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The Importance of Well-Child Checks for Kids
Dr. Donna Grigsby discusses the importance of regular well child checks.
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Learn more about Donna Grigsby, MD
Donna Grigsby, MD
Donna Grigsby, MD is the Chief of the Division of Academic Pediatrics at Kentucky Children's Hospital.Learn more about Donna Grigsby, MD
Transcription:
Cheryl Martin (Host): As a parent, it's common for you to take your kids to the doctor when they're sick, but there's something you can do to help keep your child healthy and protected from some serious diseases. On this episode of UK HealthCast, a podcast from UK Healthcare, we take a closer look at the importance of regular well child checks. I'm Cheryl Martin, and with me is Dr. Donna Grigsby, Chief of the Division of Academic General Pediatrics at Kentucky Children's Hospital. So glad to have you on.
Dr Donna Grigsby: Thank you so much. It's so nice to be with you.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Doctor. First of all, what is a well child check?
Dr Donna Grigsby: A well child check is just an opportunity at different intervals in a child's life to bring the child in and speak with the pediatrician about their nutrition, about their growth, get immunizations. A lot of different things happen at a well child check, but they're designed to help identify problems early or to assist parents who have concerns about how their child is progressing.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Talk more about why this visit is so important for the kids?
Dr Donna Grigsby: They're so important because it allows us to identify issues that may be occurring that the patient or the parent may not have even recognized at this point. So we. A lot of our visits, in the first two years of life when children are changing so dramatically in every way, they're going through a period of rapid growth. Their development is changing dramatically from birth to two years of age. And it's a time, during which that we can identify issues in the way a child is growing or the way a child is developing. So that we can, if necessary, find interventions to help those children that may have special needs get additional help.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Talk more about some of the things that doctors are looking for specifically and the kinds of questions that will come up during the visit.
Dr Donna Grigsby: Sure. So one of the things that we focus on, particularly in young children is nutrition. So we're going to ask a lot of questions about what your child's eating, what kind of foods does your child like and what kind of foods have you been able to introduce? And then we're going to talk about, elimination habits. Parents, are very concerned about if their child is doing things that they're supposed to be doing at the frequency that they're supposed to be doing them. For instance, how often is my child supposed to go to the bathroom and when is my child supposed to learn how to toilet train and things like that.
And that gives us an opportunity to help them understand that it's a little different for every child. And there are certain things that we look at in terms of a child's development before they're ready for things like that. So we look at their nutrition. We look at, how they're developing, in their language skills and their motor skills and their personal social skills. We also talk about things that are important to a child's growth and overall wellbeing, like sleep habits and safety issues. So we talk about a lot of different things, all of which, when they're optimized in a child's life, give that child. The best opportunity to grow and develop, into their best self.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Doctor, how often should these well check visits be scheduled, and then for how long? You mention, let's say zero to two years, but even after that time?
Dr Donna Grigsby: Oh, absolutely. So we see children most frequently in the first two years. we usually see children right after they go home from the hospital after they're born. And then we see them at two weeks, at two months, four months, six months, nine months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months. Two years, two and a half years, and then three. At three and older, we typically see them yearly until they transition into an adult clinic. So many pediatricians will follow children until they're 18. Some will follow them until they're 21.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Okay. Now, if I'm a parent and I'm concerned about my child? My child is experiencing mental health issues, can this visit help? And how so?
Dr Donna Grigsby: Absolutely. So if you have any concerns about your child, they can be discussed at the time of a well child visit. We are seeing an increase in mental health concerns among children and adolescents, ever since the pandemic started. And so a parent can sit down and explain, concerning behaviors. Or if it's a child that's able to articulate their concerns. Sometimes in younger children we'll just see changes in behavior. We may see children who aren't sleeping well or who are becoming hostile or aggressive, or who are becoming withdrawn, and those all may be signs that your child is struggling with, anxiety or depression. And so we want you to reach out to us because then we can refer your child for further evaluation and services if they need those.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Do you suggest that a parent make a list of topics to discuss with a pediatrician?
