially important when you have a baby you're worried about in the middle of the night. Her availability has saved us from unnecessary ER visits many times! She also makes house calls for the first few newborn visits, which is such a gift in those early months of parenthood. She's exactly the person you want in your corner as a new mom. Her office is welcoming, kid-focused, and warm. A special touch we love is her well-trained dog who joins visits--this has made vaccines so much easier for our kids! I cannot recommend Dr. Maria enough. I refer her to all my friends and will continue to do so. You will not be disappointed with the care you receive at her office! read more

Best pediatrician EVER! I absolutely love her. She is incredibly smart and always solves the things that we went to see her for. She has an excellent way of talking / connecting with both parents and kids! And she is always nice to me even if we disagree. read more

Dr. Maria is an amazing Dr. that cares. I highly recommend Dr. Maria. I've raised both my children with her and I can't say enough good things. Dr. Maria is a rare gem and I'm so grateful we found her. read more

Dr Maria Steelman is our family pediatrician for 9 years now and we hope for more coming years !!! She is been very patient, empathy with us !! We can reach for help at any time even she will ask to call her at midnight to hear my babies how they are snoring.. she is awesome over outstanding doctor. Every time I go to her office we always feel very comfortable and our kids love her so much !!!!! Thank you doctor Steelman Ryan, Aylan, Malik and Sabrina read more

Dr. Maria always always available to us. We texted her on Friday evening about our little girl. Dr Maria texted back right away. She offered to see us on Saturday morning how many doctor do you know that we'll see your little one right away. I am recommended Dr. Maria. The stuff are always nice and welcoming. read more

Our baby was born in March of 2019 and we (my wife and I) decided to select Dr. Maria as our pediatrician -we're so happy we did. In addition to the obvious standard expectations one would have for a pediatric office such as: competency, cleanliness, friendly staff and responsiveness, Dr. Maria manages to add a personal experience that I imagine is not common in other offices. For example when my baby was first born, Dr. Maria actually came to our home to do our baby's first visit -a huge convenience for us, as new parents, coming to grips with a newborn. As soon as our baby girl was old enough we traveled to introduce her to family abroad. Of course, our baby girl got her first fever. Dr. Maria was available to us via cell phone to assess the situation and make recommendations for navigating our baby's fever. Additionally we've sent a few after-hour emergency texts to Dr. Maria with concerned questions regarding our baby's health. Dr. Maria has always been responsive and saved us from the grief of otherwise unnecessarily waiting in the ER. During the few times we've felt the need to schedule an urgent appointment her office has always managed to squeeze us in -sameday- and Dr. Maria has always been present to listen and help manage our baby's health. Nowadays, the "obvious standards" expected of a well-run pediatric office aren't so standard but Dr. Maria not only delivers on these expectation but she exceeds them in a way that makes her practice feel caring and makes us feel grateful to have found her. Needless to say, we highly recommend Dr. Maria. read more

Maria Steelman, MD - Baby Xochi's waiting to be seen by Dr. Maria. - Pediatricians Near Me - Lafayette, California

I love Dr. Steelman, she is so kind and understanding. I was worried about finding the right pediatrician for our only baby but I am so incredibly glad we found her. I love that she had a huge heart for animals because I do too, and I know she will always take care of my baby, she is beyond understanding, doesn't judge us and is a very hard working Dr. read more

Maria has cared for my son since infancy. She did a home visit upon his birth, and really goes above and beyond her role as a pediatrician. She also extended such care to us as parents and was sure to respect our wishes for our sons medical needs. read more

We've been seeing Dr Maria for over a year now. There's nothing else to really say other than she is the most patient, kind, empathetic and caring pediatrician anyone could ask for. If you want to know more than that, I'm happy to divulge. She will immediately take action for anything you have concerns about or any findings that she feels is concerning with your children. Whether it's a lab order, order for an EKG, genetic testing, you name it, she will do it within the time frame of your appointment. It's also extremely easy to make appointments with her, she's not constantly overbooked or jammed with appointments, as compared to some of these other huge pediatric offices. Dr Maria is a huge dog lover and she does have dogs walking around her office. This is absolutely no problem for us because we have two huge dogs and both our kids love dogs and are totally comfortable with them. But people should be aware of this in case their child is scared of dogs or there is an allergy or something. It's not your normal, everyday, sterile doctors office. It's fun, cute, unorthodox. Don't get me wrong, it's extremely clean and professional looking, but she makes sure the kids will like it. She gives your children a toy everytime they visit. Even if there's no vaccine or anything. Just for being there! And they're legit toys too, like not 50 cent things you buy off Amazon, they're real nice toys that people donate and obviously spent good money on. I can say firsthand this helps the sometimes scary and traumatic experiences of a doctor's office a lot less so. The last thing I want to say about Dr Maria, is it's obvious she is incredibly generous and cares deeply about children's welfare. It's not just a job for her. She truly wants kids to walk away not being scared of their doctor or the process and hopefully understanding, one day, that this is important for their health and safety and that she cares about them. This is such a breath of fresh air and we feel like our kids are in such great hands with her. We never dread going to her office for visits or vaccines. If you're on the fence, call them and see if you can interview her and see the facility before you decide. If you do go with her, you won't regret it! read more

