Scheduled visits to the doctor (also called well-child visits) provide parents with information about their child's growth and development. Such visits also give parents an opportunity to ask questions and seek advice, for example, about toilet training.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that after the first year of life children should see their doctor for preventive health care visits at 12, 15, 18, 24, and 30 months of age and then yearly until age 10. Visits can be made more often based on the advice of the doctor or the needs of the family.
Examination
At each visit, several measurements are taken, screening procedures are done, and vaccinations are given depending on the schedule.
Height and weight are checked, and head circumference is measured until the child is 36 months old. Good growth is one indicator that the child is generally healthy. The child's actual size is not nearly as important as whether the child stays at or near the same percentile on the height and weight charts at each visit. A child who is always in the 10th percentile is likely fine (although smaller than most children of the same age), whereas a child who drops from the 35th percentile to the 10th may have a medical problem.
Beginning at age 3, blood pressure is measured at each visit.
The doctor also monitors how the child has progressed developmentally (see Childhood Development) since the last visit. For example, the doctor may want to know whether an 18-month-old child has begun speaking or whether a 6-year-old child has begun reading a few words (see table Developmental Milestones From Ages 18 Months to 6 Years). In the same way, doctors often ask age-appropriate questions about the child's behavior. Does the 18-month-old child have tantrums? Does the 2-year-old child sleep through the night? Does the 6-year-old child wet the bed at night? Parents and doctors can discuss these types of behavioral and developmental issues during the preventive health care visits and together design approaches to address any issues.
Finally, the doctor does a complete physical examination. In addition to examining the child from head to toe, including the heart, lungs, abdomen, genitals, spine, arms, legs, head, neck, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and teeth, the doctor may ask the child to perform some age-appropriate tasks. To check gross motor skills (such as walking and running), the doctor may ask a 4-year-old child to hop on one foot. To check fine motor skills (manipulating small objects with the hands), the child may be asked to draw a picture or copy some shapes.
Screening
Preventive visits should include a check of vision and hearing. Vision screening may begin at 3 years of age, if children are cooperative, but is recommended at 4 and 5 years of age. Parents should let the doctor know before then if they have any concerns about their child's vision. At this age, vision tests include the use of charts and testing machines.
Hearing tests, after the newborn testing, typically begin at 4 years of age, but parents should let the doctor know before then if they have any concerns about their child's hearing.
Some children may need to have their blood checked for anemia or an increased level of lead.
Children who are at risk of having high cholesterol should have a blood test between the ages of 2 years and 10 years. Children at risk include those who have a family history of high cholesterol levels, heart attack, or stroke or have risk factors for heart disease (for example, diabetes, obesity, or high blood pressure). All children should have a cholesterol test at age 9 to 11 years and again at age 17 to 21 years.
Children are screened for tuberculosis (TB) risk factors with a questionnaire at all well-child visits. Risk factors include exposure to TB, being born in or having traveled to areas of the world where TB is common (countries other than the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand and Western and North European countries), having a family member with TB, and having parents or close contacts who are recent immigrants from an area where TB is common or who have recently been in jail. Those with risk factors then usually have tuberculosis screening tests done.
The age of the child and various other factors determine whether other tests are done.
Safety
Child safety is discussed during preventive visits. Specific safety concerns are based on the age of the child. For example, the discussion might be focused on bicycle safety for a 6-year-old child. The following examples of injury prevention apply to children aged 12 months to 4 years:
Use an age-appropriate and weight-appropriate car seat. (Infants and toddlers should ride rear-facing until they outgrow the rear-facing weight or height limits of a convertible car seat. Convertible car seats have limits that will allow most children to ride rear-facing up to age 2 years. Once they are 2 years old or, regardless of age, have outgrown their rear-facing car seat, toddlers should sit in a forward-facing car seat with harness straps for as long as possible based on weight and height limits.)
Place car seats in the back seat of the vehicle.
Review automobile safety both as passenger and pedestrian.
Tie up window cords to avoid strangulation.
Use safety caps and latches.
Prevent falls.
Remove handguns from the home.
Closely supervise children while in or near any body of water (for example, bathtubs, pools, spas, wading pools, ponds, irrigation ditches, or any other standing water). Children 1 year of age and older should have swim lessons and should wear a life jacket while swimming and always while boating.
Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (Transportation Safety Resources). This guidance from the CDC is for the United States, and regulations may differ in other countries.
Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (Transportation Safety Resources). This guidance from the CDC is for the United States, and regulations may differ in other countries.
Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (Transportation Safety Resources). This guidance from the CDC is for the United States, and regulations may differ in other countries.
Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (Transportation Safety Resources). This guidance from the CDC is for the United States, and regulations may differ in other countries.
Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (Transportation Safety Resources). This guidance from the CDC is for the United States, and regulations may differ in other countries.
Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (Transportation Safety Resources). This guidance from the CDC is for the United States, and regulations may differ in other countries.
Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (Transportation Safety Resources). This guidance from the CDC is for the United States, and regulations may differ in other countries.
Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (Transportation Safety Resources). This guidance from the CDC is for the United States, and regulations may differ in other countries.
In addition to those in the list above, the following examples of injury prevention apply to children age 5 years and older:
Use a forward-facing car seat with a harness for as long as possible (until children outgrow the weight or height limits for the car seat) and then use a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly (typically when children have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are between 8 years and 12 years of age).
Have children under 13 years of age restrained with a seat belt in the back seat of the vehicle.
If the vehicle does not have a back seat, disable the air bag in the front passenger seat.
Have children wear a bicycle helmet and protective sports gear.
Instruct children about safe street crossing.
Closely supervise swimming and sometimes have children wear a life jacket while swimming and always while boating.
The doctor may also emphasize other safety topics, such as the importance of installing and maintaining smoke alarms and of keeping potential toxins (such as cleaners and drugs) and firearms (guns) out of the reach of children. Parents should take the opportunity to bring up topics that are most relevant to their unique family situation. As children get older, they can be active participants in these discussions.
Nutrition and exercise
Parents can help prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes by establishing healthy eating patterns and promoting regular exercise. Parents should provide children with a variety of healthy foods, including fruits and vegetables along with sources of protein. Regular meals and small nutritious snacks encourage healthy eating in even a picky preschooler. Although children may avoid some healthy foods, such as broccoli or beans, for a period of time, it is important to continue to offer healthy foods. In addition, parents should limit the child's intake of fruit juices, which, despite their seemingly healthy origin, are mainly sugar water. Some children lose their appetite for food at mealtime if they drink too much fruit juice. Parents should guide children away from frequent snacking and foods that are high in calories, salt, and sugar.
Exercising and maintaining good physical and emotional health are very beneficial for children. Playing outdoors with the family or participating on an athletic team is a good way to encourage children to exercise and prevent obesity.
Screen time (for example, television, video games, cell phones and other handheld devices, and noneducational computer time) may result in inactivity and obesity. Limits on the time a child spends using devices with screens should start at birth and be maintained throughout adolescence.
