The early years of your child’s life are filled with important milestones, from getting their first teeth to learning to speak and walk to reaching puberty. In addition to providing vital preventive care, well-child visits allow our pediatricians to monitor your child’s development, identify problems early on, and recommend treatment and care when needed for everything from physical ailments to emotional development and mental health services.
At Midwest Regional Health Services, our team of primary care and family medicine doctors and practitioners offers well-child and pediatric care services at our office in Omaha, Nebraska.
Childhood is an active and unpredictable time, and unexpected trips to the doctor for cuts and scrapes or a seasonal cold are completely normal. But just like with adults, children also need preventive medical care to ensure they stay healthy and hit their developmental milestones.
In addition to health screenings, well-child appointments give parents and caregivers the opportunity to ask questions and address any concerns with our team of pediatricians and family doctors.
At Midwest Regional Health Services, we advise that parents follow the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommended schedule for well-child visits:
The recommended well-child schedule is just a guideline. Some children may require additional checkups and monitoring in addition to their standard well-child appointments.
Well-child appointments are comprehensive checkups and include physical as well as mental health screenings and intervention. The physical component may include measuring their height and weight; checking their vision, hearing, and reflexes; listening to their heart and lungs; and administering vaccinations and inoculations. They also may include diagnostic tests like X-rays and blood work.
If your child requires medical clearance to participate in team sports or physical activities, our pediatric team can provide the necessary screenings and forms to clear your child for participation.
Well-child appointments also monitor your child’s mental health, behavioral, and cognitive development. Children are not immune to mental health issues like stress and anxiety, which can be compounded by common childhood problems like ADHD and learning disabilities. Your child receives a comprehensive evaluation at each appointment, and your pediatrician makes recommendations for the best treatment.
Prevention and early intervention are the best lines of defense against many childhood health problems, so it’s important to keep your scheduled well-child appointments even if your children look and feel healthy.
For more information about the recommended well-child appointment schedule and other pediatric medical services, call us at 402-230-7945 today to schedule an appointment, or request one online.