I am over the moon with Dr. Steelman. The level of support is unmatched by any physician I've ever had. I am so glad my 10 month old has such a spectacular doctor taking care of him. Highly recommend!!! read more

Dr Maria has been the pediatrician for our three children since we moved to Lafayette 10 years ago. She gives great advice as a medical professional but also as a parent. She takes into account my wishes and my kids' wishes and I feel like we are a partnership. I trust her medical judgement implicitly. My kids love her, and let's face it - young people are a great barometer of reading people who are real. Maria is one of those. She has dogs in her office, and is very responsible towards her patients with regards to this. The children love the dogs being there and it definitely helps when they have to have a shot or something yucky administered. Total calming therapy for everyone. The office staff are courteous and professional and will always get us seen if we have an emergency or just a concerned parent question. read more

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Dr. Maria Steelman is an amazing doctor. My three children were fortunate to have her as their pediatrician for many years. We started out with her at Rainbow Pediatrics then followed her to Lafayette Pediatrics. She is kind, knowledgeable and compassionate. Her office mimics her personality happy, inviting and therapeutic. Her staff throughout the years have been just as wonderful. I appreciate her special attention at every single visit and of course the few times she opened her office to care for my sick babies to save us trips & long waits in the ER. I would like to tell her: "Dr.Maria you are truly amazing, may God Bless you and all you set out to accomplish as a professional & mother. Thank you for keeping my children healthy for so many years. Know my children have fond memories of going to the doctors thanks to you." Best wishes the Garza's read more

We used to see Dr.Maria Steelman at Lamorinda Pedatrics. We loved her. Although her office seemed quite disorganized at times, I do think they have worked on that. We no longer see her for the following reasons: *She is involved/runs a dog rescue (which I love) you get to see puppies and her dog on her office most of the time (bad for those with allergies) this included at one point an adult female pit-bull she had rescued and her pups, totally unleashed. I love pitbulls. I've studied them and honestly the issue there I believe is with the owner not the breed. That being said, the dog was an adult rescue and temperament couldn't have possibly been established well enough at that point to expose the dog to so many small children. I felt that was a short sighted decision on her part. *She recommended my 11 year old have an HPV shot. When I said I thought it could wait a couple years and asked a few questions she freaked and didn't answer any. She said "I know you're not an *anti-vaxxer but..*insert excuses for not answering questions and being flippant. She then proceeded to tell me that she selectively vaccinates her dogs and has their titers checked before giving them vaccines (a test available for humans as well to identify immunity). I asked for more information on the HPV vaccine, including package inserts, letting her know I would read it and then return if/when I made my decision. She didn't provide them. She was super unprofessional and I can't see a doctor who treats her pets with more concern than her patients. Not to mention I paid for this appointment where she provided no value. Overall very disappointing. read more

We have been with Dr. Maria for almost 6 years. We have moved all around the bay area but have always stuck with her (even driving from the city to see her for 2 of the years) because she is so wonderful. She is down to earth, respectful and warm, on top of being a very intelligent physician. We have done our own vaccine schedules, which she helped us figure out as opposed to our first pediatrician whose view was it's my way or the highway. Our boys LOVE going to her and think it's a treat! To them it's like visiting a friend. She's warm and friendly to them and they love playing while she and I talk. She never pushes medication which I very much appreciate. She gives great non-medical advice as well. I told her during our last visit that by far and away, the best piece of parenting advice we've ever received was from her at our first son's 1 year appointment - what was it? Well, it was to have him start eating the same food we did. I asked her really? Spices, sauces and all? And she said yes because I don't want you coming back in a few years complaining that all your kid wants to eat is pizza and chicken nuggets. And you know what? We have the most adventurous eaters ever because we followed her advice! Dr. Maria goes above and beyond as well ... a few years ago, she took an emergency phone call from us while she was at a Dave Mathews concert. Who does that in this day and age? You can try your best, but I guarantee you won't find a doctor who comes close to the level of caring and commitment Dr. Maria shows her patients and families. read more

