kids yearly check-ups

[whatname]

Do you take your kids for their yearly physical with the pediatrician? I have always taken DD9 and DD7. This year, I am considering skipping it but don't know if I should. There is nothing wrong with them. They aren't due for any shots. The only thing is that they would check for scoliosis. We have insurance and there is no copay, so that is not an issue. Just seems like a waste of time. The appt will take probably 15 minutes for both of them, but the wait will probably be at least twice as long. Then again, taking care of my kids' health is not a waste of time. I know someone will get sick and we will end of there eventually.

So, do you still go yearly?

 

[Disneylover99]

You've just reminded me that I should make appointments for my kids.

But I know what you mean...I have to book a couple of months in advance for my kids and usually take time off work, to get them weighed and measured (both kids are of average height and weight). I will still do it though because I would feel awful if something was wrong and I never noticed.

 

[laughinplace199]

Yes, I bring my kids yearly.

My pediatrician is great and spends a decent amount of time with each kid, talking about school, friends, etc. He really cares about taking care of the whole kid, not just their height, weight, and immunizations.

Also, DD was just diagnosed with scoliosis at her last physical. If she hadn't had that appt, we wouldn't have known there was an issue.

 

[Pixiedust34]

Our kids are 16 and 14 and they get an annual exam. I think it's good to get a new baseline on their blood pressure, height/weight and screenings each year as well as it's good to get to know the doctor so if they do get sick they are familiar with him and his partners. In a few years, our kids will be responsible for their own healthcare, and I hope they will keep the habit of having an annual exam.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Yes. It's important to have a good working relationship with your pediatrician, and this is a great way for them to get to know eachother. As teenagers, you want your children to feel comfortable discussing things with their doctor. This is the time to develop that rapport as well as discuss pertinent health issues.

 

[Southernmiss]

I took the kids last year. All had good checkups. Not going this year. Will go next. I didn't do my own annual last year but am going this year. We are not run to the dr people and between dermatology and orthodontist and regular dentist apptments that's enough for me.

Call me a slacker mom that's ok. Kids are 19, 16, 14, 11.

 

[cybrkitn]

Yes, b/c the school requires it for certain grades. DS11 just moved up from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts this year and they also require a physical each year as well.

 

[IDoDis]

I take the kids every year. This last year was DD's (17) last well-check visit due to her age. Our pediatrician has been with my kids since they were born. She was a new doctor at the time and still remember things about them when they were toddlers and talks about it. On our last visit she had a college student doctor shadowing her. She said she had been telling the student different stories of kids over the years and my DS came up in the conversation regarding a time when he was 2 or 3 and she asked him what kinds of vegetables he ate. He told her he ate broccoli (that was a lie!) with sprinkles on top! I loved that she remembers that and shares that story with others.

Now on this last visit for DS 14, she had to check his private areas to make sure everything down there was okay. He was completely embarrassed by that, but she did it quickly, at least. She said that DS can switch to a male doctor from now on if he wants. So we may have to switch primary docs for him because only the primary can do the well-check/physical which DS needs every year to play football.

DD and DS will most likely switch to the primary family practice that DH and I see. We will all miss our wonderful pediatrician when this happens!

 

[msjprincess]

I do take mine every year but I think I may skip one of my daughters this year. The problem is last year I kept forgetting to make their appt so they didn't go until November. So now this year I won't be able to take them until November because of our insurance and then next year it will be the same. Next year she needs a physical for school which is due by the end of October. If I skip this year she can go for a physical in June or July for the next school year.

 

[JVL1018]

Yup. Every year. They're 11 and 13, haven't skipped one yet.

 

[sookie]

The pediatrician is checking for overall growth, any complaints regarding developmental problems, as well as many other issues you bring up or that the pediatrician finds. If your child had any other issues they found in the past, they should check on those at the checkup. They should have vision and hearing screenings as well at the visit. Shots could be gotten up to date (no chicken pox vaccine at 5 years? they will get it now). HPV vaccine can be administered as young as age 9 if you want it. A lot of offices are starting to monitor for some labs in early adolescence (cholesterol). BMI should be monitored as well as blood pressure.

You should go ahead and take them for their checkups. A lot of developmental issues are picked up at checkups. I have personally caught new heart and endocrine conditions at checkups, as well as other new health problems. A lot of times, the beginning of chronic conditions are either caught at checkups or at sick visits for mild illnesses. So I always encourage people to get their yearly checkups.

We had all these healthcare changes to encourage preventative care - now it is paid for by insurance 100% (as you said in your original post). Why would you not want to utilize that if it could benefit your children - unless it is just for your convenience to skip it?

 

[SmallWorld71]

Are your kids involved in any activities that will require a medical form?
We need a yearly physical for ballet, Boy Scouts, school sports .....

 

[NAB]

I have never even taken my child for a physical at all and they are 16 and 13 years old.

All shots are done at the schools that they need other then the ones to start school.

Our schools here have never asked for physicals either. Or any sport they play and one plays football and baseball.

We don't have a pediatrician either, just the normal family doctor. Only go if there is a problem and there haven't really been any, a few ear infection etc.

Only take them to the eye doctor every year. We both wear glasses and know they will too.

 

[Schmeck]

If the kids managed to stay healthy for a year, I took them for an annual check-up. Usually we'd have 3-4 visits each winter for strep/ear infections/sinus issues, so once the immunization years were complete, we missed a few annual exams. Our doctor's office checked height, weight, and blood pressure at every appointment. Our school system does scoliosis, hearing, and eye exams.

 

[freckles04]

I don't. "Check-ups" are not even covered on my health insurance after age 2. I paid for them OOP until a couple years ago.

He does get regular dental care and eye exams (he has amblyopia we have been treating for a few years now). He also has follow-up exams with his pediatrician for his mild asthma, but not frequently unless we are having issues.

 

[bittybabygrower]

Yearly physicals were covered now by all insurances I thought, under the Affordable Care Act. This goes for adults also.

If your kids play sports they really should be having a physical each year to check blood pressure, for heart murmurs, and joint assessments. Our state requires it, even for marching band and cheerleaders.

Mine go every year.

 

[themilesfamily]

We don't do yearly physicals. We'll do an occasional appointment to get vaccinations. That's it.

 

[chanda7]

Our insurance quits paying for well-checks at age 7, and we have yet to be notified otherwise.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

My kids are little and still getting vaccines (we use a delayed schedule). DS's 3 year well-visit is Monday. Our insurance pays for one well-visit and eye exam a year, and two dental cleanings a year, and I do all of them.

 

[aprilgail2]

I take my daughter every single year - there is not even a co-payment for yearly physicals with my insurance. Plus they run the standard yearly blood work up at the physical so I never want to skip that! Two of my friends kids were diagnosed with cancer through their yearly physical blood work ups so it was caught way earlier than if they had not gone for their yearly physicals! That is something I would never put off!