The Importance of Well-Child Visits
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends well-child visits throughout a child’s life. Pediatricians and parents share the same goal of healthy children. Having an ongoing, continuous relationship between you and your pediatrician is important in helping to accomplish that.
You take your child to the doctor when they are sick with an earache, sore throat, fever or other symptoms, but that’s only one kind of appointment with your pediatrician. Well-child appointments and exams are important too.
Childhood is a time of constant growth and change, having regular well-child visits with your child’s doctor and raising the concerns that matter most to you are important in helping your doctor know you and your child. Monitoring the growth and development of your child is the focus of well-child visits.
There are many benefits to well-child visits but a few include:
• Preventive care including immunizations, nutrition and safety.
• See how much your child has grown since your last visit including physical measurements, behavioral assessments and more.
• A chance to raise concerns and ask questions.
• Create strong relationships between the Pediatrician, child and parent.
For a timeline of suggested visits and what to expect during your child’s first visits with your BMC Pediatrician click here.
