Depending on the illness, you are most likely to take your child to the doctor when they are sick. Recognize that the exam at that appointment focuses on your child’s’ specific illness or problem. As such your doctor doesn’t have time to complete a full exam.
Well-child visits are when you and your doctor have the opportunity to evaluate your child’s ongoing growth, development and overall health. These appointments also help your child become more comfortable with their doctor, and it’s the perfect time for you and the pediatrician to ask questions and communicate important information.
Along with a complete physical exam including height and weight, each visit may include:
- Tests, such as vision, hearing and lab services
- Shots (vaccinations)
- Lead screening (children under 3 years or as needed for older children)
- Tracking growth and development
- Providing you with information about normal development, nutrition, sleep, safety and diseases that are “going around.”
- Medical referrals to specialists, if needed
(By the way well-baby visits include all these areas as well as head circumference.)
Why Well Visits Matter
Here are the main reasons they matter:
- Track growth: The pediatrician checks height, weight, BMI, and overall growth patterns.
- Monitor development: Doctors assess milestones such as speech, movement, learning, behavior, and social development.
- Catch problems early: Vision, hearing, dental, nutritional, behavioral, and other health concerns can sometimes be identified before parents notice symptoms.
- Keep vaccinations current: Well visits provide an opportunity to review recommended immunizations.
- Discuss nutrition and activity: Parents can get guidance about eating habits, sleep, exercise, screen time, and healthy routines.
- Mental and emotional health: As children get older, visits can include conversations about anxiety, mood, school, friendships, behavior, and stress.
- Safety counseling: Pediatricians can address car seats, sports safety, water safety, medications, firearms, internet use, and other age-appropriate risks.
- Give parents a chance to ask questions: Even when a child seems perfectly healthy, parents may have concerns about sleep, eating, behavior, development, or school.
- Establish a health history: Regular visits give the pediatrician a better understanding of the child’s normal health and make changes easier to recognize.
- Preventive care: The goal isn’t just to treat sick children—it’s to help children stay healthy.
The Biggest Benefit Is Prevention
A child doesn’t have to be sick to benefit from seeing their pediatrician. Regular well visits create opportunities to identify concerns early, reinforce healthy habits, and make sure the child is on track as they grow.
As you can tell, well child visits help you as a parent stay in touch with your child’s’ healthcare needs. Preventive care can also keep your kids healthy. With regular well child visits, your doctor can often detect and address health problems before they become more serious.
Contact Us (859-525-8181) if you have any questions!
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About Pediatrics of Florence
We believe that children are more than just “little adults.” They have unique personalities, challenges, and life circumstances and we have made every effort to make our offices and care as “kid friendly” as possible. We have an aquatic theme in the waiting rooms (separated for sick and well children) as well as themed examination rooms. All of our physicians are Board Certified Pediatricians and members of the American Academy of Pediatrics and our nurse practitioners are all licensed Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and are available to see both well and sick children.
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