Why You Should Never Miss Your Child’s Annual Check-up

As your child gets older, one of the things that can fall through the cracks is their yearly check-ups with their pediatrician. However, this is something you should always prioritize and ensure gets scheduled on time. Luckily these days, many pediatricians’ offices are using modern technology such as text reminders, to make sure you stay on track with scheduling wellness visits. Read on for the reasons that you should never miss your child’s annual check-up with their pediatrician.  

Preventative Care

Going to see your pediatrician, even when you don’t have a specific need, allows their provider a chance to catch any health problems early on. At these wellness check-ups they will take your child’s height and weight and make sure they are developing properly. If their weight is too low or high for their height, the pediatrician can bring this to your attention and give advice on any lifestyle adjustments that might be needed. They will also take their vitals and can see if there are any abnormalities. Your child will also get any vaccinations that they need at these appointments to prevent illness. 

Time to Ask Any Questions

These wellness check-ups also give you time as a parent to ask any health related questions you have to their provider. Oftentimes, concerns arise that don’t seem big enough to schedule a visit, but you still want to run by their provider. You can use this time to go over your child’s sleep and eating schedule to ensure everything is on track for healthy growth. The pediatrician will be able to address your concerns as well as give you advice and access to additional resources. These check-ups will also give your child a time to bring up any questions they have for their doctor that they have possibly been too embarrassed to ask at home. 

Setting a Good Example

Even if you believe your child to be very healthy, consistently setting up their doctor’s appointments on time sets a good example for them in the future. If you don’t prioritize their appointments and health now, they are unlikely to set appointments up for themselves in adulthood. As they are getting older and planning to go out on their own soon, involve them in the appointment-making process. This way they won’t run into issues scheduling appointments once they no longer live with you. 

Even with making annual check-ups a priority, it can still be difficult to always fit them into your child’s busy schedule. If you are having a hard time scheduling an appointment, ask your provider if they offer telehealth visits. Telemedicine allows for your child to have check-ups or other visits from wherever they are. Although not all visits can be done virtually, your doctor will let you know what exams they can perform from home. This also means that you will not have to get child care if you have other small children at home.

If you don’t currently have a pediatrician who you can trust with your child’s health, it may be time to look for one. Having a provider who both you and your child enjoy seeing will reduce the chance of you skipping annual checkups. Start by searching online for a term like ‘pediatrician Baltimore’ to find a list of providers in your area. From this initial search you can access reviews and services they offer. Once you narrow down your search to a few pediatricians, set up initial consultations with them. At these first visits you can see how they interact with your child and this will give you an idea of how they run their wellness check-ups. Finding a doctor you can trust and that your child is comfortable around will make their wellness check-ups go much more smoothly over the years.