Health reports: from 0 to 12 months.

What are they, when they are done, what are they for.

The assessment of growth in infants: when are the follow-up visits and what is assessed from 0 to 12 months

Check-ups by the pediatrician today are called by the more explanatory name of " health balances ". They consist of a series of assessments that the pediatrician carries out to verify that the psychophysical development, which also includes the visual and hearing capacity, takes place on a regular basis.

During these checks, the pediatrician examines the weight and height of the baby, to determine if the increase occurs at a satisfactory rate; then observe how the child reacts to sounds and performs small visual tests . During the first checks he also performs the Ortolani maneuver , which serves to check that there are no anomalies in the hips.

Here is the complete calendar of health reports in the first year of life, from 0 to 12 months.

Checkups from 0 to 4 months

1 month old

The first check is carried out in the first month of life. During this visit, the pediatrician weighs the baby and measures his height and head circumference. It also performs the Ortolani maneuver and checks the fontanel, sight, hearing, genitals. If there are any, it focuses on any congenital malformations such as clubfoot or heart defects.

Talk to parents about feeding, explaining the benefits of breastfeeding and listening to any concerns. If the mother, for various reasons, is not breastfeeding, she focuses on artificial milk instead. Some regions also provide for an electrocardiogram to be performed at 4-5 weeks of life (in this case to be performed in a hospital outpatient clinic).

2/3 months of life

Sometimes it is the first visit, and then the pediatrician does everything described for the first month. Otherwise, he still repeats the basic investigations: physical examination, growth, psychomotor evaluation, cardiovascular status. We talk about vaccinations . It is also time for an ultrasound of the hips, although it is not a screening for everyone.

Checkups from 5 to 8 months

6 months of life

Again physical examination and psychomotor and sensory evaluation are carried out (for example, the pediatrician carries out investigations to verify the symmetry of the movements made by the eyes) and vaccinations are checked. If it has not been done previously, we talk about complementary feeding, that is, the introduction of the first foods in addition to milk ( weaning ).

Checkups from 9 to 12 months

8/9 months of life

During this appointment, the pediatrician once again measures and weighs the child, inquires about any new abilities (crawling, standing up, uttering the first words, grasping objects safely). The Boel test can be performed to evaluate the child's hearing and attentional and interpersonal skills.

12 months of life

As in the previous checks, physical examination and psychomotor and sensory evaluation are carried out; the feeding of the child is evaluated and the vaccination against measles- mumps -rosolia is illustrated, which will be performed at 13-15 months. Information on the prevention of domestic accidents is provided.

Dear mothers, after reading the article we advise you to take a look at our Luxurykids website where you will find many articles for your child.