Which specialist performs child health consultation?

The clinician reviews the child’s symptoms, feeding, sleep, development, immunisations, medicines, and relevant family history. They may measure growth, check vital signs, examine the child, and discuss behaviour, school concerns, nutrition, or safety. A family medicine doctor can provide ongoing care for many childhood concerns. A paediatrician has specialist training in children and may be preferred for complex, persistent, or age-specific problems. The clinician can arrange referral to another service when the assessment suggests it is needed.

Bring the child’s medication list, vaccination information, previous reports, and a short timeline of symptoms. Note changes in appetite, sleep, activity, urination, or development. Write down your main concerns and, if appropriate, bring the child’s health record. The clinician may need to speak with the child as well as the accompanying adult. Find more detail in [Child Health Consultation](/treatments/consultations-and-assessment/child-health-consultation/).

Seek urgent care for severe breathing difficulty, a seizure, unresponsiveness, blue or grey lips, sudden weakness, serious injury, or a child who is unusually difficult to wake. Prompt medical assessment is also needed when a young child is not drinking, has markedly fewer wet nappies, or is becoming rapidly more unwell.

Ask whether your child’s growth and development are on track, which symptoms need monitoring, how to give prescribed medicines, and when follow-up or specialist referral is needed.