Your child’s health matters at every stage. We provide care for babies, kids and teens with checkups, treatment and advice to help them grow strong and confident.
Care that grows with your child
Primary care pediatrics is where your child’s health begins and grows. It is the place you go for well checks, sick visits and the questions that come up as your child changes from baby to teen.
Well-checks help track growth and development, prevent illness and catch concerns early. These visits look at physical, emotional and behavioral health and give you time to talk through everyday questions about sleep, nutrition, school and behavior.
When extra care is needed, testing, labs and specialty care are easy to access and stay connected so care feels simple and coordinated.
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Conditions
Your child’s health matters at every stage, from newborn to teen. Pediatric primary care helps track growth, support development and catch problems early. Your child’s doctor is ready to care for any concern, and may include common illnesses like colds, coughs, fevers, sore throats, earaches and rashes. Some examples of more specific conditions your child may need care for include:
- ADD/ADHD: Conditions affecting attention, focus and activity levels
- Allergies: Immune reactions to pollen, food, pets or other triggers that cause sneezing, itching or swelling
- Asthma: Long-term lung condition that makes breathing difficult, causing wheezing, coughing or shortness of breath
- Behavior concerns: Challenges with emotions, actions or social interactions
- Cuts, scrapes and minor injuries: Small wounds or bumps that may need cleaning and monitoring
- Developmental delays: Slower progress in learning skills or reaching milestones for age
- Diabetes: A condition where the body cannot properly control blood sugar levels
- Diarrhea and digestive issues: Frequent loose or watery stools or other stomach problems
- Growth concerns: Issues with height, weight or overall development
- Mental health concerns: Issues like anxiety, depression or mood changes that affect daily life
- Musculoskeletal concerns: Muscles that may affect movement or posture
- Nutrition concerns: Weight changes, picky eating or concerns about healthy habits
- Skin conditions: Eczema, acne, or persistent rashes
- Sleep problems: Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or sleep-related issues
- Sports or activity injuries: Sprains, strains or minor injuries from play or sports
- Vision or hearing concerns: Trouble seeing or hearing, or needing routine screenings
Testing
Your child's health is incredibly important to us. We provide a range of screenings and tests to help track growth, monitor development and catch health concerns early. Testing can show if your child is thriving, identify any issues before they become bigger problems and guide the care your child may need. Because we're part of a connected network of doctors at Tufts Medicine, we can also easily refer your child to specialists or advanced care when needed.
Some examples of screenings we may perform include:
- Breathing and lung function: Evaluate for asthma or other breathing concerns
- Coordination, reflexes and flexibility: Check motor skills and nervous system function
- Developmental screenings: Track motor, language, social and cognitive skills
- Lab and imaging tests: Blood, urine or imaging tests to check for infections, nutritional issues or chronic conditions
- Mental health screenings: Check emotional, social and cognitive well-being
- Respiratory virus testing (COVID-19, flu, RSV): Nasal swabs to diagnose common viral illnesses
- Scoliosis exam: Screen for spinal curvature
- Skin checks: Identify rashes, eczema or other skin concerns
- Vital signs: Height, weight, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and pulse oximetry (oxygen levels)
Treatments
We’re here to make your child’s care simple, supportive and easy to access. Pediatric primary care covers everyday health needs as well as ongoing or more complex concerns. Treatments help your child feel better, manage long-term conditions and stay healthy as they grow. Your child’s doctor can provide care directly, prescribe medications when needed and connect you with specialists if your child requires extra support.
Your child’s doctor can help in many ways, such as:
- Acute illness care: Care for common illnesses like colds, fevers, coughs, sore throats and ear infections
- Behavior and mental health support: Evaluation, counseling or referrals for anxiety, depression, attention or behavior concerns
- Chronic condition management: Support and treatment for ongoing conditions like asthma, diabetes or ADHD
- Medication management: Prescriptions for short-term or ongoing conditions
- Nutrition and lifestyle guidance: Help with healthy eating, weight management and overall wellness
- Oral health support: Fluoride varnish and guidance on dental care
- School and social support: Guidance for school challenges or behavioral issues
- Sports and activity care: Treatment for minor injuries or activity-related concerns
- Well-child and preventive care: Regular checkups, immunizations and guidance to keep your child healthy
Special programs + specialty care
Some children have health needs that go beyond routine visits. That’s why your child’s doctor can connect you with a team of pediatric experts who focus on specific areas of child health. We partner with pediatric specialists in areas like gynecology, rheumatology, dermatology and child + adolescent psychiatry to support your child’s unique needs as they grow and develop. These experts work together with your child’s primary care doctor so care is coordinated, thoughtful and focused on helping your child thrive.
