Types of Baby Doctors

Baby doctors, or pediatricians, care for children from birth through the teenage years. In addition to general pediatrics, careers are available in a number of sub-specialties. Becoming a pediatrician requires earning excellent grades in college, an aptitude for the sciences and a desire to work with children and their parents.

General Pediatrics

Pediatricians in a general practice treat patients for a variety of illnesses and injuries, perform routine examinations and make referrals to specialists as necessary. If you want to become a pediatrician, you will be required to complete a 3-year pediatric residency after completing medical school. The residency will prepare you to understand the effects that diseases have on growing children and will teach you how to work with patients who are not always capable of describing exactly what is wrong with them.

Newborn Care

A neonatologist works in hospitals with newborns born prematurely or born with a serious illness or condition. These doctors work with babies who are often critically ill and the work is demanding. After completing a residency in pediatrics, neonatologists must complete an additional 3 years of training in newborn intensive care.

Surgical Specialties

A pediatric surgeon operates solely on children, working to repair birth defects and injuries, remove tumors and perform transplants. After completing medical school, doctors complete a 5-year residency in general surgery, followed by a 2-year residency in pediatric surgery.

A pediatric anesthesiologist provides general anesthesia for children undergoing surgery. Due to children's smaller bodies, special knowledge is required to effectively administer anesthesia to children. These doctors also provide pain management therapy and medications. Becoming a pediatric anesthesiologist requires completion of a 3-year residency in anesthesiology and additional training in pediatric anesthesiology.

Nervous System Specialties

A pediatric neurologist diagnoses and treats problems of the nervous system. Pediatric neurologists work with patients who have head injuries, seizure disorders, behavioral disorders, chronic headaches, nerve-muscle disorders, developmental delays and disorders. After completing a pediatric residency, a pediatrician wishing to become a pediatric neurologist must complete an additional residency in child neurology.

When a patient's neurological problem can be surgically corrected, a referral to a pediatric neurosurgeon is made. These surgeons specialize in repairing or correcting spinal deformities, head deformities, gait abnormalities, birth injuries and other problems affecting the spine, brain or nerves. After a surgical internship, doctors complete a 5-year residency program in neurosurgery and then receive additional training in pediatric neurosurgery.

Nephrology and Gastroenterology

Nephrologists diagnose and treat kidney disorders and diseases, including inherited kidney diseases, kidney failure, high blood pressure, abnormalities in urine, kidney stones, urinary tract infections and growth and development problems caused by chronic kidney disease. Following a pediatric residency, these doctors complete an additional residency in pediatric nephrology.

Gastroenterologists work with infants and children who have nutritional, liver or digestive system diseases or disorders. They treat problems such as reflux, bowel diseases, failure to thrive, feeding disorders, gastrointestinal bleeding, food allergies and chronic vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. After a pediatric residency, these doctors receive additional training in pediatric gastroenterology.

Heart Specialties

Pediatric cardiologists diagnose and treat congenital and acquired heart disease and disorders. In addition to working with babies and children, pediatric cardiologists may be called in to evaluate the heart of a fetus using ultrasound images. Cardiologists complete a pediatric residency, followed by a pediatric cardiology residency.

When patients require surgery, pediatric cardiologists recommend them to pediatric heart surgeons. These doctors surgically repair heart defects, such as holes in the heart, abnormal blood vessels and valve defects. Becoming a pediatric heart surgeon is a lengthy process, involving a 5-year general surgery residency, a 2- or 3-year cardiothoracic residency program that includes 6 months of pediatric training, and completion of 2 to 4 years in a pediatric heart surgery program.

Resources

• American Academy of Pediatrics
• American Association of American Medical Colleges