6 Common Reasons to See a Paediatrician

When you bring a new life into the world, you have various options available to you regarding your baby’s health and wellbeing. Appointments may be with their primary care doctor, or perhaps a  paediatrician because the latter concentrates specifically on the health needs of children. Babies and children have unique and special needs that paediatricians are specifically trained in and understand. If you are referred to a specialist, it does not necessarily mean that your baby has any major health issues, so there is no need to panic, but ensuring the health and wellbeing of your baby is naturally of utmost importance, so here are a few common reasons to see a paediatrician.

New Baby Wellness Check

In the first week of your baby’s life, and often within the first 72 hours of birth, all babies should have a newborn physical examination. This entire appointment normally takes around 30 minutes. If you have had a hospital birth, this will normally take place before you go home. Alternatively, you might be referred to a hospital or community clinic, GP surgery, children’s centre or at home.

As this is a routine physical examination to screen for any problems with the baby’s eyes, heart, hips and, in boys, testicles, parents are not normally referred to a paediatrician. However, you may prefer to see a specialist to feel more confident that they’re in good health and all is well, in which case you may wish to consider going private. Childhealthy, for example, based in London, offers a wide range of private paediatric services, from consultations, examinations and screening tests, right through to treatments, prescriptions and training for parents. Private paediatrician services pride themselves on being able to offer very quick and flexible services.

6-8 Week Check

This is another standard check, both in the NHS and private paediatrician settings, that is similar to the newborn check but with the addition of development checks such as growth measurements, visual behaviour and smiling. The check is normally carried out in advance of the first set of vaccinations.

Regular Health and Development Reviews

Once your baby arrives safe and sound, with what feels like a blink of an eye, their second birthday looms and the terrible twos are about to start! During their first two years, a health visitor or one of their team will normally provide a health development check once a month up to 6 months of age, once every 2 months from 6 months to 12 months of age, and once every 3 months until they are two.

At any point, you may be referred to a paediatrician if there are any development concerns. You may also voice your own concerns and ask for a referral. Nobody knows a baby as well as a parent. These routine assessments are vital for all children. They’re designed to ensure your baby is growing as they should.

Vaccinations

During the COVID-19 pandemic, most of us didn’t bat an eyelid when it came to getting vaccinated. There are all sorts of deadly diseases like tetanus and polio. Your GP or health visitor can advise on the appropriate schedule for vaccinations and may give the vaccinations. Again, you may prefer to use a private service, perhaps combined with a general check-up, as a paediatrician can give vaccinations for babies and children, including every immunisation recommended for children living in the United Kingdom.

Behavioural Issues

In an ideal world, our children would be as good as gold and never have a tantrum. However, in reality, this is never the case. All children display signs of bad behaviour. But, if you’ve noticed your child’s behavioural issues are getting worse, it’s time to see a specialist. They can monitor your child and help you understand whether or not your child’s behavioural issues are normal. This is a common reason to see a paediatrician. Unfortunately, it can be a very slow process to see specialists and get a diagnosis via the NHS for some issues causing behavioural problems such as ADHD, and you may wish to consider alternative options to ensure your child is getting the right treatment.

Nutritional Advice

Many kids are picky eaters. This makes it hard for parents to ensure they’re getting the right vitamins and nutrients. If you feel you’ve tried every method under the sun to no avail, a paediatrician can help. They can provide parents with nutritional advice to make sure their kids grow up to be strong and healthy. Paediatricians also provide support for children with food allergies, coeliac disease, and complex obesity. If you have any questions regarding nutrition, don’t be afraid to ask your paediatrician. They’re there to help, not judge you.

Whether you’re a first-time parent or have a brood, you should understand the importance of taking your child to see a paediatrician. Only a healthcare professional like a paediatrician can examine your child, give expert advice, and know what appropriate actions to take to aid their health and development.