Pediatrics is a branch of internal medicine that focuses on children's health. A pediatrician is a primary care doctor for children that oversees a child's mental, behavioral, and physical well-being from birth until the age of 18.

All board-certified pediatricians have specialized education in children's health, in addition to their medical school training. There are also pediatricians with healthcare subspecialties - like pediatric cardiologists, pediatric dermatologists, and pediatric neurologists. These doctors are qualified to diagnose and treat acute and chronic diseases, and can often offer preventative care.

Because children are different from adults when it comes to anatomy, psychology, immune system strength, development, and metabolism. Children can benefit greatly from seeing board-certified pediatricians who specialize in the kinds of care they need. Pediatricians can:

• Perform physical exams and wellness check-ups.
  
• Give immunizations (vaccinations).
  
• Conduct speech therapy.
  
• Offer guidance for pain management.
  
• Check for milestones in skills, behavior, and growth.
  
• Answer any questions you might have in regards to your child's development.
  
• Diagnose and treat diseases including illness, infection, as well as injuries.
  

Save 60% on your next pediatrician visit when you book with Sesame.

On Sesame, you can connect with a real, quality pediatrician near you to get your questions answered and your child's symptoms addressed for one affordable, upfront price. Pediatricians listed on Sesame are licensed professionals. Many have practiced in children's hospitals, medical centers, walk-in pediatric clinics, and pediatric urgent care centers.

Save 60% on your next pediatrician visit when you book with Sesame.

Put simply, pediatricians treat kids, family doctors treat all members of the family - from your infant to your spouse.

Family doctors often have a more holistic understanding of genetic health issues that run in your family, helping them tailor care directly to your family's needs.

No matter your choice of primary care doctor, Sesame can help you find quality affordable health care. On Sesame, you get to choose who you'd like to see, for upfront prices, on your schedule. Yep. It's really that simple.

It's recommended.

Though many pregnant women use obstetricians/gynecologists to take care of their health care needs before the baby is born, there are significant benefits to getting to know a pediatrician before birth. Pediatricians can offer several services to new moms, including lactation services to help support breastfeeding.

Pediatric urgent care centers treat minor medical emergencies, offer vaccinations, and perform lab work for newborns, children, and teenagers.

Sesame offers telemedicine appointments, including video pediatric urgent care visits, for any non-life-threatening urgent care needs. It's perfect for fevers, sore throats, sprains, infections, and accessible from the comfort of your home.

Pediatric urgent care offers an accessible and kid-friendly space to take your child for healthcare services in the event of a minor emergency.

Whether your child has strep throat or needs an x-ray, consider booking a pediatric telehealth appointment with Sesame, with appointments available as early as today.

In most cases, you can help reduce your child's temperature by:

• Applying a cool compress on their forehead
  
• Giving a lukewarm sponge bath
  
• Giving your child children's acetaminophen to help reduce fever, if your child is older than 2 years of age. (To avoid a serious condition called Reye's syndrome, never give your child aspirin.)
  

If your child (older than 3 months) has a fever of 104 F, you should speak with an advice nurse or pediatrician. Infants under 3 months should seek medical care with a temperature of 100.4 F or higher.

Other symptoms that accompany a fever, such as a stiff neck, ear pain, sore throat, or severe headache may indicate a bigger issue.

Developmental pediatricians, also known as developmental-behavioral pediatricians, are healthcare providers that focus on learning and behavioral issues in children.

It is common for a developmental pediatrician to work along with a team of healthcare providers that may include, an occupational therapist, mental health provider, physical therapist, neurodevelopmental disabilities pediatrician, and social worker.

Developmental pediatricians are trained medical doctors that specialize in children's behavioral issues, intellectual disabilities, and developmental disorders, including:

Behavioral disorders: Including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)

Developmental delays: Including delays in motor skills, speech and language skills, social and emotional skills, and cognitive skills.

Developmental disabilities: Including Autism spectrum disorders (ASD), cerebral palsy, down syndrome, and hearing loss

Because there are many types of developmental delays in children, the symptoms can be wide-ranging.

Cognitive developmental delays may include difficulties learning to sit, crawl, or speak. Signs that your child may have a delay in motor skills include muscle stiffness or floppiness.

Other symptoms that your child may show signs of a developmental delay include learning problems, an inability to do everyday tasks like using the restroom or getting dressed in the morning, or difficulty socializing.

With some conditions, including autism spectrum disorders, research shows that early intervention can play a major, positive role in helping your child's development long-term. Early intervention can help improve learning disabilities, behavioral problems, as well as physical, social, thinking, communication, and emotional skills.

Connect with a real, quality pediatrician on Sesame who can assess your child's condition and determine whether a referral to a developmental pediatrician may be right for your family.