My son is in first grade and healthy. I've always taken him for an annual physical but was going to skip it this year. I ran into his pediatrician and mentioned this to her and of course, she encouraged the physical every year. We do get flu shots but we can just pop in to see the nurse. I believe my insurance covers a physical, maybe with a copay.
So do you take healthy kids in for physicals if not required by school that year?
Yes, we have typically done so. DH also gets a physical every year. I am the one who is bad about it.
As the children get older, their physician can also discuss other health issues, like puberty, sex, drugs and mental health concerns. Going yearly builds a trust with the doctor.
Wow, I'm in the minority here. We did not go yearly after ages 4-5 (mine are 19 and 16 now). There was a 7th grade physical if I remember correctly. Otherwise we only went for quick sports physicals required for a team sport or summer camp.
My siblings and I didn't go yearly as kids either, though we went in as babies/toddlers, or if we had an illness growing up.
I think it's strange ALL kids are now expected to go every year (??).
No. My family goes to the doctor when we're sick and home remedies don't work. I took her for her school-required vaccines but that was it. After that, only when she was sick.
I went to my gyn every year when I had to in order to keep my scrip for bcp's. Since I no longer cycle and no longer need bc, I haven't been in close to a decade.
Yes. Why wouldn't you? To save a little $15 copay? My friend's kid's serious allergies were uncovered during a routine annual exam. A health issue of my own was uncovered during my routine annual exam. My friend, as a child, had her scoliosis discovered during a routine exam.
And remember -- even if your child is in ideal health, the annual exam records that fact and provides a baseline against which doctors can compare your child when you bring him or her to them sick. And some doctors won't do vaccinations without a routine physical to ensure the child is in overall good health before giving a shot. (Flu shots are different.)
Finally, I want my kid and myself to have a good comfort level with her pediatrician. You and especially you kid won't have that if you never see the doctor except when your son's sick. The doctor will be a stranger who pokes and prods him when he feels lousy and is upset, not someone he has seen and joked with over the years while getting an exam so he feels comfortable with Dr. X.
Of course. I always have and my daughter is 18 who still goes in for a yearly physical.
I don't understand who wouldn't.
Of course I do.
If you have insurance - chances are they cover a wellness visit at 100%.
I'll tell you something. I thought the amount of well baby visits was pretty ridiculous and was tempted to skip a few, my baby was healthy, why did we always need to be at the doctor? But our insurance paid for it, so I went. Our kid is in 1st grade and I can't see stopping now.
And here's why. I have a friend who took her baby to a regular well baby visit, and while they were doing what always seemed to me to be pointless feeling around of the baby's belly and whatever else, the doctor felt something weird and sent the baby for further tests. They found cancer and they found it early enough to treat it so that now she's 3 and more than a year cancer free. I will never skip another annual physical/well baby visit for my kids after that.
Absolutely!!! Do you take your car in for a tune up or oil change??lol
I was going to answer 'of course.' Then, I called the doctor's office to schedule our 11 year old's second chicken pox shot (the school told us he needed it) and the staff nurse asked me whether we wanted to schedule his well-child checkup. I said 'Didn't he have one just this year?' She informed me that he hasn't had a well-child check up since 2009 and the last time they saw him was in 2011 for a sick visit. Needless to say, I was rather stunned, and said 'one of those bad parenting moments...' She said it happens alot once kids get to school age and don't require as many shots. Anyway, he now has an appointment for a check up in November. Boy, the years have slipped by...
I do agree with the idea that it's good to build the habit of seeing a doctor for preventative care (checkups), and a great thing about the changes in health care is that well-child checkups are now free. But if I was answering your question truthfully based on my track record, I'll have to say 'no, due to my flakiness.' Thanks for your post!
Our pediatrician said it wasn't necessary once they are school age.
My girls are 12, 7, and 6 - they have not missed one yet. I feel it is better to take them to get checked because anything can pop up in a year's time. Now that they are in school, it's not always exactly one year apart, but they still go. I've moved it to where they go during the summer time now that way they don't have to miss school. They are healthy and happy kids and I want to keep it that way. I would never forgive myself if they developed something and we did not catch it for years because I did not take them to the doctor for their physical. Physicals are an important part of our lives. My girls know that the doctor's caught grandma's breast cancer in the very early stages because of her going to her physical. If she would not have gone who knows how far it would have progressed before being discovered. More proof to me that annual check ups are important.
