Why should I choose a pediatrician to care for my kids?
Many doctors choose to specialize in a certain branch of medicine and receive extra education and training regarding their focus, such as an orthopedist who learns everything he can about your bones.
Pediatricians specialize in children, who often react much differently than adults to acute illnesses such as the flu or chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. Stein is attuned to these differences and monitors her young patients accordingly. She is also a primary care physician, which makes life much more convenient for her patients and their parents.
She can evaluate and prescribe treatment for your child if he’s got a heart murmur, a sore throat that’s getting worse, or needs a routine physical for school. She won’t hesitate to refer your child to another specialist if necessary, but you’ll only need to visit one doctor most of the time.
To make things even more interesting for parents and their pediatrician, your children move rather rapidly through distinct stages as they grow. Dr. Stein is well-versed and interested in each of these developmental stages, which are generally categorized as:
- Infants and toddlers
- School-age children
- Adolescents and young adults
What can I expect regarding my infant or toddler?
At this earliest stage, Dr. Stein sees your child for routine well-child visits that may occur bimonthly to monthly at first and then decrease in frequency over time. Along with a careful exam for your baby or toddler, your visits may focus on:
- Circumcision
- Breastfeeding or formula choices
- Nutritional concerns for toddlers
- Developmental screening
- Vaccination information
What happens during school-age visits?
Many of the topics covered during infancy and toddlerhood are revisited at this stage, but Dr. Stein focuses on changes regarding nutrition, development, and vaccination requirements.
Dr. Stein can also help if you have questions regarding:
- School activities and behavior
- ADHD screening
- Possible learning disabilities
What about the teen years?
Dr. Stein continues to focus on your child’s overall health, nutrition, and vaccination requirements during the teen and young adult years but broadens the focus accordingly. She may:
- Perform sports physicals and discuss the risks of injury, such as concussions
- Provide acne treatment
- Recommend STD screening and treatment
- Offer birth control counseling
- Address concerns such as drug abuse and suggest screening
