Well Child Check-ups

[corie161]

How often do you bring your children to Well Child Check-ups? I'm talking about checkups after the baby/toddler vaccination years. I grew up not going to the doctor unless there was a dire reason for it. We're a pretty health household and I haven't brought my children to the doctor for a well check since before they entered Kindergarten, they have been for other various reasons, colds, strep test, etc. They are now 8 and 10. Just wondering what others do?

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

I was under the impression that Well Child visits were once a year, once they reach the age of 2. However..I may be wrong.

Flame suit on, just in case. We don't take DS to the doctor unless it's a dire emergency or his annual Well Child.

 

[GJM]

My DS was 6 the last time I took him for a well child check up. He will be 9 this year and am wondering if I should take him. I do take him when he is sick.

Someone told me when they reach 6 or 7 it should be every other year. I could be wrong on this.

 

[Mom2Nick]

My children are 10, 7 and 5 and they go every year near their birthday for a well checkup.

 

[iluvliloandstitch]

I take my kids every year for their well child visit even if they don't get immunizations every year...maybe every other year or two years they will get immunizations...just want to make sure they are okay...sometimes they won't tell you when they aren't feeling well...just making sure they stay healthy..

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

See, that's what I thought was supposed to happen..every year on/near their birthday. No more, no less unless they were injured or really ill.

 

[corie161]

I guess, that's what I'm wondering...is it really necessary to take them every year, or even every other if they are an otherwise healthy individual?

 

[NY Disney fan]

I took my daughter to the doctor every month until she was 2. Now that she has her vaccines, the doctor said she doesn't need to come in until she starts Kindergarten. Now I would only take her for annual physical or sickness.

 

[NY Disney fan]

I guess, that's what I'm wondering...is it really necessary to take them every year, or even every other if they are an otherwise healthy individual?

I think they should go for a physical exam once per year.

 

[okeydokey]

Once a year. I go on their birthday months.

 

[cats7494]

My children are 14 and 2 - they go every year for a physical. When they were younger, under two it was more, of course, for vaccinations.
I think it is a good habit to instill for when they become adults to always be aware of their health.

 

[luvmy3]

I take my kids for their well check every year around their birthday.

 

[mjkacmom]

Once a year, bloodwork every other year, dentist every 6 months. I only bring them in if they're sick if I suspect an ear infection or strep (after I've waited it out a few days). I don't bring them in for colds, stomach bugs, rashes, fevers - we just wait out childhood virus's.

 

[JoiseyMom]

My kids go every year for an annual check up. They go even if the insurance company doesn't cover it.

 

[mrsv98]

DD goes once a year. Not only is it a good way to track her growth, recently there have been changes in reccemendations for vaccines. For instance, the recc' for the chicken pox vaccine just changed and so DD had to get a booster this year (boy she was NOT happy about that!)

We have good insurance and these visits are paid for but even if it weren't I would take her anyway.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Yearly. It's a good way for the doctor to connect with them and me, and vice versa. We talk about issues that come up at that age, and basically shoot the breeze for a while. What's good about it is that when there are problems, the doctor knows us, so we're all comfortable with eachother, and sometimes it's something we've already talked about so there's mention of it in the record and anyone can look and see what's been done about it in the past, etc, so things don't always have to be as complex as they sometimes can be.

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

I took my daughter to the doctor every month until she was 2.

Really? What for?

 

[Pixiedust34]

Our kids are 12 & 10 and they get the well visit check ups once/year. It's a good chance to make sure they do OK with the various screenings (blood pressure, growth rate, hearing/vision tests, etc.) and we make sure they are up-to-date on vaccinations.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

We go each year for well child visits, as recommended. My older dd is very healthy and might not see the doctor for several years if we only went when she was sick. (the younger one has more sick visits, though).

For us, it's only a $20 co-pay and an hour out of our year. Totally worth it to me, if only to keep them used to visiting the doctor and comfortable with it, so they continue to do so as adults. Especially since I have girls and family history makes it even more important for us to get those tests done every year.

 

[mommytoe]

I took my dd(11) for a check up thinking everything was fine. We are going back for a recheck on Monday, because they may have found a problem.

I keep thinking we should have brought her in earlier. I will be bringing the dc in more often after this.