Children observe a fast-growing pace as they go through the course of their development. Due to this rapid change, well-child visits during their younger years will be more frequent as development is also quick. Well-child checkups enable the parents to ensure that their child is growing healthy and developing. It also has the power to apprehend different complications as early as possible, making them easier enough to be treated. Asking questions regarding your child’s development may also come into play during these pediatric checkups for one to know the proper steps towards better handling your child. Learn more about what transpires during a pediatric checkup and what ages well-child checkups are done through this blog.
What happens in a well-child checkup?
Varying approaches may be observed as your child ages. Typically, the constant and most common things that the children’s doctor would take and check up on your child include:
- Getting their weight and height – this will then be used for Body Mass Index BMI computation and to evaluate your child’s growth and see if it’s normal.
- Head-to-toe physical examination
- Breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate measurement
- Immunizations and vaccines are administered when needed.
- Their growth and development will be discussed by your pediatrician and address any worries or queries you may have
As your child ages, more factors are added to the overall assessment categories of your child’s doctor. Parents may ask about well-child check ages and what they do during the session. Below is a list of what to expect throughout every stage of your child’s development:
- Infant well-child checkup
- Measurement of length and weight, together with a head circumference
- Observing your child’s head, ears, eyes, and mouth to ensure appropriate growth
- Looking for birthmarks or rashes on the skin
- Putting pressure on your infant’s belly to look for swollen organs or an umbilical hernia
- Looking for pain, lumps, or other infection-related symptoms in your baby’s genitalia
- Toddler well-child checkup
- Overall vision and hearing assessment
- Whether any observable behavioral changes have taken place
- Checking your child’s social, emotional, and mental development
- Examining their interactions with peers
- School-age checkup
- Physical activities are done daily
- Motor and language skills
- Sleep-wake scheduling
- Reading and problem-solving techniques
- Puberty checkup
- Sexual activity assessment
- Sexual orientation and identity
- Talk about contraception, sexual responsibility, and abstinence.
- Your doctor may advise a gynecologic checkup, and girls may be taught how to perform a monthly breast exam.
- Boys may have their testicles examined for cancer and hernias and learn to perform testicular self-exam.
In preparation for your next visit, you may list questions and concerns you would want your pediatrician to answer and assess your child. Do not hesitate to ask your children’s doctor about your child’s development, as they can give helpful advice on encouraging your child’s education and growth.
How often are well-child visits?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a periodicity schedule was devised to help new parents determine when to schedule their child for screenings and assessments. This baby well visits schedule was developed involving visits from infancy until adolescence. Below is the schedule curated by AAP associated with well-child check ages:
- The first-week visit (3-5 days old)
- One month old
- Two months old
- Four months old
- Six months old
- Nine months old
- 12 months old
- 15 months old
- 18 months old
- Two years old (24 months)
- 2 ½ years old (30 months)
- Three years old
- Four years old
- Five years old
- Six years old
- Seven years old
- Eight years old
- Nine years old
- Ten years old
- 11 years old
- 12 years old
- 13 years old
- 14 years old
- 15 years old
- 16 years old
- 17 years old
- 18 years old
- 19 years old
- 20 years old
- 21 years old
Together with this developmental monitoring is the proper immunization schedule for your child. These vaccinations are vital during your every visit. However, some parents may still have different perceptions regarding vaccines leading to certain complications. After thorough research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), they have noted that vaccines are considered safe and crucial to keeping your child healthy. The immunization to be administered to your child is not constant and is still subject to change, according to your child’s doctor. To know more about the recommended vaccines for your child at varying ages, visit CDC’s recommended immunization schedule in the linked text.
Benefits of Well-child Visits
- Prevention. Once you ensure that your child is scheduled for time-to-time visits with your child’s doctor, you also register them for an immunization shot that protects them from the many diseases they can acquire as they reach adulthood. This also allows you to inquire about safe eating practices and conditions at home and school with your pediatrician.
- Monitoring growth and development. As a parent, you can observe other growth developments and compare them to your previous visits. Your child’s developmental milestones, social skills, and academic progress can be discussed.
- Voicing any issues. As mentioned, you may prepare questions or topics to discuss with your doctor. May it be developmental changes, sleeping patterns, eating behaviors, or how they interact with other people. You may also air your concerns and let your pediatrician discuss them during your visit.
- Group effort. Regular well-child visits create a strong bond between the pediatrician, the parent, and your child. Through well-child checkups, the parents and their pediatricians will work together to fulfill your child’s needs. Through this group effort, the development of physical, mental, and social needs will be easily met.
Make the most out of your child’s development!
It is essential to ensure that every child is in utmost health. Supplying the proper medication and treatment upon its early detection may be a big step toward their overall development and ensuring that they are on track. It is alright to ask questions about your child and be able to plan the interventions and immunizations they might need as they grow.
When searching for “pediatricians near me” for the best care for your child, do not hesitate to call our pediatric clinic. Today, learn more about our Children’s Medical Centers of Fresno team.
For queries and well-child checkup scheduling, call our clinic at (559) 455-1500 or visit our main webpage to schedule an appointment. We also offer telemedicine!
