Eh, I'd say at whatever age they feel more comfortable with a reg family doc. My son is 14 and still sees his Ped, and has seen the same Ped since he was 2. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
I'm pretty sure mine both switched before they were teens. In fact, one of them isn't even a teen yet and she has been going to a regular Dr. for a couple of years.
gawd mine boy is so big i think maybe its time. i never see kids his size or age when we go to the peds.
Heck, I'm 51 and when I went a month ago for my colonoscopy I was in the waiting room and I still picked up Highlights and read it.
I never see kids the size of mine either, he's almost 6'2" and 13 but he still goes to his pediatrician
here's the thing......the doc he saw is only in smithfield now and i dont really care for the other choices. so either we move to another ped or onto the family doc. maybe i should leave it up to him.
I'd also agree that seems more appropriate for a teen to decide if they wish to continue going to a pediatrician or to an adult doctor. If they feel self-conscience about it, I'd say find a new doctor. When I was young (37 YO now) , I went to a pediatrician probably until I was about 5 or 6. After that, I went to the family doctor.
My son is 24 and still goes to his pediatrician on his own insurance plan now. The doc doesn't seem to mind and my son is more comfortable with this set up.
Mine went to the peditrician until they went off to college at 18. Then they saw the college doctors for FREE and now they have their own regular doctors. And YES, I STILL read Highlights, been reading them for 40Plus years, I LOVE the find the object in the big picture. That is always my first page I do!
I'm glad to see your son is taking care of himself by seeing a doctor but a pediatrician at the age of 24? Don't the peds offices have like a cut off age of the patients they see? Mine both see peds doctor now and they will continue to until at least the age of 18 but I've never heard of adults in their 20's seeing a pediatrician?:?
