From the day your baby is born to puberty, doctors or pediatricians are needed in order to ensure your child's natural and healthy growth.
Pediatricians work in a branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children and adolescents.
Many services are offered from these doctors.
Some of these services include evaluating a child's growth and development, educating about children's safety concerns, life style and breastfeeding, immunizations, detecting problems like developmental disorders and behavioral difficulties, diagnosing common illnesses such as ear infections or stomach flu and also prescribing medications to treat illnesses.
Pediatricians are trained by graduation from an approved medical school and three years of residency training.
They must then past a test from the ABP (American Board of Pediatrics).
You can go about finding the right pediatrician for your child by asking friends, relatives and prenatal care provider for referrals.
It's always best to go with a trusted pediatrician.
Make sure you have questions prepared to ask these people.
Such as, do you prefer a male or female? Does the age of your future pediatrician matter? Also be sure to schedule some interviews with different pediatricians.
It is an easy way to get a feel for his or her styles and habits.
There are other doctors, family physicians or general practitioners that will also see your children, but it is best to stick to a pediatrician because they specialize in young children.
Always be sure to research and do the ground work searching for the best pediatrician before your child is born.