- Adolescent + teen health: Private, welcoming care for teens and young adults, supporting safe transitions from childhood to adulthood
- Pediatric + adolescent gynecology: Care for reproductive health, puberty, menstrual concerns and preventive screenings
- Child + adolescent psychiatry: Convenient access to behavioral health evaluation and treatment for emotional, cognitive or behavioral challenges
- Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics: Comprehensive evaluation and personalized care for children with physical, developmental, behavioral or sensory needs
- Pediatric + Adolescent Asian Primary Care Clinic: Friendly bilingual care with Chinese-speaking staff and after-hours support
- Pediatric Complex Care Program: Extra support for children with multiple chronic conditions, helping families manage complex care needs
- Pediatric dermatology: Evaluation and management of skin concerns, including eczema, acne, rashes and other chronic skin conditions
- Pediatric ear, nose and throat (ENT): Treatment for ear infections, sinus and allergy issues, tonsil or adenoid concerns, hearing problems and related conditions
- Pediatric gastroenterology + digestive health: Care for reflux, chronic stomach pain, constipation, food intolerances, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease and other digestive concerns
- Pediatric rehabilitation: Physical and occupational therapy and support to help children recover or improve strength, mobility and function after injury, illness or surgery
- Pediatric rheumatology: Diagnosis and treatment for autoimmune or musculoskeletal conditions, including juvenile arthritis and lupus
FAQs
What is pediatric primary care?
Pediatric primary care is the first line of medical care for children, from newborns to young adults. Your child’s doctor monitors growth, tracks development, provides preventive care, treats illnesses and helps manage chronic conditions. They also guide families on nutrition, sleep, behavior, school and overall wellness.
How often should my child have checkups?
Well visits are recommended at key stages: newborn, infancy, toddler, early childhood and adolescence. During these visits, your child’s doctor will check growth, development, vaccines, mental and behavioral health, and answer any questions about your child’s well-being.
What happens during a well-child visit?
Well visits usually include a physical exam, growth and development check, vaccinations, and screenings for vision, hearing, mental health and behavior. These visits also include time to talk about nutrition, sleep, behavior and school concerns, and give you a chance to ask questions and get guidance on your child’s health. To learn more about what happens during a well-child visit and what to expect, see What to know before you go to a well-child visit.
When should I call my child’s doctor?
Call your child’s doctor whenever you’re worried about symptoms, injuries, behavior changes or mental health concerns. You don’t need to wait until a scheduled visit — your child’s health matters any time. Our team is here to answer questions, provide guidance and make sure your child gets care when needed.
Do you provide care for chronic conditions?
Yes. Pediatric primary care doctors manage ongoing conditions like asthma, diabetes, ADHD, allergies and other long-term health concerns. They work closely with families and specialists to make sure your child’s care is coordinated and effective.
What if my child needs a specialist?
Your child’s doctor can connect you with a wide range of pediatric specialists, including adolescent gynecology, rheumatology, dermatology, psychiatry, rehabilitation and more. Care is coordinated so your child gets the right support at the right time, and families have guidance every step of the way.
How do I choose the right doctor for my child?
A good pediatric primary care doctor listens carefully, explains care in clear and simple terms, and partners with you to support your child’s growth, development and overall health. We make it easy to find a provider near you and build a trusted relationship that can last from infancy through young adulthood.
Tips for choosing a pediatrician:
- Look for a doctor who takes time to answer your questions and makes you feel heard.
- Choose someone experienced in caring for children at your child’s stage of development.
- Consider location, office hours, and access to same-day or urgent visits.
- Ask about how the practice handles after-hours questions or emergencies.
- Make sure the practice can connect you easily to pediatric specialists if needed.
What other services are included in pediatric primary care?
Pediatric primary care can also include guidance on nutrition and healthy habits, mental wellness support, school and social concerns, preventive screenings, adolescent health services and connecting your child to specialized care when needed. We focus on supporting your child’s body, mind and emotional well-being.
Why is primary care important for my child?
Regular primary care helps track your child’s growth and development, catch potential problems early, prevent illness with vaccinations and provide guidance on healthy habits. Strong relationships with a primary care doctor can make a big difference in your child’s health now and into adulthood.
Why should I choose Tufts Medicine for my child’s care?
At Tufts Medicine, your child’s health is our top priority. Our pediatric primary care team includes experienced doctors, nurses, and a network of pediatric specialists who work together to provide thoughtful, coordinated care. We focus on your child’s growth, development and overall well-being at every stage—from newborn to teen.
Families choose Tufts Medicine because we:
- Offer expert care you can trust: Our pediatricians and specialists have the training and experience to manage both everyday health needs and complex conditions.
- Provide comprehensive services: From well visits and immunizations to chronic condition management, mental health support, adolescent care and specialty referrals, we cover all aspects of your child’s health.
- Connect you to a broad network of specialists: Our team includes experts in adolescent gynecology, rheumatology, dermatology, rehabilitation, psychiatry and more, all working together with your child’s primary care doctor.
- Make care convenient: Same-day appointments, after-hours support and seamless referrals help families get the care they need when they need it.
- Focus on your child as a whole person: We support physical health, emotional well-being, growth and development, school and social concerns, and family guidance.
- Partner with families: We listen, answer questions and work with you to help your child thrive.
Choosing Tufts Medicine means your child has access to a connected team of experts, a full network of pediatric specialists and care tailored to their unique needs.
Our locations
From regular office visits to inpatient stays, find the healthcare you need and deserve close to home.
Our doctors + care team
Meet the doctors and care team devoted to supporting you every step of the way along your path to better health.