Religiously!! Every year I take them near their birthdays in September - they're 13 days apart so that helps to take them both at the same time. I do it to keep up on their vaccinations (yes, I do believe in them!) and then at the same time I also get their sports physical paperwork filled out so we're prepared for the whole year when, or if, they do any sports. They also get their flu shots at that time.
I love our doctor's office - if my kids are sick any time during the year, they have a sick bay in the morning that we can just drop in. Very helpful if it's strep throat which seems to hit them every year :(
Good luck!!
Not unless there are any concerns.
Absolutely. A simple physical can uncover a condition you didn't recognize. Insurance usually covers well-child visits/annual checkups. Take him.
Heck yes we do. It is our one year visit that is free!!
I think so much good comes from this visit. They learn that doctors are there to help them..not just treat a current illness. They learn it is good to talk to a doctor about all areas of their life..not just the physical boo boos.
Our doctor is great to focus on the whole child..not just keeping up to date with vaccines. She want to see that they are well rounded kids. The doctor is another level of support. She mentioned to our youngest the importance of wearing a helmet while on a bike and scooter. And that it is a law in CA. We have stressed this over and over too. But..now that the doctor mentioned it then it must be super important.
I think that yearly visits set the stage for the future when those physicals are soooo important because risks of everything under the sun increase.
Our doctor is also very upfront about sex with our older two kids. I like this support. We talk to all 3 of our kids about sexual activities...it is nice to have the support of our doctor in this area when more of a medical answer is needed.
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Chances are you may not even have a copay. Preventative care is usually 100% covered when you have the coverage.
My insurance covers yearly physicals with no copay to me. So it cost me nothing to take them. So I take them, that's why I pay insurance. I just make sure they are healthy.
Yes, I do. Normally, its the only time my children see a Dr all year. :) Its at this appointment, they check everything, hearing, vision, behaviors, and overall health. I would want it to be caught early if something was wrong.
With Obamacare physicals are covered under preventive care with zero Copay I will always take my daughter in for a yearly physical
Of course. We pay for it (through insurance) and I take full advantage of that. Not only do they check my kids physically but there's always a good conversation about school, sports, friends, sleeping/eating patterns, all kinds of things I may not necessarily think about. Preventive healthcare is a must in a healthy population. People who only go to the doctor when they are sick tend to be sicker overall.
We all do - me, my husband and our two boys.
We are very fortunate to have the insurance we do, so it almost feels like a waste not to take advantage of it.
Also, we like being healthy!
Yes. It's called a well child visit.
Yes. I pay out of pocket, because of our incredibly high deductible.
Yes. It's covered by insurance so there's no downside to me other than time. I think there is value in maintaining that doctor-patient relationship in times of wellness so that my kids feel connected to the doctor and staff and they know my kids. It helps during illness or injury that my pediatrician knows the kids well enough to assess whether or not the symptoms they present with are a lot *for the kid* - meaning, one of my kids is a bit dramatic so his report of pain or malaise is put in proper context where another of my kids doesn't complain about anything, ever so if he says he's sick or hurt, he really is sick or hurt.
My step-daughter's mother didn't take her to the pediatrician for 6 years despite the fact that I carried insurance for her. She had her get required immunizations but didn't do well visits. We didn't know this until she came to live with us when she was 13 and we need proof of her last physical to enroll her in our school district. This (along with many other things) became part of the negligence case we made against her mother when filing for - and winning - custody. When we took her to our pediatrician with abdominal pain shortly after she moved, it was hard for the doctor to really get a read on what was going on because she doesn't know her like she knows my sons. Because she hadn't been to the pedi on a regular basis, my SD wasn't comfortable at the visit, didn't talk or engage with the doctor, etc. She's still very uncomfortable going to the doctor for anything. Being a comfortable advocating for your own health care needs is a skill that kids can develop with regular well visits.
Finally...even if school doesn't require a physical, any after-school or summer day camp programs and many sports require that the child have a physical in the past year. If for no other reason than that, we go annually so that I have those forms ready when it comes time to enroll them in a sport or activity.
Yes. When they get older, it's difficult to find a free time for them.
