#growthmatters

Sunrise Hospital

Working as a health visitor across various hospitals, including Sunrise Hospital, it is common I hear from parents why regular checkups are important for children especially when their little ones appear healthy. It is a valid question, and one I welcome because these visits are about far more than just illness- prevention, early detection, and establishing lifelong health.

The reason is that one needs to understand, in the first place, why regular checkups are important for children. In working with families in various health care settings, I have come to realize that regular checkups are indeed for looking into physical, emotional, and developmental vulnerabilities of the child. These moments are mostly about catching any problem early, helping in areas such as sleep or nutrition, and providing support to the child and caregivers to build a healthy lifestyle.

Once the value of well-child checkups is recognized, the question really is: When should the child be taken for another visit? Well, the pediatric check up schedule is created in alignment with important growth and developmental changes. From the newborn stage on, visits actually start occurring in the first week after birth, then at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 months. Following these early years, pediatric check-ups should take place at 2 years and 2½ (or 30 months), and then yearly from age 3 right through adolescence until 18 years of age. Following this designated plan, whether one is at Sunrise Hospital or elsewhere, ensures timely immunizations, developmental screenings, and early direction appropriate to the child’s growth stage.

Another important point for why regular checkups are important for children is the long-term view. Children grow and change fast, and during these transitions, potential problems may emerge. The structured pediatric checkup schedule gives the best chance of identifying and acting timely.

Across the various hospitals I work with, I have witnessed the benefits that accrue to children whose families adhere to these commonly followed pediatric check up schedule. Problems encountered earlier are much easier to handle and sometimes preventable.

In-between visits are opportunities in themselves for building trust and communication. One of the reasons why regular checkups are important for children is that they constantly afford the caregivers opportunities to learn, ask questions, and receive advice specific to them. As a health visitor, I see the value of strengthening partnerships between families and the healthcare team, regardless of whichever hospital they choose to visit.

Following the pediatric check up schedule gives an air of confidence to parents who offer support in the health progression of their child with every step.