How Important are Yearly Physical Exams for Children?

Starting with a careful review of your child’s medical history, we consider past illnesses, surgeries, allergies, vaccinations, and family medical history. We also take into consideration your child’s diet, physical activity, academic performance, and general behavior. We take note of your child’s overall appearance and demeanor, and measure their height, weight, blood pressure, and heart rate, comparing these measurements on a growth chart with standard growth patterns.

At All Better Pediatrics, we conduct a thorough visual inspection of the entire body during the physical examination. This includes evaluating the head, face, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. For infants, we check the fontanel or soft spot and evaluate the neck for any lumps or swelling. We also examine the skin for any rashes, lesions, or birthmarks.

Our pediatricians listen to your child’s heart and lungs, assess the chest shape and breathing patterns, and check the abdomen for any swelling, pain, or tenderness. We palpate the liver and spleen and auscultate for bowel sounds. We check your child’s reflexes, coordination, balance, muscle tone, and strength, as well as the cranial nerves to identify any potential neurological disorders or developmental delays.

We conduct an external examination of the genitals, check the testes in boys, and evaluate the labia and vagina in girls. We also assess your child’s bones, muscles, joints, range of motion, flexibility, and posture.

At All Better Pediatrics, we place great emphasis on the evaluation of your child’s growth and developmental progress. We monitor milestones, such as speech, language, and social skills, as well as the child’s nutritional status.

Our pediatric team recommends the first physical exam for newborns between 24 to 48 hours after birth. At All Better Pediatrics, we closely follow the guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatrics for subsequent exams, ensuring that your child is examined at crucial developmental milestones.

For children between ages 1 and 4, we typically suggest annual physical exams. However, in some cases, we may recommend more frequent visits, particularly if there are ongoing health or developmental concerns. After the age of 5, the norm is to continue with annual physical exams, unless otherwise advised by our pediatricians.

We emphasize the importance of regular physical exams because they allow for early detection of potential health issues, monitor growth and development, provide health education and guidance, and, importantly, establish a positive relationship between your child, you, and our healthcare team.

Children with chronic health conditions may need more frequent check-ups. If your child is experiencing new or persistent symptoms, it’s essential to schedule an appointment at All Better Pediatrics sooner than the regularly scheduled exam.

● From Newborn to One Year: We provide an initial examination within the first 24-48 hours of your baby’s life. Follow-up visits are then scheduled at 2-3 days, 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months. These frequent visits during the first year are crucial for assessing growth, feeding, monitoring developmental milestones, and administering necessary vaccinations.

● One to Five Years: We recommend regular physicals every 6 months until your child turns 2. After they turn two, we schedule annual physicals during well-child visits. These check-ups allow us to keep a close eye on your child’s growth and development. We monitor weight, height, and other physical attributes, check hearing and vision, provide immunization updates, and discuss growth, nutrition, and any specific health concerns.

● Five Years and Older: Once your child turns five, marking the start of school, we recommend annual physical examinations. These examinations continue throughout adolescence, focusing on growth and development, immunization status, and screening for any health conditions that may arise during childhood and early adulthood.

● Special Circumstances: At All Better Pediatrics, we understand that every child is unique. The frequency of physicals can vary depending on your child’s health condition. If your child has a chronic health issue such as asthma or developmental delays, our pediatricians might recommend more frequent visits.

Why Yearly Physicals Matter

● Monitoring Growth and Development: By conducting annual physical exams, we can track your child’s physical growth and development. This includes monitoring their height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and other vital signs. We then compare these measurements with the norms for their age group, helping us detect any growth-related issues early.

● Health Check-ups: Our physical exams include screenings for common health conditions like anemia, asthma, vision and hearing problems, scoliosis, and more. We also look out for early signs of serious health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. Early detection and treatment can significantly improve your child’s prognosis.

● Vaccinations: Yearly physicals provide an opportunity for us to administer or update immunizations according to the recommended schedule. Vaccinations protect your child from serious infectious diseases, and we ensure your child is receiving all the necessary shots on time.

● Dietary and Lifestyle Guidance: During these visits, we discuss diet, exercise, and sleep habits with you and your child. We provide guidance on fostering healthy habits from an early age, a factor that’s especially important in today’s world, where childhood obesity is a growing concern.

● Mental and Emotional Health Check: Yearly physicals also include an evaluation of your child’s mental and emotional health. We inquire about mood, behavior, and any concerns or stressors in your child’s life. These visits create a safe space for your child to develop a relationship with our healthcare team, making them feel more comfortable discussing their health concerns in the future.

Ensure your child’s health and well-being with yearly physical exams at All Better Pediatrics, where Dr. Linda Bowman and her experienced team provide compassionate, comprehensive care. From tracking growth milestones to addressing health concerns, we’re dedicated to supporting your child’s development. Contact us today or schedule an appointment online at our conveniently located clinic in Memphis, TN, to prioritize your child’s health. We are conveniently located at 1102 Brookfield Road, Suite 200 Memphis, TN 38119. We serve patients from Memphis TN, Germantown TN, Bartlett TN, Cordova TN, Collierville TN, Oakville TN, and Lenow, TN.