Preparing Your Child for Their First Checkup

As a parent, you know how important it is to take your child for regular checkups. But for lots of kids, visiting the doctor can be nerve-racking, especially if they’re not sure what’s going to happen.

Clarksburg Urgent Care is a leading provider of pediatric care in Clarksburg, Maryland. This includes annual checkups and other pediatric wellness visits. 

In this post, our team offers some simple but important tips to prepare your child for their visit, calm their fears, and help them feel more relaxed.

Discuss their visit ahead of time

Like adults, kids are often anxious about the unknown. Discussing their visit ahead of time can help them know what to expect. Keep the discussion simple and positive, and avoid scary or hard-to-understand terms. 

Don’t spring their visit on them at the last minute, but don’t discuss it too early either, especially if your child is prone to anxiety.

Use positive language

You may have mixed feelings about visiting the doctor yourself, but this isn’t the time to commiserate with your child. Instead, use positive, upbeat language that emphasizes the benefits of seeing the doctor. 

Maintain a cheerful, matter-of-fact attitude to help your child model your relaxed behavior and relieve underlying anxiety.

Use books and videos

Not sure what to say to your child? There are lots of books and videos that can help. Look for books in your local library and check YouTube® for videos that demonstrate an average pediatric checkup in simple, friendly terms. 

Always review books and videos ahead of time to ensure they’re appropriate for your child and feature positive representations that won’t leave your child with more questions or worries.

Play pretend

You can help your child feel more comfortable about their visit by letting them assume the role of the doctor while a doll or stuffed animal takes the role of the patient. Your child can measure height and weight, use a pretend stethoscope, and examine the toy’s ears and eyes. They can “vaccinate” toys, too — explain that the vaccine takes a few seconds and feels like a little pinch.

Take a “friend”

It may help your child to bring along a favorite toy or stuffed animal for their visit. Sometimes, having a familiar object on hand provides the familiarity your child needs to feel more relaxed and secure. Bringing a few books or a tablet can help keep them busy in the waiting room.

Plan a reward

Before your child’s visit, plan for a special treat afterward to celebrate their bravery. Let your child choose from a selection of options, like a trip to a park, a small toy, or watching a video together. Tell them you’re proud of them for visiting the doctor and taking a big step toward staying healthy.

Give your child the gift of health

Pediatric checkups are important in keeping your child healthy, monitoring their growth and development, and setting the stage for a healthy adult life. 

To schedule your child’s wellness visit, request an appointment with our team at Clarksburg Urgent Care today. Call our office, walk in during regular business hours, or book your visit online.