The pediatric check-ups of the child from 2 to 14 years

How often do we have to take the children to the pediatrician for their health check-ups? Up to 18 months, healthy child checkups in Primary Care are scheduled every 2 or 3 months, but after 2 years of age, your child will only have to visit their pediatrician every 2 years. Part of the visit will f

How often do we have to take the children to the pediatrician for their health check-ups? Up to 18 months, healthy child checkups in Primary Care are scheduled every 2 or 3 months, but after 2 years of age, your child will only have to visit their pediatrician every 2 years.

Part of the visit will focus on the analysis that the pediatrician does of the information that the parents give him, that we are observing the child all day. In any case, the pediatrician can ask directly if he sleeps well, eats alone, goes well in school or any other issue related to the child's health and development.

Calendar of pediatric revisions of the healthy child

The aim of the reviews during the first years of the child's life is:

2 to 5 years.Special emphasis is placed on detecting developmental problems and sensory defects, as well as on the education of basic habits (sleep, hygiene ...).
6 to 14 years.During this period, the definitive habits of food, hygiene, behavior, sleep are acquired ... It is important to work with parents in the family environment.

Review of the 4 years

- Administer the vaccines corresponding to your age: measles, rubella and mumps vaccine. You can inform about the existence of other vaccines that are not included in the calendar: varicella vaccine.

- Complete physical exploration. Special attention to language development and pronunciation defects to refer a speech therapist, if applicable. Assessment of psychomotor development: stairs alternately, draw a human figure with two or three body parts, name one or more colors, tell a story or can fasten clothes.

- Feeding tips.

- Oral health. It is recommended to defintively remove the pacifier, if the habit persists, to prevent dental malocclusions.

Review of 6 years

- Administer diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis vaccines.

- Complete physical examination with special attention to the visual acuity of each eye separately through appropriate optotypes and stereoscopic vision test, the locomotor system (footprint, lower limbs and spine), the genitals (testes in bags, phimosis, synechiae) vulvars and pubertal development).

- Assessment of psychomotor and language development: jump on the lame leg, draw a complete human figure, have a fluent language, dress and undress alone.

- Feeding tips.

Review of the 8 years

- General physical examination with special attention to blood pressure, cardiopulmonary auscultation and peripheral pulses.

- Feeding advice based on avoiding prolonged fasting, insisting on regular meals and autonomy of the act of eating.

- To avoid accidents, risk sports and the use of safety elements such as helmets, knee pads or shin guards are discouraged.

- Begin sex education: girls should be informed about menstruation. You must answer the questions and discuss the contents learned in the school.

Review of the 12 years

- Administer varicella and meningococcal vaccine C.

- General physical examination with special attention to pubertal development, the locomotor system, (footprint, lower limbs and spine), oral health (caries, defects of the enamel, malocclusion, traumatisms), visual and auditory acuity, and percentiles of weight and height.

- Social habits. Degree of satisfaction at school, assessment of psychosocial risk factors (family problems, abuse) and consumption habits (tobacco, alcohol and other drugs).

- Oral health.

- Advice for the family and the adolescent aimed at establishing limits, increasing self-esteem and recognizing the physiological changes of this stage.

Review of the 14 years

- Review of the vaccination calendar and administer vaccines that are missing for their age.

- General physical examination with special attention to pubertal development, the locomotor system (footprint, lower limbs and spine), oral health (caries, enamel defects, malocclusion, trauma), visual and auditory acuity, and weight percentiles and size.

- Social habits. Degree of satisfaction at school, assessment of psychosocial risk factors (family problems, abuse) and consumption habits (tobacco, alcohol and other drugs).

- Assess the degree of sexual maturity and, if appropriate, the existence of risky sexual practices.