Should a three-month-old baby see a neonatologist or a pediatrician?

Pediatrics for newborns mainly treats infants within 28 days after birth; therefore, a three-month-old baby generally needs to visit the pediatric department.

The neonatal department is a subspecialty of pediatrics, focusing on disease prevention and health care for newborns from umbilical cord clamping up to 28 days of age. This includes conditions such as neonatal pneumonia, premature infants, and neonatal hyaline membrane disease. The pediatric department primarily treats infants and children aged 29 days to 18 years. Its scope of treatment is relatively broad, including pneumonia, pediatric diarrhea, neurological disorders, genetic diseases, etc. Since a three-month-old infant is typically older than 28 days, they are no longer considered a newborn and should be seen in the general pediatric department.

In daily life, caregivers of three-month-old babies should ensure proper warmth and avoid exposing the baby to cold temperatures, preventing discomfort that might adversely affect growth and development. If any health issues arise, prompt medical attention is essential to avoid delayed treatment, which could increase treatment difficulty and negatively impact the baby's health.