Tim Ratz, MD

Tim Ratz, MD, is a pediatrician at Suburban Pediatrics.

Dr. Ratz sees patients at:

Suburban Pediatrics – South County
4116 Von Talge Road
Suite: B
St. Louis, MO 63128
Please call 314-939-1674 for an appointment at the South County location.

Suburban Pediatrics – West County
456 North New Ballas Road
Suite: 304
Creve Coeur, MO 63141
Please call 314-567-6868 for an appointment at the West County location.

When did you decide to become a pediatrician?

Unlike most kids, growing up, I actually enjoyed going to the doctor. I looked up to those doctors I saw and always thought it would be a fun profession. Going into medical school, I told myself to keep an open mind to each specialty, but the minute I started to work with and learn from all of the amazing pediatricians who genuinely loved what they did and had fun at work every day, I knew this specialty was for me.

What do you want parents to know about child development during the first years of life?

I want parents to know that every kid is different. Every kid will reach milestones at slightly different times and that’s ok. If you have multiple children, it is likely that they will reach developmental milestones at different times. We as pediatricians will keep an eye on that for you, while you as the parents should enjoy all the new “firsts.”

Is baby led weaning safe, and do you have any tips for introducing solids?

Baby led weaning is safe. It can be a good way to get your baby included in mealtime earlier by allowing them to feed themselves and eat the foods that everyone else in the family is eating. When introducing solid foods, remember to choose soft foods, avoid choking hazards and keep introducing different foods and textures. It can take them a few times of being exposed to a new food before they will start to like it.

Do you have any recommendations about sugar in childhood?

I don’t think you have to avoid sugar altogether. There are plenty of fruits and vegetables that are great for kids that have natural sugar in them. I wouldn’t recommend giving them extra sweets with every meal, but there is nothing wrong with a little treat every once in a while.

Did you play sports growing up?

I played many different sports growing up. My main sports were basketball, baseball and soccer in grade school, which kept me busy. I started high school playing soccer and basketball before turning to a new sport, ultimate frisbee, to finish out my high school career. I started an ultimate frisbee team in college with my brother as well, so I got to keep playing for four more years.

How can parents help their children prevent sports injuries?

I think the most important thing to help prevent sports injuries is making sure that they allow their body time to rest. Even professional athletes have an offseason for a break. Some competitive sports today seem like they are pushing kids towards specializing in one sport early and playing it year-round. You should be taking at least a day or two off per week and a couple months off per year to allow your body recovery time and decrease risk of injury. Also, playing multiple sports is great for preventing injuries. You use different muscles and motions with different sports. This helps prevent overuse injuries and develops different athletic skills.

What is your favorite way to stay up to date on the latest research?

I like to browse the American Academy of Pediatrics website for new articles when they come out. I will specifically search for articles on whatever topic happens to be going through the news to stay up to date.

What do you think is the biggest medical advancement in pediatrics in recent years?

I think the biggest advancement in recent years is the RSV antibody now available for babies. It is amazing to see something be able to decrease the risk of serious symptoms associated with a virus that causes many hospitalizations every year.

What is the best advice you’ve received?

It may sound cliche, but my parents always told me that I could do anything I set my mind to if I worked hard. With their constant support, I was able to achieve my goal and am now the first doctor in my family.

If you weren’t a doctor, what would you like to be doing?

Growing up, in addition to being a doctor, I was also interested in teaching high school students and coaching. I’d like to think that I would be a teacher if I wasn’t a doctor.