Every child develops differently both mentally and physically. Monitoring this progress can be crucial to a child’s health. Annual wellness visits, like those conducted by the board-certified physicians at Touchpoint Pediatrics, can help keep a child healthy and developing at an appropriate rate. We offer families throughout Morristown, Summit, Berkeley Heights, Hoboken, and other areas in New Jersey professional pediatric services, designed to encourage a healthy lifestyle in babies and children. Learn more about our annual checkups, along with what parents and guardians can expect.
What Is the Purpose of Annual Wellness Visits?
American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children are seen by their physician at least once a year. As children continue to grow and develop, their well-being must be monitored and recorded through annual visits. These visits play a role in your child’s health by helping detect and address any health concerns while ensuring a child is on track in their development. Annual well visits also play an important role in developing a baseline for the children, so when they come in for a sick visit later on the physicians have a reference point to refer to. For parents and guardians, these visits are an excellent opportunity to ask the doctor about any concerns they have.
What to Expect at an Annual Wellness Appointment
For kids and babies who are in good health, it can be tempting to skip these visits. However, because these annual checkups focus on total body wellness, they are vital for evaluating your child’s overall health.
A wellness exam involves a wide range of tests that are tailored to the child’s age and developmental stage. Generally, these include:
- Height and weight measurements and weight chart comparisons
- Vital signs, including blood pressure and heart rate
- Complete physical examination
- Vision and hearing screenings
- Behavioral and nutrition assessments
- Vaccinations
- Mental and emotional health screens
This significant information is recorded and saved so it can be compared with future annual wellness visits, ensuring your child is on track developmentally.
Preparing Your Child for Their Visit
Doctor visits can be a stressful time for young children, often causing anxiety and fear. Our pediatricians do a wonderful job providing a calming environment for patients to feel comfortable. Parents and guardians can help prepare their children for their wellness visit with the following tips:
Talk to Your Child
Parents can help ease a child’s mind about a doctor visit by first discussing it with them. Giving your child advance notice about the appointment will eliminate the surprise and shock of it. While explaining the reason for the visit, parents should maintain a positive and reassuring tone. For wellness checkups, be honest with your child and inform them what the doctor will be checking and why.
Remain Calm
It is not uncommon for parents and guardians to be more anxious than their child at a doctor’s visit. Because kids are perceptive and can mimic their parents’ feelings, it is important to remain calm throughout the visit. Staying positive will go a long way in keeping your child at ease.
Plan Ahead of Time
If possible, parents should try to plan the visit around their child’s daily routine. That means scheduling it around nap times and ensuring the child is fed before the visit. While the team at Touchpoint Pediatrics tries to get patients in and out as quickly as possible, some waiting may be needed. Parents should plan for this downtime by packing appropriate snacks and distractions for their children keeping in mind that other children might have allergies; please do not bring any nuts or potential food allergens in the office.
Reward Your Child After the Visit
Offering your child a fun reward or tasty treat after the appointment can help ease their mind for future visits. We don’t recommend using a reward as a negotiating tactic, as it can help promote bad behavior and encourage your child to only comply when a reward is given. Instead, make it a surprise for your child, rewarding them for their bravery and a job well done.
Schedule a Wellness Visit for Your Child
Families located throughout Morristown, Summit, Berkeley Heights, Hoboken and beyond, can take advantage of the specialized and comprehensive healthcare services offered at Touchpoint Pediatrics, Located in Chatham, New Jersey, we offer a wide range of professional medical services including annual wellness visits. For more information about our pediatric checkups or to schedule an appointment today, contact Touchpoint Pediatrics.