Have you ever wondered why you need to take your child to the pediatrician's office when they are well?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the following schedule for well visits for your child: 2 week,
1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, 24 months, 30 months, 3 years, and then annually.
I know, I know, this seems like a lot.
Believe it or not, I sometimes feel there aren’t ENOUGH visits. We have to JAM-PACK so much information into each one of these meetings.
Below are just a few reasons WHY we have so many well visits:
1️⃣Growth and nutrition-Children have different and changing nutrition requirements as they get older. Proper nutrition from day 1 is essential. These appointments help guide parents and caregivers about the appropriate options. At every well visit, we review growth and the growth chart. This allows us to identify any potential problems with your child’s health. **I care more about the curve, not the %!!**
2️⃣Development-These visits allow us time to see if your child is meeting their milestones. If they are not, early intervention is KEY!
3️⃣Illness prevention and safety-Not everything can be written and read in a baby book. We must talk about how to keep your little one healthy, safe, and happy at home.
4️⃣Immunizations- The CDC has created a safe vaccine schedule to keep your child healthy and free from vaccine-preventable illnesses. These shots are split up between the recommended well visit schedule.
5️⃣Questions and concerns- These visits give us ample time to ask questions or discuss any concerns you may have. Even pediatric healthcare providers ask questions about their kids! It is impossible to know EVERYTHING!
6️⃣Because I LOVE seeing your little one’s cute face so frequently!!!
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