There are two kinds of doctors who treat children:

• Pediatrician – This type of doctor takes care of children from birth until they become teenagers. Many see children until they are 18 but in some cases they continue to see patients until 21 years old.
• Family Physician – This type of doctor cares for patients of all ages. They are trained to take care of children, but also have experience and training in other areas like women’s health and internal medicine.

Choosing a doctor really depends on what you are looking for. If you prefer a doctor who can take care of your child through adulthood, you may want to choose a family physician. If you would prefer a doctor who specializes in just children you may want to choose a pediatrician.

Here are a few tips to help find a doctor that is right for your child.

• Appointment Availability – Are you looking for a physician with same day/next day access or are you comfortable with scheduling your appointment out a week or two in advance? Check our online appointment scheduling system for availability.
• Location – Look for a physician near your home or work. Having someone close by can help, especially when unexpected healthcare needs or illnesses arise.
• Insurance – Find a physician that accepts your healthcare insurance. This will help you avoid “out of network” charges and fees.
• Patient Satisfaction Scores – Check out the patient satisfaction ratings available on each physician profile.
• Recommendation – Talk to your friends and family about what physicians they use. This is a great starting point!

Yes, initiating a visit before your baby is born is a good idea. Besides being someone you’ve already met and respect, you’ll have one less thing to worry about on your plate once baby is born. At a prenatal visit, a pediatrician can cover safety topics like car seats, what immunizations family members need to protect the newborn, breastfeeding and even topics like post-partum depression and new family stress. Start looking for your child’s doctor at least 3 months prior to when your baby is due.

Regular well-child visits are scheduled at:

• 1 month
• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 9 months
• 12 months
• 15 months
• 18 months
• 24 months
• 30 months
• 3 years
• Annually after 3 year

During the wellness exam, the doctor can check the child’s health and development. They will measure the child’s height and weight and compare the results to both the general population and the child’s family.

They will also test the child’s heart, lungs, hearing, and vision. They will discuss any concerns that the parents have with them. For example, if the child does not seem to be sleeping well, the pediatrician can provide advice and/or reassurance.

It is important for your child to get the appropriate vaccinations because they can prevent infectious diseases that in the past harmed or even killed infants, children and adults. Diseases like measles and whooping cough can make babies and children seriously ill and suffer pain, disability or even death.

A regular on-call physician is available 24/7 if your child gets sick after hours.

If you are a patient of Baton Rouge General, you can obtain your child’s shot records by accessing them through your My Health Profile patient portal account. You can also request them by visiting the Louisiana Department of Health website.

If you or your child is having an emergency, call 9-1-1 or head to the nearest emergency room if you can safely do so.