Love everything about this office. Dr. Maria is really kind! She is as close to a holistic doctor without being holistic. She isn't quick to give unnecessary medications, she researches the heck out of everything (from both perspectives), and she goes above and beyond to make sure that her patients are being taken care of. Even if that means texting at midnight to check in on everything! The front desk is always very friendly. We truly feel like we are part of the family here. I recommend this office to everyone who needs a fantastic pediatrician! read more

I have three boys including one with special needs. Dr. steelman is a true pro. She has always been there for me to help navigate through the most complicated medical scenarios. I cannot say enough about her high standards of care and professionalism. 5 star care all around! read more

What a surprise...Dr. Steelman gets 5 Stars. I love her! She is down to earth, smart, energetic & caring!!! I had a preemie about 2 weeks ago - and Maria is exceptional. What I really loved is that she does house visits :) One star less for her nurse that never seems in a good mood. Now warning - since either people love her or run...she is not your usual Pediatrician. She does generally have 1-2 dogs running around the place that aren't the most well behaved (and have been known to jump on you / your baby). We come from a doggie house hold so we were fine. Also on our most recent visit, her nurse brought her 6 month old baby to work with her, put her in the waiting room in a bouceroo all day, a little odd, but each to their own. Your little bundle of joy is in good hands with Dr. Steelman :) read more

Our Pediatrician since forever (actually started with Dr. Stephanie first, but then Dr. Maria when she took over the practice). My kids have grown up under her care and we all love her even if we live on the other side of Walnut Creek and often have to brave cross town traffic in the after school hours to get to her office. Her informative, partnering-with-you, down-to-earth style fits our family dynamic and my kids love her. My younger kids trust her and the teens feel they can talk to her about anything. The 18 year old doesn't want to change MD's and am wondering if she will continue to see him given he grew up in her practice. read more

In a world of mean pushy doctors, Dr.Steelman is a breath of fresh air.She is kind, understanding and non judgmental. It is scary being a new mom and often felt my fears were being taken advantage of by other Drs. Dr. Steelman was honest and I've never felt taken advantage of by her. I wish we would have found her sooner! She is the best!! Her staff was very nice and welcoming. read more

We LOVE this office. I can't say enough great things about Dr. Steelman and her crew. My children love going to see her (how often do you hear that about a doctor's visit?). The physical space is so warm and welcoming- bright windows and sweet therapy dogs. It is the very opposite of the normal cold, impersonal clinical space. My third child was just born, and Dr. Maria did home visits for the first few weeks, sparing me the hassle of dragging all my kids into the office and also the risk of exposing a newborn to Covid. I appreciated it so much! She has a really easy, relaxed manner with the kids. She tells them the truth about procedures. She gives parents all of the necessary information but also the space to make their own decisions. We have a super easy time scheduling appointments, and we are never kept waiting to see her. Theresa and Sue are also great, and they've been really helpful when my insurance has been a nightmare. 100% recommend! read more

Absolutely wonderful. Yelp came through again. We moved to Lafayette and needed a new pediatrician. Dr. Maria is amazing! I still find it hard to believe that we can get appointments on the same day, park right in front, not have to deal with rude front staff, and get the care of a wonderful woman like Dr. Maria. I know my girls are in good hands with her. read more

We feel so lucky to have found Maria for our daughter. She is accessible, down to earth, kind and a fantastic doctor. We were quite nervous with our first daughter and she went out of her way to come to our home the first few visits, helped us with everything from breastfeeding to wellness checks and me feel safe and secure She is a great balance of holistic and western and supports alternative vaccines schedules. I highly recommend her! read more

Today my son crashed on his bike. I called the office at 5pm and Dr Steelman waited 30 minutes as I fought traffic to bring him in. She cleaned him up and checked him for concussion. This is not the first time she has done a great job for us. I have referred many friends to Dr Steelman always with grateful results. She is dedicated , down to earth and really smart. We love her and her office staff. read more

