Most parents turn to a pediatrician when their child falls ill. But pediatrics works differently: much of its job is not to treat illness but to stop it from starting, and to make sure a child is growing and developing properly. That is what routine check-ups are for.
Why a healthy child needs check-ups
In children, much can only be assessed over time: gains in height and weight, the development of skills, speech formation, posture and gait in older children. A one-off look shows no trend — only regular monitoring does.
A routine check-up makes it possible to:
- catch deviations at an early stage, when they are easier to correct;
- track the pace of growth and development against age;
- keep vaccination up to date;
- discuss routine, nutrition, sleep and behaviour before they become a problem;
- build a history of observations that helps the doctor orient faster if your child does fall ill.
How often a child should see the doctor
Children should be seen regularly by a pediatrician even without any complaints. Check-ups for newborns are essential and take place monthly. From 1 to 2 years a child should be shown to the doctor every 3 months, from 2 to 3 years once every 6 months, and after that once a year.
This is a general guide, not a rigid timetable: for some conditions the doctor will suggest more frequent visits, and individual investigations and vaccinations follow their own schedules. A personal monitoring plan is drawn up together with the pediatrician.
What a routine check-up includes
- measuring height and weight (and head circumference in babies) and assessing their trend;
- an examination: skin, breathing, heartbeat, abdomen, throat, ears;
- an age-appropriate development check: skills, speech, movement, behaviour;
- a conversation with the parents: nutrition, sleep, routine, questions and worries;
- where indicated — a recommendation for tests, an ultrasound or a consultation with a specialist.
How check-ups differ by age
The first year of life is the most intensive period of monitoring: at every monthly visit the weight, height and head circumference are measured and age-appropriate skills are assessed — head control, rolling over, sitting, crawling, first words. This is the period when the doctor watches that development keeps its expected pace and agrees the vaccination schedule with the family.
From one to three years the focus shifts to speech and movement: what the child understands and says, how they walk and run, how they play. From three years on, and for schoolchildren, check-ups are annual: height and weight, vision and posture, readiness for school workloads, daily routine and physical activity.
What to bring to the check-up
- your child's medical documents: discharge summaries, results of previous tests and investigations, the vaccination certificate;
- a list of what your child takes regularly — medicines, vitamins, supplements — with dosages;
- a list of questions and observations: what has changed in eating, sleep or behaviour since the last visit;
- for babies — spare clothes, a nappy, water and a familiar toy so the examination goes more calmly.
Check-ups before kindergarten and school
Enrolment in kindergarten or school is a reason for a routine visit of its own: schools ask for a medical document on the child's health. It is issued after an examination, so plan the visit in advance rather than on the last day before submitting the paperwork.