Your child's general pediatrician is your child's doctor.

Your child should his or her general pediatrician for check-ups, shots and illness. Should your child develop any problems, your doctor may refer you to a specialist.

Specialists are trained in a specific aspect of medicine. Some disorders may require your child to see a specialist more often than their general pediatrician. However, your child's general pediatrician is their doctor and needs to see him or her at least once a year for a checkup.

For issues not related to the disorder your child is seeing a specialist for, you should take your child to their general pediatrician.

The following schedule is recommended:

• After birth (not in hospital)
• One month old
• Two months old
• Four months old
• Six months old
• Nine months old
• One year old
• 15 months old
• 18 months old
• Two years old
• Every year afterwards

Having your child see the doctor every year helps him or her stay healthy, as well as, be responsible for their own health as they grow up.