Individuals often think of healthcare professionals’ visits as events when someone is sick or injured. Although these are valid reasons, they must not be the only reasons. A child’s visit to a healthcare professional must be more frequent than adults, why? Let us learn in this guide.
Why is a healthcare professional needed more in the case of children than of adults? What are the benefits of visiting a healthcare professional for your children? What things need to be done for your child’s first visit to the clinic? All these questions will be answered in this guide, so do not miss the essential information.
Why Does A child need Frequent Wellness Visits than an Adult?
Children’s rapid and critical stage of development requires constant monitoring of physical growth, cognitive and social-emotional development. In order to establish a healthy baseline for your child, you must get in touch with the healthcare professional as soon as your child turns 5. It allows experts to monitor growth, development, vision, hearing and blood pressure.
Monitoring of their regular schedule and eating habits is also done because these are essential to ensure that your child is growing and developing well.
Physical growth and development rate is much faster in children than in adults. They need more frequent check-ups to track height, weight and organ development.
What are the benefits of visiting a healthcare professional for your children?
Early intervention is beneficial for your child’s growth. It allows experts to detect a potential disease early and start the treatment. It is not necessary to visit only when your child feels sick; sometimes, the growth and development monitoring helps detect the issue, and the care and support can be provided on time.
Preventive care allows parents and the child to be more comfortable and confident about the upcoming stages of life. During check-ups, the professionals often detect if the child is having difficulty speaking or writing. They do monitor the simple things that can go unnoticed by the family sometimes.
Proper nutrition during the first five years is essential for brain development and immunity. Young children are often picky eaters, which can make it difficult for parents to make sure they’re getting their proper nutrition. A health and nutrition assessment allows you to focus on specific nutrients that your child may need more of than others. You can prepare a diet as per the plans and requirements.
What Things Need to be Done for Your Child’s First Wellness Visit?
Parents and guardians need to prepare themselves before they prepare the children. A list of questions can be prepared, including doubts you are having, issues regarding nutrition support and some newly picked habits of your young one you want to discuss with your healthcare professional. Here is what you can do to prepare before the visit:
- Bring any hospital or discharge paperwork, along with details about complications during the pregnancy or birth.
- Prepare a list of questions and concerns you have about your child’s feeding, sleep, behaviour, or development to discuss with the expert.
- If your child is 5 or above, you can ask an expert healthcare provider about their nutrition support, growth and development.
- Keep track of your child’s developmental milestones to share with the paediatrician. If they have recently learned to say a few words or movements like waving back, you can include these kinds of milestones in your expert visit.
During the visit, the healthcare provider will take your child’s weight, length, and head circumference and plot them on a growth chart. A complete physical exam will be performed. The visit is a key time to ensure your child receives necessary immunisations, as per the recommended schedule.
Your child may undergo vision and hearing screenings, as well as blood tests for issues like anaemia or high lead levels, depending on their age and risk factors. These tests ensure the upcoming growth years, and life is more comfortable for your child.
After the visit, do not hesitate to call your paediatrician if you have any doubts. Stay informed about the recommended vaccinations. Keep track of the schedules and records. Ensure all essential documents are secured and placed in one place so that at the time of the next wellness visit, you don’t have to rush or worry about them.
Get in touch with the GP for kids Chermside, as soon as the kid turns 5. For their better growth and development, every early intervention counts.