Addressing Developmental Milestones During Well-Child Visits

Before you know it, your newborn child will one day be an eighteen-year-old transitioning into adulthood. Your child will go through several developmental milestones and hopefully meet them successfully during that time. To ensure proper development and provide necessary intervention if delays occur, you should schedule an annual well-child visit in Leitchfield, KY. Dr. John Evans, Dr. Anthony Smith, and Dr. Elizabeth Stivers provide compassionate care for your child at Leitchfield Pediatric Clinic.

What Steps Do Doctors Take to Address Milestones?

The doctor will thoroughly examine when you bring your child in for a wellness visit. The pediatrician observes the child's overall behavior and interactions. They check vital signs such as vision, hearing, breathing, blood pressure, weight, and growth patterns to see if there are growth delays. They note if your child seems to have proper language development for their age. 

Doctors screen children for autism between eighteen and twenty-four months. They often use the CDC's milestone checklist and AAP guidelines for screenings. Based on observation and checklist notes, additional screenings and interventions may be recommended if the child has appeared to miss milestones. Doctors can refer you to another specialist who can help your child with such interventions. They can also work with school administrators and other caretakers for further evaluation.

What Are Examples of Childhood Milestones?

Your child should reach milestones within the first year of life. For example, a healthy baby should be able to sleep through the night by four months and sit up on their own at six months. Newborns should transition from cooing to babbling to saying their first word by the end of the first year. At two years of age, children should have a vocabulary of approximately fifty words and be able to follow directions. Children should also reach certain heights and be within a particular BMI range at various ages. Otherwise, they may be underweight or overweight for their age. 

A regular well-child visit in Leitchfield, KY, can help you and your doctors know if your child is developing on schedule. If delays are present, your pediatrician understands the appropriate interventions. They will evaluate speech, behavior, and emotional and physical development. Keeping up with these wellness visits can ensure your child gets timely help.

At Leitchfield Pediatric Clinic, Dr. Evans, Dr. Smith, and Dr. Stivers are your trusted team for caring for and evaluating your child’s health. When it is time for a well-child visit in Leitchfield, KY, call us at 270-259-5641.