I love Dr Maria!! We are unfortunately needing to change pediatricians since I'm now with John Muir, but I have nothing but great things to say about her. I had my baby at home, and Maria came to our house (!) to check out the baby. What doctor still makes house calls? She then gave my husband her cell phone number and asked us to check in with her every day or two until we made it into the office for the first visit. She made sure our appointment was the first one of the morning so we wouldn't be around any sick kids with a brand new baby, which was really nice. She is totally open to any ideas that I have, and encouraged me to do my own research and come to her with what I wanted to do. For instance, I want the baby vaccinated, but I didn't feel comfortable doing all of the shots on the prescribed schedule. She helped me come up with a plan that we could both agree on, and her advice about which vaccines were really necessary was great! I don't know if she's like this with all of her patients (I say that because I'm an RN, so she knows I understand certain things), but I imagine that she is! She'll always listen to your concerns, and never seems condescending or patronizing (something I really can't stand about a lot of doctors!). The staff is all so friendly, and everyone is really accommodating. When I was in the middle of changing jobs, we were without insurance for a short time. They make it really easy to still come in, with a flat rate for a well-child visit. The office is pretty small, but conveniently located right off the freeway. There are always a couple pups lounging around, and the office is decorated with lots of animals. We're really going to miss Dr Maria, and although my 5-month old won't know the difference, I know I'm really going to miss them! If we change insurance again someday, I'll definitely be back! read more

Dr. Maria Steelman has a wonderful, comfortable, and familiar approach to pediatrics. Her office is homey and comfortable, with big chairs and couches in the exam rooms instead of plastic stools. I love the fact that there were rescue dogs in the waiting room. The receptionist is very nice, as is the nurse. The doctor herself is very kind, and takes her time with you answering questions and talking about herself as well. After the expirence we had with my daughter's last doctor, coming here is awesome! read more

I went to Dr. Maria from when I first moved to Lafayette at 6 years old until recently when I graduated from a pediatrician to a general practitioner. Dr. Maria was more than just my doctor, she was someone I could give a call to when I had any sort of stress or problems at home, and she was always a trusted adult in my life. I can only hope that my future dealings with doctors will be as pleasant as my experiences with Dr. Maria. read more

I'm so thankful we found Dr. Steelman and Dr. Bennett Strauss and the team at Lafayette Pediatrics. My children have been patients of Dr. Maria's for over ten years. They continue to go to her even though they are college students because they love and respect her and her team. Dr. Maria and her staff strike the perfect balance of warm & friendly and professional & competent. She is very capable of handling minor boo-boos and routine checks ups as well as my son's chronic illness that required coordination with specialists at Children's Hospital Oakland. read more

We have been going to Dr. Maria's practice (initially Dr. Stephanie) for 21 plus years. We are so thankful we found such an amazing physician! Dr. M is knowledgeable, kind and beyond caring. My three kids find her incredibly approachable and responsive to their concerns and needs. It has been comforting to know that she has seen our kids through many life stages and our 21 year old son through college. We adore her!!!! read more

We have been going to Maria Steelman since she started practicing. My 4 children are currently 3-16 and she works well with all age groups. I truly appreciate her sensitivity with teens and her openness with them. She is incredibly accessible and her office is a friendly and inviting place. She is a top notch doctor. read more

Still ZERO stars. First of all, for those of you lifers of Dr. Steelman's office I understand that she is the right fit for you and I am glad you are happy with her services, but so was I until she horrifically broke my trust. However, you have no right or business reviewing my decisions as a parent. My review of Dr. Steelman still stands because it is my actual experience. Not only that, but in reference to her claim that she did not call or even threaten to call CPS, well the message she left on my phone saying she was going to call CPS should be enough to jog her memory. Yelp is a place to share your personal experiences and review of a business or service provider. You are not supposed to be reviewing yourself (business/provider) and certainly not other reviewers. My review is both valid and important to others who may be wanting to consider Dr. Steelman as their provider. If her patients or Dr. Steelman herself cannot handle that, then they should not be using Yelp. I have already flagged the people and their "reviews" that are not within the Yelp guidelines. My rights to share my personal experiences using Yelp will be maintained, as they should be. read more

Dr Maria is the best pediatrician we have been to. I am in healthcare so I have high expectations. Dr. Maria meets them all. She is kind, caring, extremely knowledgeable and goes the extra mile. What physician provides their personal cell phone number for emergencies? I wish all physicians practiced the way she does. For now, I am just thankful that my kids get to see Dr. Maria. One last thing, her office is warm and friendly and her staff is very considerate and on top of things. read more