Dr Donna Grigsby: Yes. I think when you know you have concerns and we all have notepads on our phones, so jot down a note. Oh, I don't know if this is normal. Or I don't know if I should be concerned about this so that when I go in for my next well child check, you can discuss that with your pediatrician. There are also a lot of opportunities to communicate with your pediatrician outside of the time of an appointment through a lot of, patient portals. So for instance, there are patient portals that allow you to send messages of concern to your pediatrician so that they discuss those with you before your next well child check.
Cheryl Martin (Host): How should you prepare your child for a well check visit?
Dr Donna Grigsby: I think just explaining to them that the doctor's gonna ask a lot of questions and that they're very interested to know that you're growing and you're developing and you're happy. And so we're going to ask a lot of questions and we're going to examine you from head to toe to make sure that everything looks good and then parents can warn their children that there are vaccines if they're going to be vaccines. Some parents may choose to wait until they get to the time of the appointment to let the children know that. And a lot of parents, you know, children are different, and they're different at different ages.
So when my son was young, I didn't tell him about vaccines because he got so upset and worried until they happened. So when he got older, he gave me feedback that, hey, I need a little heads up to prepare myself. So parents are really a good judge at knowing whether or not to tell their children they're gonna get vaccines and when the best timing for that can be.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Have you found that if parents consistently have these well child checks, they are really good at helping, to keep the child healthy and to get on top of possible problems later down the line?
Dr Donna Grigsby: Yes, absolutely. There are times that maybe it's gonna be a reassuring visit for the parent so that we know that parents are concerned and they come in and they haven't been around a lot of other children that same age. And they may have questions about, is my child progressing like they should be? Or my child is different from the child next door. Should I be concerned about that? Or is this normal for my child? And so I do think it gives parents opportunity to ask questions, to discuss problems. And there are times that we identify problems that the parents haven't noticed that we can say, This is a concern. We're gonna watch this, or we're gonna refer your child for further evaluation.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Well, I hope that as a result of this conversation, more parents are going to see the value of well child checks and schedule them. Dr. Donna Grigsby, thanks so much for your time and insights on this most important topic.
Dr Donna Grigsby: Thank you for having me. I really appreciate it.
Cheryl Martin (Host): For more information, visit the Kentucky Children's Hospital webpage. This wraps up this edition of UK HealthCast, brought to you by UK Healthcare. If you found this information helpful, please share it on your social media and subscribe to the podcast and thanks so much for listening.
Cheryl Martin (Host): As a parent, it's common for you to take your kids to the doctor when they're sick, but there's something you can do to help keep your child healthy and protected from some serious diseases. On this episode of UK HealthCast, a podcast from UK Healthcare, we take a closer look at the importance of regular well child checks. I'm Cheryl Martin, and with me is Dr. Donna Grigsby, Chief of the Division of Academic General Pediatrics at Kentucky Children's Hospital. So glad to have you on.
Dr Donna Grigsby: Thank you so much. It's so nice to be with you.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Doctor. First of all, what is a well child check?
Dr Donna Grigsby: A well child check is just an opportunity at different intervals in a child's life to bring the child in and speak with the pediatrician about their nutrition, about their growth, get immunizations. A lot of different things happen at a well child check, but they're designed to help identify problems early or to assist parents who have concerns about how their child is progressing.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Talk more about why this visit is so important for the kids?
Dr Donna Grigsby: They're so important because it allows us to identify issues that may be occurring that the patient or the parent may not have even recognized at this point. So we. A lot of our visits, in the first two years of life when children are changing so dramatically in every way, they're going through a period of rapid growth. Their development is changing dramatically from birth to two years of age. And it's a time, during which that we can identify issues in the way a child is growing or the way a child is developing. So that we can, if necessary, find interventions to help those children that may have special needs get additional help.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Talk more about some of the things that doctors are looking for specifically and the kinds of questions that will come up during the visit.
Dr Donna Grigsby: Sure. So one of the things that we focus on, particularly in young children is nutrition. So we're going to ask a lot of questions about what your child's eating, what kind of foods does your child like and what kind of foods have you been able to introduce? And then we're going to talk about, elimination habits. Parents, are very concerned about if their child is doing things that they're supposed to be doing at the frequency that they're supposed to be doing them. For instance, how often is my child supposed to go to the bathroom and when is my child supposed to learn how to toilet train and things like that.
