For kids to remain in the best possible health, attending well visits with a pediatrician is vital. Your child's doctor will help make sure you make the best medical and health decisions for the child. Working with a pediatrician during a well visit will ensure all preventative care is maintained and the child is as healthy as possible. Here are some things you should know about well visits:

What Happens During a Well Visit?

A well visit is a scheduled medical appointment for a child. The pediatrician will do an overall check on your child's health. Babies will have several well visits during their first year. After that, children need to have a well visit annually.

During the well visit, the doctor will check your child's vital signs, including heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and the like. If your child has been sick, or exposed to illnesses, or if there are illnesses going around your child's environment, this is a good time to discuss that with the child's doctor. Any vaccinations your child needs will also be taken care of during a well visit. A well visit is also a time in which the doctor may discuss milestones with you and how your child compares statistically. Your child's doctor may also do a mental health checkup and also discuss your child's development.

Should You Prepare for a Well Visit?

There are some things you can do prior to a well visit to be fully prepared. Make a list of any questions you may have regarding your child's health, milestones, issues you have noticed, any changes that concern you, and the like. If you have major concerns that would require a specialist, this is also the time to bring that up.

On the day of the well visit, arrive at the doctor's office a few minutes early. After you check in, your main goal is to keep your child comforted. They may be nervous upon arrival, so having a comfort item may be helpful. This could be a book they like, a special blanket, a favorite toy, or even a tablet. Bring along your choice of pain reliever if your child needs vaccinations to ward off soreness or any light fever that often happens right after immunizations.

A well visit should be fairly quick and easy. Keeping yourself calm is key and preparing for the visit will make everything run much more smoothly.

Speak to a child doctor to learn more. 

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