Picking your kid’s pediatrician can feel like a big choice. How do you decide who to entrust with your child’s health and well-being? It helps to know what pediatricians do and weigh your choices. You can also ask for recommendations from loved ones or healthcare providers you already see. Finding a pediatrician who’s a good fit can make a big difference.
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Pediatricians are doctors who specialize in caring for kids of all ages. Pediatricians care for children starting at birth and through all stages of development. Some types of pediatric care continue after a child reaches adulthood, up to 21 years old.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Some pediatricians focus on primary care, meaning preventive care, annual checkups and ordinary sick visits. Others specialize and focus on specific types of diseases or areas of care.
While pediatricians mainly focus on children’s physical health, that isn’t all they do. They’re trained to help with children’s emotional and social development, too.
Most pediatricians focus on primary care. That includes:
When your child should see their pediatrician depends on a few things. One big factor is their age. Another is the reason for the visit. And that’s after you find a pediatrician for your child in the first place.
Well-child visits
Your newborn should have two well-child visits before they reach 1 month old. Their first well-child visit with their pediatrician should happen within 72 hours of taking your baby home from the hospital. (If you're having your baby at home or in another place, ask their pediatrician in advance when their first visit should be.) Their second visit should be when they’re between 2 and 4 weeks old.
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After that, your child’s pediatrician will recommend well-child visits at:
These timed visits happen so your child’s pediatrician can track how your child is developing. They’ll look and check for key infant and toddler development milestones. They’ll also offer recommended vaccines.
Once your child reaches 3 years old, well-child visits usually only need to happen once a year. Your child’s pediatrician will tell you if there’s a reason why your child might need visits more often.
Sick child visits
Sick child visits are for any time your child has an illness that may need professional medical attention, but it isn’t urgent or an emergency.
What if you aren’t sure how serious the situation is?
When your child seems to be feeling unwell and you aren’t sure what’s going on, but it doesn’t seem serious, it’s a good idea to call their pediatrician’s office. Your child’s pediatrician or their staff can ask questions and help guide you on what to do.
If it’s something you can manage on your own at home, they can tell you how. If your child needs to come in for a visit, they can schedule one for you. And if it’s something that could be more serious, your child’s pediatrician can tell you where to go and what to do.
If it’s outside normal hours for your child’s pediatrician, many pediatric offices still have nurses or other trained healthcare professionals answering the phone. They can help you determine how serious the situation is. But when in doubt, it’s best to err on the side of caution. That may mean taking your child to the nearest hospital or calling your local emergency number.
After finishing college and medical school, a doctor who wants to become a pediatrician has to do a three-year pediatric residency. They can also go even further and do fellowship training to go into a pediatric subspecialty.
Even for people who complete college and med school at a faster pace, it takes at least 11 years to become a pediatrician. And pediatricians who choose to specialize may add another two to six years of specialty fellowship training.
There are over a dozen subspecialties for pediatricians. Many of them are the child-specific version of a specialty that also exists for adults. The American Board of Pediatrics oversees most of these, but also has partnerships with other medical boards for some of them. Subspecialties with American Board of Pediatrics involvement include:
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There are four other subspecialties the American Board of Pediatrics oversees that don’t have a similar subspecialty in adults. They are:
And several other medical boards oversee pediatric-specific subspecialties. Doctors who specialize in these areas may not be pediatricians, but do have extensive training in caring for children. These areas include:
If your child needs to see a pediatric specialist, your child’s pediatrician can refer you when needed and may recommend specific providers.
Yes, a 17-year-old is still a child, so they should still see a pediatrician. But other types of pediatric care can continue after your child becomes a young adult, too.
In fact, there are cases where adults 21 or even older may continue to see their childhood pediatrician. These are usually adults with special healthcare needs. And pediatricians usually only agree to keep providing care to an adult if they have the ability to provide the proper care.
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Maybe your child has a mild fever and the sniffles, and you aren’t sure what to do about it. Or maybe they’re going through a particular phase, and you could use some advice on how to manage it.
Pediatricians don’t just care for your child. They also provide support for you. If you have questions or concerns about your child’s health, calling their pediatrician’s office is often your best first step. They can offer the guidance and reassurance you need as you navigate parenthood.
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Cleveland Clinic’s health articles are based on evidence-backed information and review by medical professionals to ensure accuracy, reliability and up-to-date clinical standards.
Cleveland Clinic’s health articles are based on evidence-backed information and review by medical professionals to ensure accuracy, reliability and up-to-date clinical standards.
As your child grows, you need healthcare providers by your side to guide you through each step. Cleveland Clinic Children’s is there with care you can trust.
