Your child will require numerous visits to the doctor even without any health or medical emergencies. So, it is best to evaluate your decision to hire the best doctor for your child. Some parents choose their family physician as the child’s doctor too; others may prefer only a qualified pediatrician for the same. So, what is the best option for your child’s health? How should you make the right choice?

Differences in Training

Pediatricians will complete their residency in pediatrics while family doctors will complete their residency in family medicine. Pediatricians will solely focus on children and teens while family doctors will train to take care of adults of all age groups as well including children of course. Both types of specialists begin their training only after completing four years of medical school.

Pediatricians focus solely on patients from infancy to 18 years of age. Some pediatricians may continue to see their patients until they are of 21 years of age. A family doctor will start treating an infant and can continue to treat the patient right up to their old age.

Pediatricians will receive their board accreditations from the American Board of Pediatrics or their state’s pediatric association. Family doctors will receive the same from the American Board of Family Medicine.

You can find a pediatrician near you using localized searches. Use a pediatrician near to me to find clinics and doctors in your area. Check their websites to know more about them.

Choosing a Pediatrician for your Child

There are many benefits of choosing a pediatrician as your child’s doctor.

– Since pediatricians focus only on children and teens, it is best to choose one as your child’s doctor. Your family doctor may be able to treat your child for common ailments and even take care of their vaccinations. But if your child was born prematurely, you will need a specialist for his or her treatment.

– Children can develop medical conditions at a later stage in life too. A pediatrician will be able to immediately start the treatment as he or she is aware of your child’s medical history. Your family doctor may need to refer your child to a specialist and explain the medical history, which can lead to a waste of time.

– Kids can develop mental health disorders once they start going to school. Teens can develop stress due to puberty. School life is rife with bullying and peer pressure, which can take a toll on children’s mental and emotional health. Eventually, problems with mental and emotional health will manifest as physical symptoms also. A pediatrician can look into these problems and counsel your child. Your child may open up to his or her doctor more easily rather than the entire family’s doctor. Pediatricians can help your child out in combating stress and preventing corresponding physical ailments.

– Children may be able to talk more freely to their doctor about sexual development rather than discussing the same with their family doctor. If they shy away from asking queries related to their sexual growth; it may result in problems as they may try to find the same online or via their friends.

– Pediatricians are more likely to keep pace with the developments in pediatrics than family doctors. This is in no way questioning the expertise of family doctors. Family doctors need to keep up with advances in medical sciences for different fields. They may not be able to opt for further training in every field whereas pediatricians may be able to do so in their field.

Making the Right Choice

Ultimately, as a parent, you know what is best for your child’s health needs. If you are concerned about making the switch to the family doctor after your child turns 18 then fret not. Your pediatrician will transfer your child’s medical history to the family doctor. In fact, in case of any medical emergency; your family doctor may be able to find any information from the pediatrician via a simple call.

Family doctors will always refer you to specialists in case of problems with specific organs. Similarly, a pediatrician is a specialist for children’s health.