Some may think that’s too young to make such a change, but many doctors who specialize in working with transgender children believe it’s right for certain kids — those who show a rock-solid and enduring belief in their gender identity.

“When kids are consistent, persistent, and insistent in a cross-gender identity — and wanting to be the other gender and wanting the other gender’s body parts or being very unhappy with the body parts they’re given — we consider those children very likely to go on and continue a transgender identity,” said Dr. Michelle Forcier, an associate professor of pediatrics at Brown University School of Medicine.