Why Your Child Needs Wellness Checkups – April 9, 2021
Most of us think about visiting the doctor only when we are sick. But regular well-child checkups are important in healthy children for preventing illness and ensuring your child is meeting all the appropriate developmental milestones. At One Community Health, we believe that everyone deserves quality healthcare, regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, or ability to pay. If you are in need of affordable pediatric care in Sacramento, give us a call today.
How often should children have wellness visits?
Of course each child is different, and this may depend on specific health issues your child has. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics has the following guidelines, based on age:
From birth until age 1, your child should be seen at:
- 3-5 days
- 1 Month
- 2 Months
- 4 Months
- 6 Months
- 9 Months
- 12 Months
After the first birthday, until age 5:
- 15 Months
- 18 Months
- 24 Months
- 30 Months
- 3 Years
Children and adolescents from 4 to 21 years old should receive a routine checkup once a year.
What happens at a well-child visit?
We will focus on the following areas at your child’s appointments:
- Physical examination
- Sleep
- Safety
- Lead screening
- Common childhood illness prevention
- Tracking growth and development
- Nutrition
- Dental health
- Social and emotional health
We will also ensure that your child is up-to-date on all immunizations. Vaccines are the most effective way to protect your child and prevent the spread of infectious disease. For a complete schedule of childhood immunizations, refer to this blog post.
Why are regular wellness checkups important for your child?
It may be tempting to skip these appointments if your child is generally healthy, but they offer many benefits for your child’s health. Well-child visits play an important role in preventing illness, promoting your child’s overall physical and psychosocial well-being, and keeping you informed about your child’s growth and development. This is also a good time for you to bring up any questions or concerns about your child’s health.
Because these visits focus on total body wellness, rather than just one issue—as is the case in a sick-child visit–we can spot potential problems before they become emergencies, such as a heart murmur. We also screen for developmental delays that may indicate serious conditions such as autism. Our trained physicians have the ability to pick up on small things you may not notice or even know to look for. Early intervention makes a big difference in getting your child the care and support they need before something minor becomes a major issue.
Affordable Pediatric Care in Sacramento
At One Community Health, our desire is to provide you with the highest quality pediatric care in an environment that makes you and your child feel like family, regardless of your ability to pay. We see you as an equal partner in your child’s care. Our goal is for you to understand and to ask questions so that you can work with the staff to make informed decisions that will lead to your child’s improved health and wellbeing. If you are looking for quality, affordable pediatric care in Sacramento, give us a call. We accept walk-ins, or you can make an appointment by calling (916)443-3299.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (4/9/2021) by Bessi from Pixabay
