The Importance Of Well Checkups

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The opinions in this article are my own. I do not work for, or with, any brand mentioned in this article, nor do I have any official relationship with them. I have a relationship with GigaSavvy, for whom I create original editorial content.

I absolutely love my sons’ pediatrician. Both of my sons have been seeing him for years. I can call the office and they know who I am as soon as I say I’m CJ’s or TJ’s Mom. In my experience the whole office is very nice and always try to be as accommodating as possible. I never, ever, shudder at the thought of going there. We don’t only go to see the pediatrician for sick visits, we also go to all available well checkups. Some people have questioned my view of the importance of a well checkup. Why do I take my kids for well checkups? Well of course there’s the annual screening or exam. And then there are three other big reasons.

Building relationships.

It’s important to build relationships, both with the doctor and the staff. They need to know your child. You and your child need to know them. As you well know, seeing someone once doesn’t qualify as knowing a child. It’s easiest to provide the most efficient and most effective treatment if the doctor knows the child. Well check-ups offer the doctor a chance to monitor any present and ongoing situations. They also provide a chance for the doctor to spot any potential issues. If you walk into a doctor’s office and have only been there once when your child is sick that doctor doesn’t know your child as well as they could or should. Only by going for regularly scheduled well visits can a doctor build a thorough and proper health history, which is invaluable as time goes by. And one more thing about relationships. By going to well visits as well as sick visits your child will come to know and trust the doctor.

Asking Questions.

You’re bound to have them at certain points in a child’s life. Infancy. Toddler years. Teenage years and puberty. Older teens entering adulthood. These are all times that parents find themselves with the most questions, as they are all gateways from one stage of life to another. New parents have lots of questions. It can be very helpful if new parents write down some information on baby’s development, such as how often they’re feeding, voiding, etc, as well as any questions that they might have, so they are prepared when they see the doctor. Parents of toddlers might worry about development. Puberty is a whole different animal, as they say. Older teens entering adulthood can be stressful for everyone. Kids worry about their future, as do parents. Topics of drinking, drugs and sex are more prevalent then in years prior. If you hold your questions until your child is not feeling well you will probably not remember to ask those questions at a sick visit because you’ll be concerned about your child potentially being ill. And there is one thing about questions you should know. The only stupid question is the unasked question.

Having Conversation.

The internet is a wonderful thing. But, if you’re on it as much as I am, you see a lot of opinions. Sadly, those opinions are often based upon conjecture and not fact. Have conversations with the pediatrician about things that haven’t happened yet. You don’t need to wait to have a question about sexual development during puberty to discuss it with the pediatrician. Don’t wait for flu season to discuss pros and cons of getting a flu shot. Discuss things you should watch for before the time comes. If you have an older child discuss warning signs of alcohol and drug abuse. If you know the time is coming that sexual activity is even a remote possibility get prepared. Know the answers to the questions your child will have regarding disease and conception. Remember that relationship I mentioned building? This is a part of that as well. By discussing these topics before you need to you and your doctor will be best prepared to take action if it is needed, and will know the signs of what is and isn’t common for your child. It’s also through conversation that the doctor may identify risk factors for certain conditions, and to encourage healthy behavior.
You can also find more information about well checkups, including checkup schedules and immunization information, on the Molina Healthcare website.

Do you take your child to well check-ups? Why or why not?