As a parent, your child’s health and wellness can feel like a huge responsibility- maybe because it is! Before your child is dependent and self-sufficient, your child looks to you for their care and well-being. They say it takes a village to raise a child; on your own, it’s hard to know exactly what your child needs all the time. When it comes to your child’s health, rely on a pediatric provider for help!
While it can be tempting to skip those routine visits when life gets busy, doing so can have negative effects on your child's health and development further down the road. Wellness visits provide an opportunity for a comprehensive screening of your child’s well-being, tracking growth and milestones, and identifying any concerns early before they escalate. In this blog, we’ll dive into exactly why your child’s wellness checkup is so important, and how you and your provider can work together to celebrate health and wellness in your children.
Why is a checkup so important?
It might be tempting to think, “Why should I take my child to the doctor when they aren’t sick?” We understand that a doctor’s visit can take a lot of time and effort out of your schedule. However, your child’s wellness visits are important for multiple reasons!
Establishes a good relationship between your family and your provider
Trust is a pivotal aspect of any relationship, but it is especially important between your family and your provider. When you stay on top of your children’s checkups, you are helping to build a relationship between yourself, your child, and your provider. This relationship is crucial because it fosters transparency. When you see your provider frequently, they are more likely to trust you, and you (and your child) are more likely to trust them.
Allows the provider to notice subtle changes
When you are consistent in taking your children to their wellness visits, their provider has the opportunity to watch your child grow up. This is important because it allows your provider to more easily observe when your child is struggling or showing symptoms of a certain condition. Without this baseline knowledge of what your child is like when they are healthy, your provider will have a harder time recognizing the signs when they are not.
When your provider knows what “normal” is for your child, they can more easily recognize when something is not normal for your child. For example, if your child is being quiet and untalkative at an appointment, your pediatrician will know if this is an issue or not based on your child’s regular disposition. Additionally, regular screenings allow your provider to more easily pick up on signs of common neurological conditions such as ADHD or autism in your child. The earlier on in life these conditions are recognized, the easier your child will be able to navigate the world as they will have had access to the proper tools and resources for a longer time.
Preventative care
A great pediatrician should be focused on preventative care. Preventative care focuses on helping the patient avoid sickness through teaching healthy habits, monitoring social and genetic risk factors, and through early intervention. Instead of simply looking to solve medical issues after they arise, preventative care focuses on implementing lifestyle choices and practices before problems arise in order to help your child maintain good health.
Preventative care includes, but is not limited to:
Advice about lifestyle choices (food, exercise, etc.)
Checking the patient’s ears, eyes, mouth, blood pressure, and/or other vitals
Age-appropriate vaccinations
Monitoring for developmentally-appropriate milestones
Observing and documenting trends in height and weight
This care is beneficial for the patient in the long-run. Through diligently scheduling wellness visits for your child, you minimize the amount of visits you have to make to the doctor outside of those visits.
Helps manage chronic conditions
If your child suffers from a chronic condition, keeping up with your appointments allows them to receive the best care and attention. Properly caring for a child’s chronic condition not only allows them to have a higher quality of life, it improves their long-term health.
Did you know?
More than 1 in 4 U.S. children reported having a seasonal allergy, eczema, or food allergy (CDC, 2021).
Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children
Although anyone can be diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at any time, the most likely period for diagnosis is between the ages of 4 and 14.
With so many different conditions being common in children, you want to make sure you’re staying on top of your child’s care. You may not even know your child suffers from a chronic condition unless you are diligent with their checkups. Some symptoms might be mild or easily misdiagnosed as something else. For example, it would be easy to mistake asthmatic coughing as a symptom of a simple cold. While these chronic conditions require a great amount of attention and care, they are manageable with the right resources and some effort. That’s why it’s so important to stay on top of your child’s wellness visits!
Your child’s pediatrician can provide you and your child with the correct information and resources about your child’s condition. This not only will give you peace of mind knowing your child is being taken care of, but it also can teach your child to take agency of their own health so that when they become independent as an adult, they will know what to do to take care of themselves.
When should I take my child for a checkup?
Well visits are recommended at:
2-3 days
2 weeks
2 months
4 months
6 months
9 months
One year
15 months
18 months
Two years
30 months
3 years
Once annually afterwards
These years are some of the most crucial years for your child’s development. To ensure that your child’s growth is on track, it’s important to make sure you schedule and attend all of these appointments.
It is also worth noting that when your child shows signs of illness, you should make a separate appointment for that. Your wellness visit is a great time to voice any minor concerns or ask any questions which don’t require an urgent answer. However, if your child is sick, you should make an appointment for them as quickly as possible. Additionally, this appointment does not replace your wellness visit! Even if you have already seen your child’s doctor for illness, you should still keep your wellness appointment in order to ensure proper care and development for your child.
After the checkup
Your child’s health is more than just a doctor’s visit. While your doctor provides you with a wealth of invaluable information about your child’s health. However, the real magic happens when you implement your doctor’s advice on a day-to-day basis! Your child’s health and wellness depends on your ability to practice healthy habits on a regular basis with your child. To truly prioritize your child’s health and well-being, there are some important things you must keep in mind between appointments.
First, be sure to pick up any medications your doctor prescribes for your child. Whether you’re picking up a regular prescription or something to treat an acute illness, you’ll want to pick that up from your pharmacy as soon as possible. Additionally, follow your doctor’s instructions closely for dosages when giving medication to your child to keep your child safe and to make sure the medicine can do its job.
If your doctor recommends any sort of therapies for your child, you should initiate those in a timely manner. Some of these therapies include speech therapy, occupational therapy, screening for anemia, or screenings for other developmental issues. A lot of parents, when recommended certain types of therapy for their children by their child’s pediatric provider, express that they do not see a need for therapy when their child is seemingly happy and healthy. However, when a provider recommends some sort of therapy for your child, it is often intended to prevent an issue before it becomes worse and needs further medical intervention.
By following your doctor’s instructions and recommendations after the appointment, you are doing your best to ensure your child’s well-being by supporting their health. If you and your child’s provider disagree about what care your child needs- discuss it! While your child’s provider has valuable knowledge and experience, they know that every family’s needs are different. Your provider should be open and willing to find a solution that works best for you and your family.
While finding time between busy family schedules can prove challenging, well visits must remain a priority. To prevent forgetting your appointment, set reminders and add them to your calendar. No concern is too small, silly, or embarrassing to discuss with your child's pediatric provider- choose someone you can trust, and rest assured that all of your concerns will be validated and addressed. These check-ins are touchpoints to celebrate your child's health and development - not quick pit stops. With your provider’s support, you can positively contribute to your child's well-being for years to come.