A pediatrician is a doctor who specializes in taking care of babies, children, and teenagers. The word comes from Greek roots meaning “child healer.” While regular doctors treat patients of all ages, pediatricians focus entirely on young people, from newborns through about age 18.

Pediatricians treat sick kids and also perform regular checkups to make sure children are growing properly, give vaccinations to prevent diseases, and help families understand how to keep kids healthy. When you visit a pediatrician for a sore throat or a sprained ankle, they know exactly how to treat someone your size and age, which can be very different from treating adults.

Becoming a pediatrician requires years of dedicated study: four years of college, four years of medical school, and then three more years of specialized training in pediatrics. Pediatricians need special skills that other doctors might not have, like knowing how to examine a squirmy toddler or explain medical information in ways that children can understand without getting scared.

If you've ever had a doctor who seemed to really understand kids and made you feel comfortable during checkups, that was probably your pediatrician using skills they spent years learning.