Regular visits to your child's pediatrician are as important now as they were before. That's because an interruption in your child's care, especially their vaccination schedule, could cause trouble later.
Dan Nicklas, MD, a pediatrician at Children's Hospital Colorado's primary care-focused Child Health Clinic, says the visits are important for children of all ages.
"Regular visits help us get to know you," he says. "We do a physical check of your child to make sure all systems are working, so to speak, but we also check in and touch base on other things like family life, school and behavior. We serve as a sounding board and an educational resource for both you and your child."
Here's what pediatricians focus on by age during the visits:
Age 0 to 4
Babies needs a lot of visits during the first year of their life. After that, trips to the pediatrician will start to slow down but are still just as important. Your child is learning and growing so much during this time, and your pediatrician uses well-care visits to make sure your child's development stays on track. Height and weight are crucial, and your pediatrician can offer nutrition recommendations when necessary. They'll also check hearing and vision. These extensive physical checks are important because it helps identify any potential problems early.
Age 5 to 8
Dr. Nicklas says this age is about identifying challenges and helping kids do well in all aspects of their life. Growth and development are still important, but success in school is a top priority. Your pediatrician can provide information on how much sleep your child needs each night and how much exercise they should get - both of which can affect their grades.
Age 9 to 12
Your child's body is starting to change, and your pediatrician can play an active role in educating your child and your family about what's happening and what it means."Have open discussions with your child about what's going on with their body," says Dr. Nicklas. "Try to help them understand that it's how bodies typically develop. It's important to normalize it, and we can help you with that."
Age 13 to 18
Assessing behavior, development and nutrition becomes just as important now as it was when they were toddlers, says Dr. Nicklas. Your child is likely starting to want increased independence, but you should keep an eye on and talk to them about the things that may be affecting their mental health. Your pediatrician can be a great resource for you to get a better understanding of what that might be - things like pressure at school and social media.
Ensuring a safe well-care visit
Many offices are doing all they can to help parents safely continue well-care visits for their children. As Dr. Nicklas puts it, "We would much rather see you than not see you." Your pediatrician is likely still offering in-person visits for well-care checks, and you can call to ask about the new policies they've put in place to ensure a safe environment, and they've likely enhanced their cleaning practices. Telehealth visits could also be an option.
