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Pediatric Care Q & A
When should I start pediatric care?
As soon as the child is born, a pediatrician can begin monitoring the baby’s development during checkups in the first crucial year. From increased sensory perceptions to muscle, tissue, and joint growth, the development of a child is an amazingly fast process. To ensure that everything proceeds on target, a pediatrician will monitor dozens of areas during the first three years, making sure important milestones are met, which include, but are not limited to:
- Dental development
- Growth and nutrition
- Walking
- Coordination and motor skills
- Reflexes
- Cognitive function
- Social skills
What is involved in ongoing pediatric care?
After the initial stage of development, the maturation process begins to ready the child for adulthood. Generally, from the ages of 3-12, children continue to grow, learn, and explore at a dizzying pace. During this time, pediatric care ensures that everything proceeds on schedule, providing guidance and solutions to issues as they arise. Typically, the pediatrician will monitor the following areas:
- Height and weight
- Hearing and vision
- Muscle and joint development
- Bone growth
- Organ health
- Cognitive skills
- Mental health
When kids enter their pre-teen and teen years, the race to adulthood really begins in earnest. Puberty brings with it profound changes in a young adult’s life, and a pediatrician can help the child navigate it by providing guidance, managing side effects like acne, and encouraging healthy sexual growth.
Because of the incredible changes a developing child undergoes as he matures toward adulthood, consistent pediatric care is crucial for recognizing potential issues and resolving them quickly, and ensuring that the child enjoys optimal health.
What is a parent’s role in a child’s health?
Solid parenting is as important as effective medical care during a child’s growth. Establishing good habits is one of the keys to growing up healthy and happy, and can be accomplished through:
- Getting enough exercise
- Good nutrition
- Proper socialization
- Encouraging exploration and learning
For more on these, and other, recommendations, Dr. Alejandro Montes will spend time with both kids and parents to explain the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle.
