The Importance of Your Child’s One Year Checkup

05 Jun The Importance of Your Child’s One Year Checkup

For so many parents today, watching their infants grow and age is one of the most rewarding parts of being a mom or dad. When your child reaches the one-year mark, it is cause for celebration. You as parents survived the first year! It also means it is time for your child to go in and get their one-year checkup. If your pediatrician hasn’t already stressed the importance of a one-year checkup, it is important that you understand why it is so important for you and your baby to make an appointment when they reach this major life milestone.

When you go into your child’s one-year checkup, here are a few things that you can expect:

• The doctor will check your child’s height, weight and head circumference and let you know how they measure on the growth charts.
• The doctor will ask questions about your child’s eating habits, sleep schedule, and bathroom schedules and will address any concerns and offer any advice they may have.
• The doctor will look at your child’s developmental skills. At this age, it is common for one-year-olds to stand, take a few steps, feed themselves and pick up objects with their thumb and forefinger.
• The doctor will perform a physical exam with your child undressed, while you are present in the room.
• The doctor will make sure that your child is up-to-date with their immunizations and administer any shots that they may need. There are shots your child can’t get til their first birthday, so it is a big relief when we can protect them from these diseases.
• They will get a blood test if they didn’t get one already at 9 months.

Many parents know that any visit to the doctor means a general physical examination. However, the one-year checkup is also a great opportunity to see how your child is developing in other areas as well. Your doctor will likely ask you questions about any words your child is saying and looking at their social skills. Typically, at this age, children will say basic words like “mama” and “dada.” They will also be able to play games like patty-cake and peekaboo on their own. One-year-olds at this age also tend to mimic the activities of adults and may brush their hair or act like their parents.

These are all signs that your child is developing at a normal rate. With this check-in with your doctor, you can make sure you are staying on top of your child’s development. It is a great opportunity to review these things with a professional and make sure there are no potential issues that are going unnoticed. Your child changes so much during their first year of life and taking the time to go to your first-year check-up is the perfect opportunity to make certain everything is going perfectly with your child. If you want to schedule your child’s first-year checkup, make sure to contact Continuum Pediatrics at 817-617-8600 to schedule your appointment today.