Your Child’s Growth Ally
Instead of thinking of a visit to a developmental pediatrician as a sign that something is “wrong,” see it an opportunity—a challenge your child can confidently face with you by their side
Dr. Marie Arranz-Lim, a developmental pediatrician at The Medical City, understands the anxiety many parents feel when visiting her clinic. So much so, she consciously chooses to not wear a doctor’s coat.
“I’ve never worn a white coat when I see my kids; I only wear it for conferences. I’m usually just in casual clothes, sneakers even, because I want them to learn to relax, to play, and to be themselves. It’s a whole mindset,” she shares.
Dr. Arranz-Lim wants to change that thinking, especially in developmental pediatrics. “The mindset of my parents’ and my generation was that you go to a doctor when you’re sick. And that’s a problem in itself. Sadly, in the Philippines, we focus heavily on the ill child. Pediatric training is built around that illness model. Parents will bring a child for vaccines, then forget about the doctor until something goes wrong. We want to teach parents that developmental pediatrics helps the child reach their fullest potential—not just recover from illness.”
Two Sides Of The Same Coin
Traditional pediatric visits focus on vaccines, growth charts, and treating acute symptoms like coughs, colds, and scrapes. It’s an “illness model” built to intervene during crises. But the other side of pediatric well-being—communication milestones, attention spans, emotional regulation—too often waits in the wings.
“We focus so much on the sick child,” says Dr. Arranz-Lim. “What we need is developmental promotion: preventing conditions before they become problems.”
Beyond Diagnoses: A Partnership In Prevention
It’s natural for parents to feel apprehensive about visiting a developmental pediatrician, given the assumption that there may be a concern with their child. But Dr. Arranz-Lim is passionate about changing the mindset, one family at a time.
“Part of our goal is to care for the parents and teach them how to care for themselves,” she explains “Just like how it is on the airplane, you put on your own oxygen mask before assisting your child. If you’re not feeling well emotionally, you can’t parent well.
It’s about understanding yourself first, then your child—and building a healthy relationship that supports growth.”
Do All Children Need A Developmental Pediatrician?
A developmental pediatrician’s toolkit looks very different from a generalist pediatrician. From birth through age eight, they monitor speech and language milestones, motor coordination, behavior patterns, and sensory responses.
Ideally, visits to a developmental pediatrician would be as routine as trips to the general pediatrician. “However, in the Philippines, you usually need to have a referral from your pediatrician first,” Dr. Arranz-Lim clarifies.
Still, you don’t need a glaring red flag to benefit from developmental expertise. Since your pediatrician sees your child regularly, you can bring up any concerns during routine checkups. If needed, they’ll recommend a referral.
Dr. Arranz-Lim shares a few signs that might merit extra attention and are worth sharing with your pediatrician. “First, a ‘stormy beginning,’ such as a premature birth, stays in the NICU, or prenatal stress. Second, any sudden plateau in verbal milestones, or fewer than a handful of words by 18 months.
Crafting Your Child’s All-Star Team
Think of developmental pediatrics as one key player in your child’s health team. The general pediatrician tracks physical growth and immunizations. The developmental pediatrician monitors communication, learning styles, sensory needs, and emotional health. If needed, speech, occupational, and behavioral specialists translate recommendations into daily strategies.
She adds: “We understand no parent wants to hear that something’s wrong with their child. So our approach is to highlight all the normal, wonderful things about the child first, and then gently guide parents through areas where help is needed. Rather than having parents leaving our clinic broken, we hope that we give them ways to feel empowered—armed with facts, strategies, and a positive path forward.”
Normalizing Developmental Pediatrics in the Philippines
Routine dental visits and annual physicals are ingrained in parenting playbooks—developmental screenings deserve the same place. By weaving in developmental check ups at major milestones—such as the first birthday, the second year, and before entering preschool—you send a powerful message: you value all aspects of your child’s well-being. Supporting a child’s social spark, cognitive curiosity, and emotional resilience is as vital as protecting them from physical illness. Developmental pediatrics isn’t an optional extra—it’s an essential chapter in raising a well-rounded child.
“Children are gifts,” Dr. Arranz-Lim reflects. “Enjoy your child. Celebrate their uniqueness and differences. Always ask: what can I do to help the child grow better? At the end of it all, children are gifts from the Lord. Every day with them, there’s always something new to explore, and that’s wonderful.”
Dr. Marie Arranz-Lim is the Section Chief for Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Institution of Pediatrics, The Medical City, and past President of the Philippine Society for Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics. She invites all parents to the Children’s Summit, with the theme: Present and Purposeful: Parenting and Teaching in a Changing World, on June 21, 2025, 8:30 AM– 4:00 PM via Zoom. To register, visit bit.ly/ChildrensSummit2025
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