Regular baby checkups are an important aspect of a baby’s development and growth, as they provide you information about all aspects of the baby’s growth. Regular two year old check up also serves as a guide to help you take the necessary steps for ensuring the health of the child. Bringing up a 2 year old child can be quite challenging, at times there may be situations that can leave you stumped.
Most of the new parents are not aware of what to expect at your toddler’s 2 year old health check up . Here is what you should normally expect:
Weight and Measurement of Your Child:
Every checkup will require your baby to have its weight to be checked and measured.
Physical examination:
Again, every 2 year old health check up will call for a physical examination of your child to ensure that the child is growing at a healthy rate. This will entail a detailed check up of the baby’s entire body.
Head
The doctor will check the soft spots on the baby’s head – these spots are called fontanels. These gaps ensure that the baby’s brain has room to grow. The doctor will also check the shape of the baby’s head.
Ears
A 2 year old health check up will need the doctor to check the baby’s ears for fluid or infection in its ears with an instrument called an otoscope and observe the baby’s response.
Eyes
The doctor will also examine the baby’s eyes with an instrument called an ophthalmoscope. In later years, a bright object or flashlight would be used to attract the baby’s attention and track the baby’s eye movements.
Mouth
During the2 year old health check up, the baby’s mouth is examined to see if there are signs of oral thrush, a common oral infection that can be easily treated. As the baby grows older, the doctor will ask you about drooling or chewing, which are the first signs of teething.
Skin
The doctor takes care to check the baby’s skin carefully to ensure that there are no skin conditions.
Heart and lungs
When you take your baby to the doctor for a 2 year old health check up, one of the important things the doctor does is to check and listens to the baby’s heart and lungs. The doctor uses a stethoscope to detect any abnormal heart sounds or rhythms, or for signs of any breathing difficulties.
Abdomen
The doctor will gently press the baby’s abdomen, to look for signs of tenderness, enlarged organs or an umbilical hernia.
Hips and legs
The doctor will check the baby’s legs for dislocation or other problems with the hip joints during the 2 year old health check up.
Genitalia
The doctor will inspect the baby’s genitalia for tenderness, lumps or other signs of infection. In the case of girls, the doctor would like to know about any vaginal discharges. In the case of boys, the doctor will make sure both testes have descended into the scrotum.
The doctor will ask you a number of questions about the child’s activities during the course of the 2 year old health check up.
Child’s sleep:
The doctor would like to know about the baby’s sleeping pattern. You will be asked questions about the duration of the baby’s sleep at night and how long it naps during the day. If your baby suffers from nightmares, you may be suggested ways of comforting the child.
Child’s eating habits:
You will be asked about your child’s eating habits – what it eats and its preferences, likes, and dislikes.
Child’s playing habits:
You may be asked about your kid’s activities – the games the child likes, and the games it does not. This will give an insight to the doctor about the child’s development.
Diapers:
The doctor may ask you about the child’s diaper habits – how many diapers it uses per day.
The baby’s two year old check up are one of the most important aspects of monitoring its development and growth. The doctor will address all your concerns about the child’s health, habits, toilet training, and discipline. You will also be advised about all the immunizations that you need to give your child at this stage.
Do make sure that you schedule the 2 year old health check up of your child as it is one of the important stepping stones in its life.
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