Chuckle, chuckle ObamaCare, chuckle
I don't unless something that they are in requires it. I don't do flu shots for them so I see no reason if they are healthy to take them to the dr's un nessasarily. They usually end up with one every other year.
My boys are 11 and 8 and both play competitive soccer at a premier level. We go every year just to make sure their bodies are handling the 4 days a week practices and 2 games a weekend. That's a LOT for a growing boy. But I consider that more of a sports physical.
My daughter is only 2 so she goes yearly.
I rarely go to the doctor with my kids. Common colds and fevers do not send me to the pediatrician. So, some years we have ONLY seen the doctor on yearly chekups!
L.
Yes. Every year for all four of them. They also go to the dentist twice a year without fail.
Yes, My boys never skip a yearly exam.
Yes! Preventative medicine is a good thing...especially when it comes to my children.
If I don't have any concerns we skip a year. I also make sure they aren't due for any vaccinations.
Yes, my boys get their annual well-child check and I have them fill out paperwork for physicals at that time. They are 9 and 5.
Yes, I do take my kids for annual check ups and dental check ups also. I home school them, and they are very healthy , but I believe these visits are necessary and worth it.
A. :)
I think it's best to take kids for an annual checkup for a number of the reasons listed in previous posts, especially if it's covered (or mostly covered) by insurance.
However, if you pay for healthcare out of pocket, then I think the vast majority of children would be fine missing some years (as long as they are up-to-date on vaccines).
Yep, we do the annuals. Where else do they get their growth tracked, eyesight checked etc. A lot can change in a year. Plus it's good just to keep up the relationship between kid and doctor, IMO.
Yes - we all go for our yearly physicals! I've even finally gotten my husband to go yearly as well. It's covered 100% by our insurance company - labs as well!
Actually I think our PED office makes sure we have Child Well Checks every year! I always get a phone call reminding me to schedule. Even for my DD who is 16 but now I am taking her to a GYNO because she has other young female issues, but otherwise, yes i take my kids every year.
Absolutely. Why chance it? The doctor can feel for things that you might have no clue to look for (enlarged kidneys, for example) and it can help to simply compile a record of his growth and health in case there health problems in the future. With the new health care laws, most annual physicals don't even have a copay anymore and you can get it for free.
I see no reason to skip it. Why take a risk with your child's health?
Why not? Proactive is much better than reactive. Many times an underlying illness has been caught before it gets to a stage where huge or expensive medical intervention is needed.
Children are people and they should have the same treatment. You go to the OB/GYN or a dentist for an annual checkup.
A good physical can be a godsend. Insurance usually covers well check up so there would be no or not much outlay on your part.
My kids were seen annually when they were younger. Now they can and still do so on their own as adults.
the other S.
We are not required by the school to have yearly physicals, but we are entitled to a yearly physical so we all get one. Not just the kids, but adults too. I wouldn't skip a year.
Yes
Have done so ever since my kids were born.
Yes. We've done the minimum one every year. No reason not too.
my daughter's kidney reflux was discovered through a routine physical at age 8 when her urine test showed up as abnormal
yes, take them
BTW even though we had taken her each year it was the first time this had shown up, by the time we figured out what was wrong and got it taken care of she had lost 6/10th of one kidney and 1/10th of the other one. I can't imagine what the outcome would have been if we hadn't caught it then. (Gary Coleman had his found too late, and he died cause of it. The doc that did my daughter's surgery had done the surgery on Gary. )
I do because there could be issues that I can't see. At my daughters 8 year check up, they did a hearing test, which came back good. They also did a quick eye test (where she covers 1 eye and reads the bottom line of letters), she failed it. They refered me to an optomitrist for her and it turns out that her eyes are more like 25/35. She doesn't need glasses yet (dr. said it wasn't that bad, yet), but now we know to keep an eye on it. I do not vax, but I do like to get their yearly check ups done anyway just so I can also talk to them about any thing that might be on my mind (about their developement and stuff)
I have taken my now 15-year old daughter every year for a physical. Although, she hasn't gone this year yet, we are 5 months overdue. This is a reminder for me to make her appointment since she is due for a tetanus shot this year. As they get older, it is a challenge to stay on schedule. She does see the dentist every 6 months and has an annual eye exam. So, we are mostly on schedule with the doctor's visits.
