Here’s What Your Pediatrician Wants You To Know

Every experienced parent knows that part of raising kids is regular visits to the pediatrician. Especially in those early days when you have a newborn at home, it can feel like you’re constantly at the doctor’s office. However, as challenging as it might be to find the right pediatrician for your child, it’s essential to ensure your child lives a healthy life.

Entrusting your child’s health and care to anyone can be difficult for parents. We want the best for our children but we might not always know what that is in a world with so many conflicting opinions on health and medicine. Regardless of how old your child is, there are some things most pediatricians wish parents understood. To help you understand where your child’s doctor is coming from when they give you advice, here’s what your pediatrician wants you to know.

Bedtime can be incredibly stressful, especially if you’re a parent of young children. One thing that most pediatricians recommend to help with bedtime is a consistent bedtime routine. This might include giving your child a bath before bed and turning off all screens at least an hour before bedtime. Sleep is essential for a child’s development and overall health. Although a bedtime routine won’t solve every sleep problem, it can help children get the rest they need.

Fevers can be scary for parents, but most pediatricians want you to know that a fever isn’t always a reason time to panic. In fact, a fever can be helpful in many ways. A fever is your body’s way of fighting off an infection and how high the fever is isn’t necessarily an indication of how serious the infection is. Although a fever can be dangerous if it gets too high, most fevers can easily be managed as long as you keep an eye on your child.

Life with kids can be busy. It’s sometimes difficult to find times for doctor’s appointments, especially if you have to take off work to take your child to the pediatrician. However, regular check-ups are vital to keeping your child healthy and ensuring they’re growing properly. Even if your child goes to the urgent care or walk-in clinic when they’re sick, it’s still helpful for them to see their regular pediatrician for their recommended check-ups.

Many parents stress about development milestones and often wonder whether their child is on track with other kids their age. Whether they’re learning to roll over, walk, or ride a bike, it’s normal to worry about your child’s growth and development. Many pediatricians would remind parents that it’s okay to slow down and appreciate the stage your child is in. If you have specific concerns, bring them up with your child’s pediatrician. Otherwise, it’s okay to slow down and enjoy the stage your child is currently in.

While eating well and taking vitamins can sometimes prevent illness, some illnesses are a part of life, such as the common cold. Especially if your kids are in daycare or school, they’re going to get colds now and then. When your child does have a cold, keep an eye on them and make sure they get plenty of rest and fluids. To prevent them from spreading germs, avoid sending them to daycare or school when they’re not feeling well.

Every parent has heard it a million times, but pediatricians can’t stress this enough: always use the right car seat for your child. Many young parents get a lot of advice, especially from older generations, about how they didn’t use to have car seats like they have today. However, modern car seats were developed for a reason and they do save lives. Be sure you’re paying attention to the manufacturer’s recommendations to ensure your child is in the right seat for their age, height, and weight.

There’s no doubt that screen time is one of the most controversial topics in parenting circles. While most pediatricians will tell you that screen time is okay in moderation, it’s essential for your child’s health that you set boundaries on screen time, even for your older children. In young children, screen time has been linked to lower brain development and too much screen time can negatively impact children of all ages.

Discussing your child’s weight can be a sensitive topic for parents but it’s also important to be open about this topic. Obesity is a common problem in the United States, even among children, and can lead to many serious health issues. As a parent, it’s up to you to help your child live a healthy life, especially when they’re too young to make responsible food choices for themselves. If your child is overweight and you’re looking for ways to help them get healthy, talk to their pediatrician.

If you’ve ever found yourself getting defensive as a parent, you’re not alone. It’s normal to be protective of your children and to be wary of the advice of others, even when they’re professionals. Pediatricians want parents to know that they’re not there to judge you and they’re not out to get you. While it might take some time to find the right fit for your family, every family should have a pediatrician they can trust.