As a parent, your child’s health is your top priority. Along with instilling healthy at-home habits, the best ally in your child’s wellness is an excellent pediatrician. Children need to see the doctor for routine exams on a regular schedule based on their age. Here’s why these visits are needed and what to expect from them. 

A Guide to Children’s Medical Check-Ups 

Why They’re Necessary

Visits to the pediatrician are crucial for preventing disease. The doctor will keep your child up to date with all of their immunizations to prevent serious illnesses, ranging from polio and tetanus to influenza. These immunizations are given based on the schedule put forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The physical is also an opportunity to evaluate their growth and provide treatments if needed to promote healthy development in these formative years. The medical team can detect early signs of other issues as well, ranging from respiratory trouble to hearing impairments. Early intervention is your child’s best chance of avoiding more serious and permanent issues. 

What to Expect

The medical team will first check your little one’s vital signs, including blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and heart rate. This helps them determine if organs are functioning well and if they need further evaluation. They will also check your child’s weight and height to ensure they are developing normally for their age. The pediatrician will use a stethoscope to listen to your child’s heartbeat and breathing, and they will then assess the head and neck for problems such as swollen glands, infections, and hearing or vision concerns. They will briefly check the abdomen as well by tapping or palpating the stomach area to detect potential issues with digestive health.

When to Get Them

Your child will undergo several examinations in their first year of life, as this is their most crucial development period. The first exam will occur before they’re discharged from the hospital, with one every few months afterward. After their first birthday, they’ll need pediatric visits at 15 months, 18 months, 24 months, 30 months, and three years, with one a year afterward.

If you’re a Lancaster County resident in need of pediatric care, turn to Pediatrics, P.C. in Lincoln, NE. For more than 50 years, this children’s medicine center has provided a range of services from prenatal care and vaccinations to wellness checkups. Call (402) 489-0800 to schedule an appointment with a pediatrician or visit the website to learn more about how they can help your family.