The first few years in your child’s life involves regular visits to the pediatrician. Wellness checks and visits to the clinic when your child is sick can come out to several visits a year. Like anything else in life, being prepared will help you get the most out of your child’s doctor visits.
When you are planning to visit a pediatrician, you can do things to get the most out of the appointment. Here are some helpful tips!
PSYCHE YOUR CHILD UP FOR THE VISIT
If your child fears going to the doctor, it can make visits stressful and less productive for you and your child. As a parent, you can help by keeping calm and maintaining a positive attitude. Get your child used to their doctor by having them read books geared toward educating children about the importance of going to the doctor and easing anxieties they may have about it. Moreover, try to associate visits to the pediatrician with something fun, so they look forward to it. Knowing a reward awaits them at the end of each visit (such as a trip to the park or their favorite snack) can help your child get excited.
It also helps when you choose a pediatrician who understands how to calm down children and make them feel relaxed and safe in their clinic. If your child is scared of the doctor, share this with them to be flexible and creative in how they care for them.
COME PREPARED
If you have questions related to sleeping, feeding, food choices, allergies, safety, or something else, don’t hesitate to write them down and ask them during your child’s appointments. It’s never been easier to open up a notepad on your phone and create a list of questions you have for the pediatrician. There are no silly questions for a pediatrician.
Aside from questions, you can also write down concerns about physical development, emotions and behavior, and socialization. If you are seeing the pediatrician because your child is sick, including a list of symptoms. You can also document the symptoms with photos and videos.
BE HONEST WITH YOUR DOCTOR
Your child’s pediatrician is the most valuable resource of information on everything related to pediatric health, as well as behavior and physical development. Before leaving the clinic, make sure you understand the doctor’s diagnosis and instructions for treatment. If you don’t understand something, ask for clarification. If you are uncomfortable with the prescribed treatment, let the doctor know. They may be able to prescribe another type of treatment that’s a better fit for you and your child.
EXPERIENCED PEDIATRICIAN IN WOOSTER, OH
The board-certified pediatricians at Wooster Community Hospital make your child’s health and wellness a top priority. Our doctors are trained on how to make children comfortable during their visits. We also maintain our small-town charm while providing personalized care to every patient.
If you have any questions about our pediatric services or would like to schedule an appointment with one of our pediatricians, call (330) 263-8100. We look forward to serving you and your child!