WELL CHILD EXAMS
Parents and caregivers know to seek medical attention when their child is sick, but regular "healthy" child visits are just as important.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends regular periodic well child physical exams or "checkups" from infancy to adolescence. During these important visits your child's growth and development will be discussed. In addition to monitoring weight, height and blood pressure, providers will also screen hearing and vision, discuss nutrition, activity and test for cholesterol and anemia. You will also receive anticipatory guidance for prevention and safety.
Back-to-school check-ups are often the only visit kids and teenagers have with their pediatrician every year. This annual physical gives the pediatrician a chance to give the child a thorough physical exam and also addresses any emotional, developmental, or social concerns.
Benefits of Well Child Visits
- Track Growth and Development - We will check and assess your child's growth, developmental milestones and screen for other important issues including vision and hearing problems.
- Prevention - Immunizations are very important for illness prevention and are routinely administered at well child visits. In addition, your provider will discuss age-appropriate anticipatory guidance to ensure your child's safety at home and in school.
- Discuss concerns - Well child visits are a good opportunity to discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider including growth issues, developmental concerns, sleeping, eating and behavior concerns. Make a list of topics prior to your visit so you remember everything you want to discuss.
- Clearance for sports participation - The sports physical is considered to be a well child visit and is an opportunity to address exercise-specific issues, including previous injuries, nutrition, training and exercise programs, and even attitudes toward sports participation in the course of the exam.
- Continuity of Care - Regular well child visits helps to create a strong trustworthy relationship between the provider, parent and child. This relationship helps to optimize the physical, mental and social health of the child. As the child grows older, they learn to trust and rely on their healthcare provider.
- Care for the family - Pediatricians don't just care about the health of the child, but the entire family unit. You can't have a healthy child without a healthy parent. If you are having trouble financially, need assistance with navigating special education services at school, need help finding local extracurricular activities, or even need a referral for your own care - speak with your pediatrician.
Well Child Visit Schedule
- First week of life (3 to 5 days)
- 2 weeks
- 1 month
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 9 months
- 12 months
- 15 months
- 18 months
- 24 months (2 years old)
- 30 months (2.5 years old)
- 3 years old
- Every year until age 21 years
Immunizations
Immunizations are the single most effective way to prevent serious and life-threatening diseases in children. PM Kidz strongly urges for all children to receive the recommended schedule of immunizations based on the American Academy of Pediatrics and Center for Disease Control guidelines. This schedule has been researched and documented to be the most effective and safest way to protect children. The vaccines are carefully timed to provide protection when children are most vulnerable and when the vaccines will produce the strongest response from the child's immune system. The science is overwhelming that vaccines are safe and effective. When children fail to receive vaccines at the recommended times it leads to gaps in the shield of protection that immunizations provide our entire community, making it more vulnerable, including children who are too young to benefit from vaccines and those who cannot be vaccinated due to medical problems.
At PM Kidz we are committed to working with all families in hopes that we can educate and provide information on the safety and necessity of timely childhood vaccinations.
Tips for Your Well Visit
- Write down all questions and concerns prior your visit. Inform your provider at the start of your visit of all topics you would like addressed during the visit.
- Ensure to bring all forms that need to be completed with you to your visit.
- If you need school forms completed, complete your child's health history form before your annual well exam.
- If your child takes any medications, note whether they will need refills. It may also be helpful to take pictures of your child's medication to remember the names and dosages.
- For new patients, please remember to bring your child's vaccine record or booklet to be updated after every visit.
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