Many parents are a bit anxious each time that their child’s doctor checkups roll around. You don’t know what to expect or how your child will react. Your toddler’s two year old checkup can be a bit easier than all of the checkups that came before it. Or it could be more difficult. Here are a few things that will occur during a routine two year old checkup.
Weight Check- Your toddler’s weight will be one of the first things that the nurse will check once you get called back into an exam room. You should be familiar with this since your toddler will have been weighed many, many times in their two short years of life. While you may have noticed that your toddler has always been weighed in the nude at previous visits, this time you may find that they are old enough to keep their clothes on when being weighed. Your toddler may even get to stand on the regular scales like a big kid instead of sitting on the infant scales.
Temperature- Just like all of the other checkups, your toddler will have their temperature taken at their two year old checkup. Unlike previous checkups where your toddler’s temperature was taken rectally, you may find that their temperature can be taken under their arms now. Your toddler is more able to sit still so that a more accurate temperature can be received from an axillary reading than they were at a younger age.
Measurements- Your toddlers general measurements will also be taken. Usually their height and head circumference will be the main measurements taken. If your toddler was able to stand on the regular doctor scales then he or she may have had their height checked while standing there.
Finger Prick- A finger prick could be a huge event to a toddler and their parents but then again you may get a toddler who isn’t bothered on little bit by a finger prick. The nurse will simply poke the tip of one of your toddler’s fingers, squeeze to get the blood flowing and then get a sample of the blood in order to test your toddler’s iron levels and whatever else your doctor wants to have checked. Some toddlers will get very upset by this little invasion. Some will scream like they are downright heartbroken (my oldest daughter was like that) and yet you will find other toddlers who simply watch and seem a bit amazed by it (my youngest daughter is like that).
Urine Sample- Most pediatric offices will ask for a simple urinalysis from their two year old patients. They will take this moment to check and make sure everything looks alright with your toddler’s urine output, sugar levels and anything else that your doctor is interested in. While some two year old toddlers will happily oblige with giving a urine sample in a cup, most are not anywhere near ready to do that. That is why the majority of pediatric offices will use a simple urine bag that will stick onto your toddlers genitals so as to catch any urine that your toddler may pass during their visit. Some toddlers will fight this. Who wants a bag stick to them in that area anyway? Others will wonder what is going on but not really worry too much about it. Once your toddler has produced a urine sample it will be rushed off to the lab and that part of the visit is over.
Once-over by the Doctor- Finally your toddler’s pediatrician will arrive. It’s his/her turn to have a look at your toddler. Your toddler’s doctor will want to ask you several questions to determine how your toddler is developing. Things like language skills, physical activity, eating habits, bathroom habits and sleeping habits will be on that list of questions. Answer each question truthfully in order to catch any problems early on. This is the perfect time for you to ask your toddler’s doctor any questions that you may have. If you have any concerns, no matter how small, about how your toddler is developing this is the time to ask. Your toddler’s doctor will want to look your toddler over during this time of the two year old checkup. The doctor will check your toddler’s eyes, ears and mouth. The doctor will listen to your toddler’s breathing and heartbeat. He/She will check your toddler’s spine, feel around on your toddler’s belly, check the alignment of your toddler’s legs and hips and even check your toddler’s diaper area to make sure all is well.
Immunizations- If you have kept your toddler’s immunizations up to date throughout their previous checkups then there shouldn’t be any immunizations due at their two year old checkup. Unless, of course, you and your pediatrician have decided upon a different immunization schedule.
Many things are done differently during this checkup, and the ones in the coming years, than they were when your toddler was younger. Toddlerhood brings on new accomplishments, emotions and understanding so it’s no wonder that your toddler would be taken care of a bit differently while visiting their pediatrician. While most toddlers do not appreciate this breech of their privacy, it is ever so important that they have their two year old checkup. This is an important developmental moment in your toddler’s life and it is most important that you and your pediatrician make sure that things are running smoothly. Hopefully this list of things to expect at your toddler’s two year old checkup will help you and your toddler prepare for their two year old checkup. It’s really not as hard as it sounds and it will probably be a quicker appointment than you expect it to be.
