Motherly Love Digi-Mag Autumn 2022

51
BABIES HEALTH
Head, shoulders
knees 'n toes
The importance of routine
check-ups with your Paediatrician
BY DR ANISA VAHED
Childhood
is a period
of life with
rapid growth
and development. When
it comes to helping your
child to live a happy,
healthy life, yearly checkups
are crucial. Many
parents avoid taking their
children to the doctor if
they aren’t sick, which
actually causes problems in
the long run. The younger
the child the more visits
they require when their
younger. Bringing your
child in for regular exams
helps doctors to understand
what is normal for
your child, so that illnesses
can be diagnosed easily.
Yearly check-ups
offer a wide range of
benefits, including
protecting your child
from illnesses, spotting
developmental problems
early, and tracking your
child’s growth. During
well checks, parents will
also have the opportunity
to talk with their child’s
doctor about eating and
sleeping patterns, so that
they can get tips that could
improve their child’s daily
routine. Annual check-ups
are essential preventive
medical care appointments
that parents should make
a point never to miss.
Although some
parents assume that well
checks aren’t really
necessary, the fact of the
matter is that well checks
are designed to keep your
child healthy. Here is what
to expect when you bring
your child in for a well
check.
Head-To-Toe Physical
Examination:
Your child’s paediatrician
will conduct a thorough
head to toe examination
of your child. Your child’s
ears, heart, lungs, skin,
and eyes will be checked
during their well exam.
If you have raised concerns
about their health, the
doctor will carefully evaluate
those areas of your
child’s body to check for
problems. This examination
includes a development
assessment to screen
for any problems and make
sure your child is achieving
their developmental milestones
at each stage.
Measurements:
Your child will
also be weighed
and measured during
the appointment
to determine their body
mass index (BMI). These
measurements are used to
determine if your child is a
healthy height and weight,
and to see if they are
following a normal growth
curve. The importance of
the Road to Health Book
will assist your paediatrician
in assessing if your
child is growing appropriately
to their growth curve.
Discussion:
Your child’s health is
a team effort between
parents and their doctors,
which is why the first thing
your child’s paediatrician
will do is talk with you
about your concerns.
Doctors will ask if you
have any questions about
their growth or concerns
about their health, sleep
and diet.
Immunizations:
One of the most crucial
things that will happen
during your child’s well
check is immunizations.
Immunizations are
essential for safeguarding
your child from a long list
of serious childhood diseases,
including mumps,
measles, polio, rotavirus,
and many others. If you
have questions about vaccinations,
we encourage you
to discuss them with your
child’s paediatrician.
Well checks are not
only essential for your
child’s health, but they also
give your kid the chance
to interact with doctors
and nurses when they
aren’t feeling sick. For this
reason, parents who bring
children in for well checks
often report a happier,
healthier child who aren’t
nervous around doctors
and nurses.
If you are wondering
when your child is due for
their next well exam, don’t
hesitate to contact your
paediatrician. They would
be more than happy to
look up past appointments,
set up an appointment,
and explain your child’s
vaccination schedule. ■
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