A pediatrician is a medical doctor that has chosen to receive additional education and training to provide comprehensive medical care to kids of all ages, from birth through to 18 years of age. They have a vast knowledge of medical conditions that affect this age group and are able to diagnose and treat them accordingly. Their training includes all of the different stages of growing up, with a focus on preventative care through routine checkups and annual physical exams, immunization schedules, growth and development milestones related to kids’ physical, mental, social and behavioral development. In the first two years of a child’s life, they will be visiting their pediatrician on a regular basis to monitor these milestones in order to catch any delays early on to provide treatment or additional supports. As kids grow up through adolescence and into the teenage years, their pediatrician will provide them with education and information about their health and wellness, including their physical and mental health, nutrition, fitness, sexual health, acne and any other health concerns that the kid or parent has.

Having a baby can be overwhelming, particularly when its your first one. You want to make sure that you have a strong support system in place when you bring your new little one into the world and so you should have a pediatrician in place prior to the baby being born. During the pregnancy is the perfect time for you and your partner to do your research and meet with prospective pediatricians to find the one that is going to be best suited to you, while you aren’t rushed. This way you are familiar with the doctor and their practice the first time you need to visit them after the baby is born, whether for a routine check in or for a concern about their health. Pediatricians will want to see the new baby within the first few weeks of them coming into the world, so having a pediatrician already lined up will make this less stressful on both you and the baby.

Some parents choose to go with a pediatrician for the care of their child while others choose to use their family doctor. The choice is entirely up to the parents and what makes more sense to them and what they are comfortable with. Both medical professionals will be able to provide top notch care for your baby’s health needs. You will need to think about what is most convenient for you and what will be best for your family. If either parent’s family has a complicated medical history, a pediatrician may be the route you want to go as their practice is focused on diagnosing and treating illnesses and diseases that are specific to children or that can show up in children differently than they do in adults. On the flip side, it might be more convenient to have your entire family seen by one doctor and have any children be able to see that doctor not just while they are a kid, but also into their adult years beyond the age of 18. Ultimately, neither option is wrong if it works best for you and your family.

A pediatrician is able to diagnose and treat any injury, illness or condition as it relates to their young patients. In some cases, symptoms of illnesses or diseases can vary between children and adults. A pediatrician will know what symptoms to look for that are unique to children, as well as symptoms of illnesses that are unique to children or may be more commonly found in children. Just as there are many different branches of specialized medicine, there are several branches of specialized pediatric medicine. Some examples are pediatric oncologists, pediatric cardiologists, pediatric neurologists, among many others. If your child’s pediatrician diagnoses your child with an illness or disease that requires specialized treatment or suspects your child may have developed one of these conditions, chances are good they will refer them to the pediatric specialist for that focused care.

Pediatricians see patients up until the age of 21. As long as your teenager is still comfortable with their pediatrician, they can absolutely still go to them for their medical needs. Finding a new doctor can be difficult, particularly as a teenager so it can be reassuring to have a doctor that they have known for their whole life, or a good chunk of their life, to turn to for medical advice during a time when there are a lot of changes happening with their body. Pediatricians are not only familiar with all of the needs of their youngest patients, but they are also familiar with the issues that affect those kids as they turn into teenagers, including puberty, acne, mental health concerns, sexual health, alcohol and drug use, nutrition and physical activity. Do you need a pediatrician? If so, then we encourage you to contact Dr. Daniel Olivero, M.D. and our team at Olivero Pediatrics. We serve newborns to children up to 21 years. We serve patients from Port Matilda PA, Waddle, PA, Julian PA, State College PA, Bellefonte PA, Pennsylvania Furnace PA, and Pine Grove Mills PA. Looking forward to serve you!