We love Dr. Maria! Because of moves, insurance changes, and the untimely death of one physician, we have had 7 pediatricians in the past 9 1/2 years. Dr. Maria is by far our favorite. She is not paternalistic at all but rather views parents as partners in their child's healthcare. She will give her professional recommendation but in a very respectful way. She is supportive of alternative vaccine schedules, vegetarianism (her own daughter is a vegan), homeschooling, and so on. Highly recommended! read more

Yes, Maria Steelman and her staff are as good as it gets! Wow, I recently started seeing her as my pediatrician and can't praise her enough. The office is cozy and comfortable with 2 friendly dogs that the kids love. I can get in very quickly when the kids are sick and Maria (as her patients call her) gives out her cell number so you can reach her 24/7. She is a concierge dr without the price. She is PRICELESS and the staff sooo friendly and accomodating. They know me by name. This is the best place to take your kids. read more

Awesome, awesome, awesome! Dr. Steelman and staff really are the best! She came to me in the hospital and to my house after my baby was born. She answered her cell at night to answer my silly new mommy worries, and she is always patient, kind, and thorough. The staff is amazing too! The nurses are awesome, my girl hasn't cried once with her shots; they are so gentle! And the little doggy amuses my baby too. The caringness of this office is such a rarity today- I'm so glad to have found them. read more

We have been going to Lafayette Pediatrics since my oldest son was born almost 16 years ago. I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Maria. She is thorough, understanding, compassionate and kind. She is an excellent listener, treats her patients (my children) with care and respect and is like a trusted friend. I think that my children would feel comfortable talking to her about any health concerns they might have. We cannot imagine going anywhere else. read more

Dr. Steelman has been our family pediatrician for almost six years now and I cannot say enough great things about her. She is always accommodating, even coming in on a weekend day to make sure our newborn baby was doing well. She has a calm, comforting demeanor and a wealth of knowledge. She is surrounded by a top notch staff who have always made us feel so welcomed every time we are in the office! read more

Dr. Maria has been our third pediatrician...I came to her very frustrated and with a very sick child. As soon as I met her, I knew she would be a perfect fit for our family. We like to use natural medicine as often as possible and she is the first doctor I've met who encourages that - yet she always tells me when she feels its in my child's best interest to consider traditional treatments. I love the way she respects me as a mother to make the decisions for my children and does not pressure me to do something I don't feel comfortable with. I have been ridiculed by other pediatricians because I've wanted to try other things...plenty of eye rolling and "that will never work" type of statements. Dr. Maria is always encouraging and even asks to know if what I've tried works. I feel like we have a true partnership and that she honestly cares very deeply that my children are happy and healthy above all else - regardless of whether they get there with antibiotics or an onion over their ears. We love her so much that we still come and see her - and self-pay - even though we've switched to Kaiser. She is a very unique and gifted doctor. I am not sure there are many more out there like her! read more

My youngest daughter has been a patient of Dr. Steelman's for almost 9 years. We have two much older children and have had many years of experience with multiple pediatricians. All I can say is that I wish we had had Maria in our lives from the very beginning. Dr. Steelman is right to have concern over home births. After my first baby, which would have been a perfect candidate for a home delivery, my second daughter was born a few weeks prematurely and the hospital released her too soon. Her bilirubin count continued to rise over the next few days. Still, they did not want to readmit her. I was told "there is only a one in one thousand chance your daughter will end up with severe mental retardation." I replied, "if your child turns out to be that one - the odds are 100%." Because there is a delayed response between when the blood is taken and the rise in the blood count, by the time you get the results the count may have already risen perilously. While I was able to get my daughter re-admitted and she is fine, I am shocked at these parents for delaying light treatment given the risks for later learning disorders and cognitive effects. As for the home birth issue? I am glad that there is free choice around this issue, but no one should delude themselves into thinking there is no risk to this decision. My third child turned out to be one of those small percentages of births that turned into an emergency c-section. I am grateful they were able to deliver her within life saving minutes. If you are going to take risks with your children, Maria is probably not a good fit. She cares too passionately about your children. read more

i cant say enough good things about dr maria steelman and her whole staff. it feels more like visiting family than going for a dr visit. i feel like she always lets me ask all my questions and explains everything to us really well. my children adore her and we really trust her. i always feel so lucky and blessed we found her. i moved and won't change dr's. they are worth the drive. maria is one in a million. read more