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A young patient is examined by a provider

Is there a difference between a pediatrician and a family doctor?

09/11/25
Family medicine physicians and pediatricians are different, but both are trained to care for children as they grow. They go through similar training, but they might focus on different specialties.

Every child deserves a care team that understands their needs as they grow.

Kids aren’t just little adults. Growing up brings its own set of unique challenges.

A child’s physician should have the knowledge and experience to guide the child and their parents or caregivers through physical, mental and emotional growth and development, and the challenges that come with them.

Both pediatricians and family medicine physicians can do this.

Pediatrician vs. family doctor

Both pediatricians and family medicine physicians can take care of infants and children.

Ultimately, it’s a personal decision which one a person chooses. A pediatrician specializes in caring for infants, children and teens into young adulthood. A family physician provides care for people of all ages, including babies and adults.

What does a pediatrician do?

A pediatrician is a primary care provider specializing in caring for newborns, infants, children and teens:

  • Training: This involves 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school and 3 or more years of training in pediatrics.
  • Clinical interest: Some pediatricians get extra training to become specialists in areas like newborn care, heart problems in kids or behavior issues.
  • Patient populations: Pediatricians usually see kids from birth to around age 21 years. Once they become adults, pediatricians at Crystal Run help patients transition to an adult primary care provider.
  • Availability: Some pediatric groups, like those at Crystal Run, offer extended-hour availability, including early mornings, evenings and weekends, same or next-day sick visits and 24/7 access to an on-call pediatrician for emergency support.

What does a family doctor do?

A family physician is a type of primary care provider who takes care of people of all ages, from babies to older adults:

  • Training: This involves 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school and 3 or more years of training in family medicine.
  • Clinical interest: Some family doctors get extra training to become specialists in areas like teen health.
  • Patient populations: Family doctors can see anyone, from newborns to older people. When their younger patients become adults, they do not need to transition to another adult primary care provider, but they may recommend another specialist depending on the patient’s needs.
  • Availability: Family physicians may have extended or late-hour appointments, depending on the provider. You may need to ask about their availability for sick or same-day visits.

It’s important to note that family physicians can have very different preferences and levels of experience when it comes to working with infants, children and adolescents.

When considering a family physician for a child’s care, it may be helpful to ask about their experience with children and their clinical interests.

Does family medicine include pediatrics?

Family medicine training includes in-depth education and experience in children’s health and medical needs.

Family medicine physicians go through extensive training after medical school, including thorough training in newborns, infants, children and adolescents.

They may also have fellowships or other qualifications in areas of concentration, such as adolescent medicine.

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, nearly 3 out of 4 family medicine physicians provide care for infants and children.

Choosing a child’s doctor

Both pediatricians and family physicians can give great care to kids. Here are some things to think about when choosing a physician:

  • Does the provider have experience with newborns?
  • Are they board certified? Both family physicians and pediatricians can be board certified.
  • Do they welcome patient questions?
  • How can patients get after-hours assistance?
  • How do they support choices around topics like circumcision, breastfeeding or other parenting questions?

Takeaway

Family physicians and pediatricians are different, but they can both provide care to children of all ages.

A pediatrician specializes in the health of infants, children and teenagers. They may also have a further specialty in specific areas of pediatric health. Some family physicians choose to specialize in pediatrics during their residency and may acquire additional certifications and fellowship training in pediatric health.

When choosing a physician for a child or new baby, ask questions to make sure they’re a good fit for your family’s needs.

At Crystal Run Healthcare, our primary care team includes Family Medicine providers who are trained to care for all members of the family through every stage of life, from infancy to advanced age. Our family medicine providers advocate for their patients and focus on preventive medicine. By monitoring their patients’ health closely year after year, family doctors are often able to help prevent the onset of diseases that have a genetic component, such as high cholesterol, obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.