Monitoring your child's growth and development
Parents and caregivers often know to seek medical help when their child is sick, but regular "well-child" visits are just as crucial.
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises regular well-child physical exams, or "checkups," from infancy through adolescence.
During these visits, your child's growth and development are carefully monitored. Providers check weight, height, and blood pressure, screen hearing and vision, discuss nutrition and activity, and test for cholesterol and anemia. You'll also receive guidance on prevention and safety.
Back-to-school check-ups may be the only time kids and teenagers see their pediatrician each year. These annual physicals provide an opportunity for a thorough examination and a chance to address any emotional, developmental, or social concerns.
Benefits of Well-Child Visits
We assess your child's growth, developmental milestones, and screen for issues like vision and hearing problems during well-child visits.
Immunizations, crucial for illness prevention, are routinely administered at these visits. Your provider will also offer age-appropriate guidance to ensure your child's safety at home and in school.
Well-child visits are a great time to discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider, including growth issues, developmental concerns, sleeping, eating, and behavior. Make a list of topics before your visit to ensure you cover everything.
The sports physical is part of a well-child visit and addresses exercise-specific issues, including previous injuries, nutrition, training and exercise programs, and attitudes toward sports participation.
Regular well-child visits help build a strong, trustworthy relationship between the provider, parent, and child. This relationship optimizes the child's physical, mental, and social health. As the child grows older, they learn to trust and rely on their healthcare provider.
Pediatricians care about the health of the entire family unit, not just the child. If you're facing financial challenges, need help with special education services at school, finding local extracurricular activities, or need a referral for your care, speak with your pediatrician.
Well-Child Visit Schedule
Immunizations
Immunizations are the most effective way to prevent serious and life-threatening diseases in children. PM Kidz strongly recommends following the immunization schedule set by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This schedule is based on extensive research and is designed to be the safest and most effective way to protect children. The vaccines are timed to provide protection when children are most vulnerable and to elicit the strongest immune response.
Scientific evidence overwhelmingly supports that vaccines are safe and effective. Delaying or skipping vaccines can create gaps in the protection that immunizations provide to the entire community, including children too young to be vaccinated and those with medical conditions preventing vaccination.
At PM Kidz, we are dedicated to working with families to educate and provide information on the safety and necessity of timely childhood vaccinations.
Tips for Your Well-Child Visit
Write down all questions and concerns before your visit. Let your provider know at the beginning of the appointment about all the topics you want to discuss.
Ensure you bring all forms that need to be completed, such as school or sports forms, to your visit. Complete your child's health history form before the annual well exam if needed.
If your child takes any medications, check if they need refills. It can also be helpful to take pictures of the medication bottles to remember the names and dosages.
For new patients, please bring your child's vaccine record or booklet so it can be updated during the visit.