Page 2 - Healthy Kids Now - Spring/Summer 2022

Give your child the healthiest start
Why preventive care at every stage of a child’s life makes a big difference
Whenachilddevelopsworrisome health symptoms, such as a high fever or a cough that won’t quit, you know it’s time to call the doctor. But seeing a doctor for regular preventive careisalsoveryimportant.Through these routine visits, children learn to trust health care providers, develop good health care habits, and understand the importance of going for checkups, even when they feel just fine.
These routine preventive checkups are called“well-childvisits.”Duringwell- child visits, your child will receive many health screenings, including lead screen- ings. Depending on your child’s age and risk factors, the doctor may check for autism and developmental delays, iron deficiency, sexually transmitted infec- tions, and other conditions.
With infants especially, growth and development happen fast.That’s why
at this stage, your child should see a Primary Care Physician (PCP) every month or every few months.Well-child visits give you time with your child’s PCP to discuss any health-related questions or worries that are on your mind.
After your child turns 3, the well-child visit can become a yearly appointment to take care of screenings, physical exams, height and weight checks, blood tests, and scheduled vaccinations. It’s clear that well-child visits keep your child healthy — but only if you schedule these appointments.
• Immunizations—Withoutquestion,
getting vaccinations on schedule is one of the best ways to protect your child from many preventable illnesses. And most vaccines are given during well- child appointments.
• Visionandhearing—Yourchild’s eyesight and hearing will be periodi- cally checked so that any issues can be identified and addressed right away. If your child needs eyeglasses or contact lenses, the PCP can send you
toanoptometrist.ThePCPmayalso send your child to an otolaryngologist (often called an ear, nose, and throat doctor, or ENT) or an audiologist (for a further hearing evaluation).
• Growthmilestones—Foragrowing child, regular height and weight checks will reveal how your child’s body is growing.This information can promote developing healthy eating and exercise habits to help your child reach or maintain a healthy weight.
• Behavioralhealth—Kidsand teenagers have complex emotional lives. Regular PCP visits can be a chance to assess other behavioral health challenges, such as anxiety. As children become teenagers, you should leave the exam room upon request so they can talk freely with their PCP about what’s on their mind.
• Safetyadvice—PCPscanbean excellent source of safety advice for children of all ages.Topics during well- child visits for younger children may include warnings about interacting withstrangers.Middleschoolersmight hear about online safety and bullying. For teens, drug use and reproductive health, including sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and pregnancy prevention, might be on the agenda.
Ifyou’reevertemptedtodelaypreventive care for your child, consider these reasons why it’s so important to your child’s future. Lifelong good health starts at the beginning of life. Healthy, happy children have a better chance of growing up to be healthy, happy adults.
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