Medical Checkups

Regular doctor visits aren’t just for babies. It’s important to track growth, screen for disease and address health and parenting issues affecting older kids, too.

A vital part of keeping your child healthy is staying up-to-date on his or her physical exams. Learn more about how often children should be checked and what happens at these exams.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends well-baby checkups immediately after birth, then at 2 to 4 days of age, before going home from the hospital. After that, infants following the AAP schedule see the doctor at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9 and 12 months of age.

In early childhood, middle childhood and adolescence, the AAP schedule calls for checkups at:

• 15 months
• 18 months
• Each year from ages 2 to 6
• 8 years
• 10 years
• Each year after age 11

Your child’s doctor may suggest a slightly different schedule, depending on the prevention guidelines developed in the particular practice or health plan your family may use. Typically, these alternative schedules call for full exams every other year, instead of yearly, after age 3.

Most states require only two well-child exams for school enrollment — one at the start of kindergarten and the other at the start of high school. Because some states vary from this schedule, ask the school nurse what forms your child’s doctor should complete and when the school requires them. An additional examination is usually required for participation in a school sport.

Immunization Update
Every checkup is an opportunity to make sure your child is up-to-date on all of his or her immunizations. Ask for a copy of the immunization dates for your child.

Health Promotion
During the visit, the doctor should discuss your child’s nutrition and exercise needs and recommend injury prevention measures. The doctor can also advise you about what sports would be a good match to your child’s physical abilities. If your child has a condition that makes a certain sport too risky, the doctor will explain the limitation and perhaps suggest alternative sports.

A value-added proposition
Well-child checkups can reveal problems early and reinforce healthy behavior. More than that, they establish a relationship with your child’s doctor so that you’ll always know who to call when your child is sick or injured. With up-to-date information at hand, your doctor can assess your child’s condition more readily. The doctor or nurse may also be able to answer your routine questions and tell you how to deal with your child’s minor illnesses over the telephone. That means fewer unnecessary office visits. Finally, your child’s trusting relationship with his or her doctor may help establish a lifelong pattern of healthy habits and appropriate utilization of medical care.

Courtesy article provided by www.mayoclinic.com