What To Expect During a Pediatric Well Visit

When your child is ill, you know that you will need to talk to your pediatrician. You may be less sure about what to expect when you have a good visit. Especially if you have a newborn, this is a whole new experience. Dr. Shakti Matta of Pediatrics For You will provide your child with a good visit in Kennewick, WA.

What you can expect at a good visit depends a great deal on the age of the child that is being examined. A newborn will not get the same exam as an adolescent. But some common threads carry through from your child's first visit to the pediatrician to their last.

Complete Physical

Part of every well visit will be the measurement of your child's growth. Their height, weight, and head circumference will be taken and then compared with other children of the same age. You will be told what percentile they fall into so that you can be confident that they are growing on schedule. Heredity will play into this, as tall parents are likely to produce children at the top end of the chart. This is the time to consider BMI so that your children can avoid obesity. 

Vision and hearing will also be checked. Catching any issues early allows you to take your child to a specialist to get the complete care that they require. 

Immunizations

Immunizations begin on the first visit as a newborn. The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) has created a schedule of immunizations that many pediatricians adhere to. The majority of vaccinations begin early in childhood, and by the teen years, there are only a few that need to be kept up with. They will take place at a well visit in Kennewick, WA. 

Typical Schedule of Visits

The first visit with a newborn is usually within a few days of release from the hospital. Following that, the schedule is:

• By 1 month
• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 9 months
• 12 months
• 15 months
• 18 months
• 2 years
• 2 1/2 years
• 3 years

From four years on, the visits are yearly and other than special visits for school or sports physicals. 

Your pediatrician is your partner in your child's health. You should come to visits with a list of questions. Together, you can make sure that your child has the best chance for a healthy future.  

Contact Dr. Shakti Matta of Pediatrics For You when your child requires a good visit in Kennewick, WA. Give our office a call at (509) 572-2201 for an appointment.