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Well Child Checkups and Why They Are Important
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Well Child Check-ups – Why They Are Important

Avatar kshaver
June 14, 2019
208 comments
3 min read

Many parents, caregivers, or guardians head straight to their Doctor when their child is sick. Scheduling well-child check-ups even when they are not sick is also extremely important for their health and safety. Here’s why.

Age Progression Check-Ups

Taking your child to the doctor should be a regular, pre-determined event based on their age, growth, and development. There are specific times and ages where immunizations are required, but well-child check-ups go far beyond that.

Seeing a doctor regularly ensures that your child does not miss crucial aspects of their doctors care. Well-child check-ups occur much more frequently in the very first two years of age. They will often decrease to a yearly visit after that. These are additional visits to the doctor, outside of illnesses, immunizations, or other reasons you may need to visit.

What Do They Cover During a Well-Child Check-up

Like most visits to the doctor, they will check vital signs including temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rates. Your child’s weight, infant head circumference, length, and growth curves (spinal cord, etc.) will also be recorded.

The doctor will cover growth basepoints such as developmental milestones, speech, motor skills, sleeping habits, and your child’s diet. Based on their full physical exam which they will also do during your well-child check-up, they can make key recommendations to keep your child healthy.

Any immunizations that are due can be done at this time or they will inform you of when you need to schedule an appointment to have those done. If you have questions regarding the immunizations, this is an excellent opportunity to ask.

Your doctor will also discuss nutrition, general safety advice, family dynamics and discipline in raising your child. The well-child check-up is an opportunity for them to learn as much as they can about your child, record vital information that could keep them safe from potential health threats, and help you learn important parenting skills as well.

Developmental Screenings

Some of your well-child check-ups will include screenings that only happen during age-specific times. At nine months, 18 months, and 24 months there are additional health measures taken. They will also have annual blood pressure screenings that will start around three years old.

At one and two years of age, your doctor will check for anemia and evaluate their hemoglobin levels. Lead toxicity will also be checked when they are two. Once they turn three, other items will be added including vision and hearing.

Schedule your well-child check-up today to keep your children healthy!

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kshaver

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