What Is a Pediatrician?

A pediatrician is the first doctor most of us will see: One who specializes in treating children from birth to adulthood. The responsibilities of a pediatrician include seeing children for well-baby or well-child visits, tracking a child’s growth and development, and treating illnesses, injuries, and health conditions.

“Pediatricians are medical specialists who care for all children, protect their health through prevention, deliver medical care when needed, and offer family support to meet their health, developmental, and nutritional needs,” says Jose Cucalon Calderon, MD, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine and a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Pediatricians are trained to care specifically for children, and the roles of a pediatrician in healthcare may include:

• Examining newborns
• Providing preventive care for babies, children, adolescents, and young adults
• Tracking physical, emotional, and social developmental milestones
• Giving vaccines
• Identifying and managing health issues that affect children
• Treating illness
• Monitoring health conditions
• Prescribing medication
• Performing diagnostic tests
• Giving health advice to parents and older children

Part of a pediatrician’s responsibilities is to refer children to community resources or pediatric specialists for additional care when needed.

“Anyone with children can see a pediatrician for their well-baby or well-child preventive care, as well as for any illnesses or chronic conditions they have that require medical care,” said Elizabeth Meade, MD, chief of pediatrics at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle and a member of the AAP.

• 3 to 5 days
• 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 months
• 2 and 2.5 years, then every year through age 21 or until the child moves on to a doctor who cares for adults

This schedule is a general recommendation — based on your child’s health and any concerns you or your pediatrician have, you may need additional visits. You’ll also want to see a pediatrician anytime your child is sick or hurt or you have any concerns about your child’s physical health or emotional well-being.

“There are multiple subspecialties, similar to those that are available for adult care,” Dr. Cucalon Calderon says. Your pediatrician might refer you to one of these types of physicians if your child needs the type of specialized care they can provide.

• Adolescent medicine: 10- to 19-year olds
• Child abuse pediatrics: Children who are abused or are at risk of abuse
• Developmental and behavioral pediatrics: Delays in development or behavior
• Medical toxicology: Injury and illness from drugs, chemicals, and other agents
• Neonatal-perinatal medicine: Sick newborns
• Pediatric cardiology: Heart conditions
• Pediatric critical care medicine: Advanced life support
• Pediatric emergency medicine: Acute (sudden) illness or injury
• Pediatric endocrinology: Hormonal conditions like diabetes, growth failure, and early or late puberty
• Pediatric gastroenterology: Digestive conditions
• Pediatric hematology-oncology: Blood disorders and cancer
• Pediatric hospital medicine: Care provided in the hospital
• Pediatric infectious disease: Infections
• Pediatric nephrology: Kidneys and urinary tract
• Pediatric pulmonology: Lung or respiratory system problems.
• Pediatric rheumatology: Conditions including arthritis, lupus, and auto-inflammatory disorders
• Pediatric sports medicine: Injuries from sports and exercise
• Pediatric transplant hepatology: Care before and after a liver transplant

“Pediatricians might also have additional certifications in lactation care, sleep, safety, or other related areas,” Dr. Meade said.

“Pediatricians undergo rigorous medical training, first through medical school, where pediatrics is part of the curriculum, and then by doing three years of pediatrics training through residency programs. This includes multiple care settings and great exposure to the main subspecialties as part of the training, as well as some of the less common ones based on their elective choices,” Cucalon Calderon says.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Pediatrician?

Pediatrician education requirements include:

• Bachelor’s degree: Typically focused on the classes needed to become accepted to medical school
• Medical school: Coursework centered around the human body as well as clinical rotations focused on different areas of medicine
• Residency: Three years of training in treating a wide range of conditions that affect children
• Subspecialty training (optional): Additional training for two to six years to work in a specialized area such as those listed above

What Type of Certification Does a Pediatrician Need?

If you’re expecting a baby or you move to a new city with your child, you’ll need to find a pediatrician who meets your needs. Ideally, you and your child will have a long-term partnership with your pediatrician, so take the time to find one who feels right for you.

“I would suggest that families find a pediatrician who aligns with their philosophy on medical care, who is in a reasonably close location for all those last-minute sick visits and flu shots, and in whose presence they feel heard and cared for,” Meade said.

Factors you might want to consider include:

• Insurance When you’re choosing the right pediatrician, you’ll want to make sure you find one who is covered by your insurance plan.
• Location You want a pediatrician you can access easily when your child needs care.
• Access You want to make sure the office hours work with your schedule and your child can get care during evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Language You need to be able to clearly communicate with and understand your pediatrician, so you may want someone who speaks your primary language.
• Culture You may want a pediatrician who understands your cultural background and takes that into consideration in your child’s care.
• Referrals When it comes to how to find a pediatrician, word of mouth can be one of the best options. What pediatrician do your friends and family see? Who does your ob-gyn recommend? Ask them for their opinions. Cucalon Calderon recommends looking for one who is accredited by the American Board of Pediatrics. “Set up an appointment to meet with them and discuss what your priorities are,” he says. Make sure your communication styles are a good match.
• Reviews Read what others say about your top choices online. Search for “Best pediatricians near me” or search for your prospective pediatrician’s name.

Pediatricians are doctors who have extensive training in caring for children. They may provide general care or specialize in certain health concerns or conditions. Your child’s pediatrician can help you make sure your child is developing properly and getting the care they need for any illnesses, injuries, or health concerns.