|  | Family Health | Babies Health

The Advantages of a Pediatrician

A pediatrician is a doctor who has received three years of specialized training in treating childhood medical conditions. Most parents start hunting for a pediatrician when they are expecting their first child or move to a new area. There are no laws requiring you to take your child to a pediatrician as opposed to a family practitioner or other doctor, but there are some distinct advantages in doing so.

  1. Special Knowledge

    • While family doctors are trained to recognize all kinds of common complaints, pediatricians understand especially well the diseases that children are prone to have. A pediatrician is more likely to recognize rare conditions endemic to childhood and to be aware of recent developments in children's medicines and vaccines. There has furthermore been a recent emphasis in training pediatricians in dealing with adolescents, who have their own set of medical needs.

    Early Care

    • Many family practitioners do not see a high number of infants anymore and may not be entirely comfortable with newborns, who require special handling and care. Pediatricians can treat your baby from birth up. Their offices have well-baby checkups and vaccinations down to a science; you can rely on them to know everything your baby needs in the way of medical care. You are also more likely to get experienced advice on baby issues like colic and spitting up.

    Single Care

    • By choosing a single pediatrician to take your child to, you ensure that your child is seen by a doctor who knows his personal history. Making use of a group practice or of clinics means that you never know whom you will see. Your child may be uneasy around a strange doctor, and one-time doctors are more likely to miss ongoing problems or symptoms. The same is true for the nurses in the office: they will be known to you and your child and be able to give more individualized care because of it.

    Advice

    • Many pediatricians can offer you advice that extends beyond the purely medical: how to get your baby to sleep through the night, whether your five-year-old is ready to start school, what you should do if you think your teenager is taking drugs. This kind of personal and frequently over-the-phone advice comes only from having a regular doctor you routinely see. Even a family practitioner may not be as competent to advise you in certain areas as a pediatrician, who sees these issues often.

Babies Health - Related Articles