Keep Up on Your Child's Doctor Visits

My previous blogs have discussed the next generation of children and the risks, as well as some causes, of childhood obesity. Now I would like to help guide concerned parents in the right direction as to what they can do. The American Acadamy of Pediatrics suggests that you keep up on your child's doctor visits. The scheduled doctor visits for children recommended by the AAP is as follows:
- Newborns should see their doctor within three to five days after birth and within two to three days after leaving the hospital.
- Babies should be seen at age 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months.
- Toddlers should be seen at age 15 months, 18 months, 24 months, and 30 months.
- After age 3, it is recommended that your child should see their doctor once a year.
These recommendations are fit for healthy children. If your child has a health condition, your doctor may recommend that he come more often. Your doctor or insurance company may prefer a different schedule. Also, if you have not been going to scheduled doctor visits as shown above, it isn't too late to start. Pick up the phone and make an appointment.
Basically, I am suggesting that if you have children of your own, get them into the doctor, and take them in again when your doctor recommends. This way, if a problem exists or develops, the doctor can fix it before it worsens. The well-child visits (taking your child to the doctor when they are not sick) are to help parents and doctors work together to do what they can to keep children from getting a preventable health condition. The doctor may also be able to diagnose a problem, when a parent can not.