The waiting room was full of crying babies, toddlers on iPads, and restless kindergarteners. Sitting between a credenza and small woman (his mother) was a towering teenager. When he was called, he stood up. All 6 foot 2 of him. It was evident that he had outgrew not just his hoodie.

I turned to my daughter and told her a story about a coworker of mine whose kid was told by his pediatrician not to come back. How old was he? My daughter asked. “17!” She laughed out loud.

Even if you haven’t outgrown this place, I have!

“After we get these antibiotics, we’ll find you a regular doctor.” She agrees she’s outgrown her baby doctor. I also told her that I don’t think I can come back into a room full of crying babies, anymore. “Even if you haven’t outgrown this place, I have!”

There’s no magic age for this transition and it really depends on the child and her parents. Maturity, comfort level, lifestyle changes and medical requirements are factors that need to be considered.

For my daughter and her desire to explore birth control / hormone pills as a way to manage her menstrual cycle, the transition to a regular female doctor was a natural one as her inquiries and medical attention have graduated.

Based on what I saw was happening at the pediatrician’s office, I don’t think she’ll miss divesting my daughter’s client file, either.