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Importance of well-child visits

We have been focusing on your child’s health and its impact on development by looking at hearing and eyesight. Now, let’s focus on your child’s overall wellbeing by looking at the importance of well-child exams with your doctor.

What to expect

Each visit includes a complete physical exam. At this exam, the health care provider will check the child’s growth and development in order to find or prevent problems. The provider will record your child’s height, weight, and other important information. Hearing, vision, and other screening tests will be part of some visits.

How often

Well-child visits should occur regularly during the early childhood years of birth through five. It is a crucial time for brain development. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends visits occur at the following ages: the first week visit (3 to 5 days old), 1 month old, 2 months old, 4 months old, 6 months old, 9 months old, 12 months old, 15 months old, 18 months old, 2 years old (24 months), 2 1/2 years old (30 months), 3 years old, 4 years old and 5 years old.

The benefits:

The Healthy Children Organization gives insight into why well-child visits are beneficial.

• Prevention. Your child gets scheduled immunizations to prevent illness. You also can ask your pediatrician about nutrition and safety in the home and at school.

• Tracking growth and development. See how much your child has grown in the time since your last visit, and talk with your doctor about your child’s development. You can discuss your child’s milestones, social behaviors and learning. If there is a delay or a concern, your doctor should have a variety of resources available to help you.

• Raising concerns. Make a list of topics you want to talk about with your child’s pediatrician such as development, behavior, sleep, eating or getting along with other family members. Bring your top three to five questions or concerns with you to talk with your pediatrician at the start of the visit.

• Team approach. Regular visits create strong, trustworthy relationships among pediatrician, parent and child. The AAP recommends well-child visits as a way for pediatricians and parents to serve the needs of children. This team approach helps develop optimal physical, mental and social health of a child.

It’s only common that parents would visit the doctor when their child has a fever or rash, so routine checkups when the child is feeling well are equally important. You can also download many helpful milestone resources at https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/freematerials.html

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Carrie Kube is a Director for Iowa River Valley Early Childhood Area Board. All thoughts and opinions expressed are that of the author and not the Board and/or its community partners.

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