Baby Health Checks

Personal Health Record (PHR)
Each baby born in Australia will have a Personal Health Record (in New South Wales and South Australia it is often referred to as the 'Blue Book') This book contains pages for recording your babies regular health checks from birth to years of age. It also contains helpful resources such as some suggestions of questions to think about before you attend the health check. At each health check the PHR provides information about the things that will be checked at the visit. These could include weight, length or height, head circumference, vision, hearing, hips and development. Boys will also have a check to see that their testes are in the usual position. Parents should take the PHR with them every time they visit a doctor, child health clinic or hospital and ask that the visit is recorded in the book.

Health checks for your baby are recommended at

* Birth
* 1 - 4 weeks
* 6 - 8 weeks

* 6 - 8 months
* 18 months
* 2½ -3½ years
* 4 - 5 years

Baby health checks help keep track of your baby's growth and development, they assist in ensuring that everything is progressing well and that any possible problems can be detected early.

To make sure you make the most of your health checks it helps to consider a few things:

Right Timing:
When scheduling appointments, try to steer clear of nap time, lunchtime and any time your baby's typically fussy. Try and pre-empt times when the waiting room is least busy, avoiding peak hours at the clinic or doctor's surgery, if possible. When making the appointment ask about their busiest times. And if you feel you'll need extra time (you have even more questions and concerns than usual), ask for it so it can be scheduled into the visit. That way, you won't feel quite as hurried.
A hungry baby is likely to be a cranky and uncooperative patient, so try to schedule appointments after a feed. Once finger foods have been started, you can also bring a snack along for the waiting room. Keep in mind, however, that overfilling just before the appointment may mean baby will be more likely to throw up so a little bit of space after the feed is good.

What to wear?
When getting baby dressed for the appointment think of easy access garments. Ovoid tight necks and outfits with lots buttons or ties that will make baby distressed while trying to get them off. Most babies don’t enjoy being exposed for too long so leave it until you have to get undressed.

Questions.
In between visits you are probably constantly thinking of questions for the next visit. However in the spur of the moment, and when you are distracted because you have been waiting for 20 minutes and trying to keep baby occupied it is often hard to remember so try to make a habit of writing you questions down when you think of them. Most Personal Health Record books provide space for this in them or just keep a piece of paper in the front for easy access.

Help ease anxiety.
Few babies enjoy the poking and prodding of the clinic visit or doctor's exam – and cold temperatures and unfamiliar surroundings can make it even more uncomfortable. Take along a familiar toy or security item to help ease anxiety and ask the clinic nurse or doctor if they can perform most of the checks keeping baby's on your lap.

Trust your instincts.
Listening to your instincts is very important when it comes to your child heath. Remember you see your baby every day and you doctor or clinic only sees them occasionally. It will be you who notices subtle changes in your baby behaviour and it is important that if you feel something isn't quite right with your child - even if you're not sure what it is that your doctor or clinic sister is told about it. Remember, you and your doctor are collaborative allies in your baby's health care and sometimes the most effective diagnostic tool is a parent's intuition.

Subscribe to Optimum Life E-Zine for fortnightly articles on baby topics

Disclaimer:

This Web site is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Information and interactions contained in this Web site are for information purposes only and are not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Further, the accuracy, currency and completeness of the information available on this Web site cannot be guaranteed. AES Pty Ltd t/a Modern Mums’ , its affiliates and their respective servants and agents do not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on the information made available via or through Modern Mums’ whether arising from negligence or otherwise. See Privacy Policy and Disclaimer.