5 Questions to Ask Your Pediatrician

A pediatrician is a doctor who has received additional training and residency time focused on the care of patients from birth to 18 years of age. They are focused and specialized in all aspects of the health of our youngest citizens, including their physical, mental and behavioural care. Your pediatrician will want to see your child frequently before the age of two to ensure that their growth and development is on track and as a preventative measure to be able to spot any delays or challenges in these areas. Pediatricians provide many services for your child, including:

• Physical exams
• Administer immunizations as recommended
• Monitor their growth, skills and behavior against developmental milestones to ensure your child meets them
• Diagnose and treat any and all of your child’s injuries, infections, illness and any other health concerns
• Provide parents and children with information that is age appropriate regarding their physical and mental health, nutrition, fitness and safety
• When needed, refer your child to a specialist and collaborate with them on your child’s health care needs 

When you get a pediatrician is up to you, but you should have one in place prior to your baby being born. That is why you should talk to our team of leading healthcare professionals today at Pediatric Associates of Frisco. Ideally this is something that you research and prepare for during your pregnancy so that you can ensure you know who you are calling when your baby gets sick or needs any type of medical care. Your family doctor may be willing to take on your baby as a patient but find that out prior to giving birth. While you are pregnant you can do your research, ask for recommendations and meet with potential pediatricians to get a feel for them and their practice without the additional stress of having your baby with you. You will need to be comfortable with your pediatrician as you are going to be seeing a lot of them, particularly in the first 5 years of your child’s life. Dr. Sree, MD, and our team care about your family’s health and we are here to make you feel comfortable while providing the best in healthcare services for your baby, child or young teenager.

Choosing to go with a pediatrician or your family doctor for the care of your child is entirely a personal for you and your partner to make. Family doctors are able to provide care for all members of the family, so it can be more convenient to have everyone treated by the same person, who will also have complete medical files on every member of your family. However, some people may feel more comfortable having their newborn baby’s care taken care of by a doctor who is specialized in the emotional, physical and behavioral needs of all ages of children. Location and convenience are also factors to consider when deciding who to have as the primary doctor for your child. You want to ensure the office will be easy for you to get to for appointments and will have adequate parking or be close to a transit route. Ultimately, the decision is up to you and what makes you most comfortable and is the best fit for your family.

A pediatrician can diagnose pretty much any medical condition that can affect children under the age of 18. There are also pediatric specialists for conditions that require further medical training such as pediatric oncologists, pediatric cardiologists, pediatric neurologists and many other specialties that offer the same care as specialists that focus on adult patients, but with a gentler touch and trained in how these diseases and illnesses affect babies and children. A pediatrician will refer a child to a specialist for any conditions that they are unable to treat to ensure that your child receives the best care possible.

Pediatricians see any patient under the age of 18. While many people think of using a pediatrician only for their young children, the practice extends through the teenage years as well. Pediatricians are trained and experienced not only in the care and ailments that affect small children, they are also able to provide the age specific care and education that teenagers need. In the case of a patient who has seen their doctor since birth, they are going to be very familiar and comfortable with the doctor for them to be able to ask the awkward questions about sexuality, depression, peer pressure and the other things that teenagers want to know. On the flip side, the pediatrician will be familiar enough with your teenager to be able to recognize early signs of mental health issues, social and behavioral problems, issues with substance abuse and any other potential causes of concern. Dr. Sree, MD, and our team at Pediatric Associates of Frisco are here to help your family with all your medical needs – from children to young teenagers. Contact us through our website, and you should also know that we are accepting new patients. We serve patients from Frisco TX, Little Elm TX, The Colony TX, McKinney TX, Prosper TX, Aubrey TX, Oak Point TX, Lakewood Village TX, Plano TX, and Dallas TX. Looking forward to serve you!