Moving through the teen years can be both exciting and challenging for parents and teens alike. With all the changes that take place physically, socially and emotionally, Mindful Pediatrics gives special attention to what teenagers need.

Many parents ask how long their teen should continue to see a pediatrician. Some young adults continue to be patients until they reach 21 years of age or graduate from college. Since many of our adolescent patients have been with us since birth or early childhood, they have had the opportunity to establish a comfortable and trusting relationship with our providers. This ongoing relationship often makes it easier for teenagers to discuss sensitive concerns.

Vaccine Consultations

Many confusing and controversial issues are associated with the decision about whether or not to vaccinate your child. There seems to be two opposing sides, both of which seem to be backed up by “scientific” data. In our experience, vaccines seem to be well tolerated by healthy children in the short run. That being said, we believe it is far too complicated to evaluate the real long-term impact at this time. For this reason, we are cautious. We believe that one size does not fit all and that a vaccination schedule should be tailored to a specific child’s exposure and risk. We use evidence-based research to help guide our patients and their family’s decisions.