Doctor/health visitor appointments?

Question

How do you feel about routine checks for your child at the doctors/with the health visitor? Do you feel they are a pain, and unnecessary - that you would take your child to see them if you needed to, but don't see why you should when they tell you? Or do you look forward to them?

Answer 1

Routine in my area is: 6 weeks,18 months and 4 years - hardly worth kicking up a stink about.

Appointments for injections are made with my gp at 3,4,5 months and the next lot are given at the 18 month and 4 year checks.

Personally I see them as a good way for someone other than immediate family to see if your child is developing well and hopefully if they aren't then they can intervene to stop a child becoming ill or get the development care it needs.

TBH if parents don't attend the clinic for the 3 routine development checks - alarm bells should ring as to why they were not being seen - and possibly prevent child neglect.

Answer 2

I always have taken my daughter for her check ups.

I found for me I enjoyed the back up I had from them. Because even though I felt my daughter was doing well and was healthy I got that extra reassurance.

It also gave me the chance to ask any questions that I needed and for their advice.

Answer 3

Yes they are needed they are only for the child's benefit, its thanks to them Thomas was sent for assessment for Autism he was later diagnosed with it at three and got the help and support he needed ..he's 10 now

Answer 4

My son is 14 months old and the ONLY routine check he has ever had (apart from when he was born) was a 6 weeks old. Since then, I have not had any contact from a doctor or health visitor!

Answer 5

I think it depend where you live.

My daughter had regular checkups at birth but only sees her health visitor when I call her or I go to one of the drop-in clinics. She is now 18 months and has only seen the health visitor 3 or 4 times

Answer 6

You should look at them as a form of shared care - they are an opportunity to ensure your child is doing the right things at the right age, to ensure your child is up to date with vaccinations etc etc.  This can only be achieved by Health Authorities by dealing with them on a called in Clinic Basis.

Answer 7

Actually with my first son I had no choice but to have a health visitor, actually a nurse come to my home once a day because he had really bad jaundice requiring light treatments at home but with my second son I refused a health visitor.  I told them that i picked the pediatrician and she was the same one i took my other son to and felt no need to have someone else coming around.  If I or the Dr felt that extra care was needed then we would call them.  I know my mom told the nurse that was suppose to come check on me that I was doing fine and that if i needed medical care i would see my Dr.  I hate dealing with strangers especially coming into my home.  I think for babies that are born sick or for moms that had complications they are great but if you have no complications and mom and baby are fine when they leave the hospital I think just a phone call is all that is needed.

Answer 8

Our pedi does not do the health visitor check ups.  I took her in when she was 2 and 6 weeks old.  Now she goes every couple months for her vaccinations.

Answer 9

I do look forward to them because i like to know whether my child is in good health and that nothing is wrong with him and i also like to know that i am recovering properly. I think that we should have a right about what day and time though, not just them send a letter through the door telling us this time and day lol.

Answer 10

I don't think they are unnecessary, but I wouldn't say I look forward to them either. Sometimes we as parents don't realize that something our child is doing isn't normal. It is also reasuring to see where they fit in on the growth chart. Around here they are called "well baby checks".. just to make sure all is well. My son had checks at 6 weeks, 3 mos., 6 mos., 9 mos., 12 mos., 15 mos., 18 mos., 24 mos., and now he goes back when he's 3. At about 6 mos. they found out he was anemic, without the checks, we wouldn't have known that he needed an iron supplement.

It's just a part of parenting.

Answer 11

Hi. I find the routine checks very helpful. Being a first time mum its somewhere where i can ask questions if im not sure about something. As my baby was only 5lb 7oz i love seeing how much weight he is putting on. I look forward to going and meeting all the other mums :)