Health Review: 2 to 2.5 Years Check-up
This is a big and important visit. At 2 to 2.5 years, your toddler’s growth and development will be evaluated by their health visitor and their nursery nurse if they attend childcare. The health reviews will not only check your little one’s health, but they can also help to support you as a parent as your little one grows and gains more independence. Read on for more information on how to prepare and what to expect from these visits.
Here's How To Prepare For This Visit
Your child’s health review will usually be done in your home or at your local clinic, as well as at your little one’s nursery or preschool (if they attend one). Your health visitor will contact you to inform you of the review and send you two questionnaires to fill in before the review (Ages and Stages Developmental (ASQ-3) and Social and Emotional (ASQ:SE-2) questionnaires).
It’s helpful to fill in the questionnaire before your appointment and your health visitor will go through it with you during the visit. Contact them for any help or advice on filling in the forms if needed.
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At This Visit, Your Health Visitor Will Probably:
Go through the completed questionnaire with you.
Give insights into your toddler’s development.
Discuss their communication skills.
Check your child’s growth, including diet and physical activity.
Talk about behaviour, toilet training, and sleep.
Discuss dental health.
Discuss your child’s safety.
Check their immunisations are up to date.
Your Health Visitor Will Want to Know:
What has happened since the last review?
Are there any family issues that may be affecting your child? And do you need any help with them?
Do you have any nursery or preschool plans?
What’s your child’s diet like? And do you have any concerns about their nutrition?
How is your child’s behaviour and what are your expectations?
How do they interact with others?
What words can your little one say? Can they name known objects and correctly put two to three words together? Do you have any concerns about their language development milestones?
How do they use their arms, legs and other muscles when moving around? for example, can they kick a ball? Can they jump with both feet leaving the floor? Can they drink from a cup with no lid?
How does your child play with toys and solve problems? Do they use pretend play?
Is your child toilet trained? And do you need support with this?
What is your child’s sleep pattern and do you have any concerns?
How’s your child’s dental health? How to care for their teeth and register for a dentist.
What vaccinations have they had?
Talk it Over
Many parents may be concerned about three things at this age: diet, discipline and getting their child to bed. These issues are all related to your little one's growing sense of independence. Other concerns may include how to manage 'no!', temper tantrums and how to get your child to eat.
Diet. Let your health visitor know what your child is eating these days. If you think your toddler is a fussy eater and isn't getting proper nutrition, talk it over with your health visitor. This is a good age to identify signs your child may be overweight and to establish healthy eating and physical activity habits to carry throughout their life. Discuss how best to provide a healthy balanced diet for your child and what extra vitamins they may need.
Discipline. Let your health visitor know if your toddler seems difficult to control. Discuss the steps you take when managing behaviour and any toddler tantrums.
Sleep. Sleep disturbances are common at this age. Try keeping a diary of your child's sleeping patterns for at least three days and bring it to the visit. Your health visitor will be able to suggest solutions for you. Helping kids to settle down means developing good patterns.
Speak Up!
Let your health visitor know if:
You’re concerned about your child’s weight or nutritional intake.
Your little one doesn’t understand simple instructions.
They can’t use known words in two or three-word combinations.
Their speech is intelligible to a familiar listener.
You’re having difficulty managing your toddler’s behaviour and tantrums.
Your little one isn’t sleeping well at night.
You’re concerned about their hearing or vision.
Although every child is different and reaches developmental milestones at unique times, it's still good to let your health visitor know about any issues or concerns you may have about your toddler's development. Remember, they are there to help you deal with those ‘terrible twos’.
The information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the National Health Service (NHS). You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.
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