And that gives us an opportunity to help them understand that it's a little different for every child. And there are certain things that we look at in terms of a child's development before they're ready for things like that. So we look at their nutrition. We look at, how they're developing, in their language skills and their motor skills and their personal social skills. We also talk about things that are important to a child's growth and overall wellbeing, like sleep habits and safety issues. So we talk about a lot of different things, all of which, when they're optimized in a child's life, give that child. The best opportunity to grow and develop, into their best self.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Doctor, how often should these well check visits be scheduled, and then for how long? You mention, let's say zero to two years, but even after that time?
Dr Donna Grigsby: Oh, absolutely. So we see children most frequently in the first two years. we usually see children right after they go home from the hospital after they're born. And then we see them at two weeks, at two months, four months, six months, nine months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months. Two years, two and a half years, and then three. At three and older, we typically see them yearly until they transition into an adult clinic. So many pediatricians will follow children until they're 18. Some will follow them until they're 21.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Okay. Now, if I'm a parent and I'm concerned about my child? My child is experiencing mental health issues, can this visit help? And how so?
Dr Donna Grigsby: Absolutely. So if you have any concerns about your child, they can be discussed at the time of a well child visit. We are seeing an increase in mental health concerns among children and adolescents, ever since the pandemic started. And so a parent can sit down and explain, concerning behaviors. Or if it's a child that's able to articulate their concerns. Sometimes in younger children we'll just see changes in behavior. We may see children who aren't sleeping well or who are becoming hostile or aggressive, or who are becoming withdrawn, and those all may be signs that your child is struggling with, anxiety or depression. And so we want you to reach out to us because then we can refer your child for further evaluation and services if they need those.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Do you suggest that a parent make a list of topics to discuss with a pediatrician?
Dr Donna Grigsby: Yes. I think when you know you have concerns and we all have notepads on our phones, so jot down a note. Oh, I don't know if this is normal. Or I don't know if I should be concerned about this so that when I go in for my next well child check, you can discuss that with your pediatrician. There are also a lot of opportunities to communicate with your pediatrician outside of the time of an appointment through a lot of, patient portals. So for instance, there are patient portals that allow you to send messages of concern to your pediatrician so that they discuss those with you before your next well child check.
Cheryl Martin (Host): How should you prepare your child for a well check visit?
Dr Donna Grigsby: I think just explaining to them that the doctor's gonna ask a lot of questions and that they're very interested to know that you're growing and you're developing and you're happy. And so we're going to ask a lot of questions and we're going to examine you from head to toe to make sure that everything looks good and then parents can warn their children that there are vaccines if they're going to be vaccines. Some parents may choose to wait until they get to the time of the appointment to let the children know that. And a lot of parents, you know, children are different, and they're different at different ages.
So when my son was young, I didn't tell him about vaccines because he got so upset and worried until they happened. So when he got older, he gave me feedback that, hey, I need a little heads up to prepare myself. So parents are really a good judge at knowing whether or not to tell their children they're gonna get vaccines and when the best timing for that can be.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Have you found that if parents consistently have these well child checks, they are really good at helping, to keep the child healthy and to get on top of possible problems later down the line?
Dr Donna Grigsby: Yes, absolutely. There are times that maybe it's gonna be a reassuring visit for the parent so that we know that parents are concerned and they come in and they haven't been around a lot of other children that same age. And they may have questions about, is my child progressing like they should be? Or my child is different from the child next door. Should I be concerned about that? Or is this normal for my child? And so I do think it gives parents opportunity to ask questions, to discuss problems. And there are times that we identify problems that the parents haven't noticed that we can say, This is a concern. We're gonna watch this, or we're gonna refer your child for further evaluation.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Well, I hope that as a result of this conversation, more parents are going to see the value of well child checks and schedule them. Dr. Donna Grigsby, thanks so much for your time and insights on this most important topic.
Dr Donna Grigsby: Thank you for having me. I really appreciate it.
Cheryl Martin (Host): For more information, visit the Kentucky Children's Hospital webpage. This wraps up this edition of UK HealthCast, brought to you by UK Healthcare. If you found this information helpful, please share it on your social media and subscribe to the podcast and thanks so much for listening.