At 3 years old, Baby is becoming more social and doing things more independently. Their healthcare provider probably won’t be administering any vaccines, but there are several complex milestones they might ask about.
At the appointment
There are likely no immunizations to be given at this appointment, but there are many, many milestones that might be reached during this time. A few the healthcare provider might look for at this appointment include balancing on one foot, copying a circle, being understandable to non-family members, stringing two or three sentences together, and being potty trained during the day.
This is also a good time for another eye exam. Baby‘s last one was probably around six months old, and having an additional checkup around their third birthday will make sure you’re not missing any vision issues they might be experiencing.
Questions to ask
After this appointment, you probably won’t have another well-child visit for a year. If you have any lingering questions or concerns about the next year of Baby‘s health and wellness, now is the time to talk to your healthcare provider. Some questions might include:
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How can I help Baby engage with the book we’re reading?
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What’s the best way to to talk to Baby about their day?
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How can I teach Baby how to handle their emotions and anger?
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How can I help Baby learn how to take turns and play nicely?
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What’s the best way to reinforce rules around and outside of the house?
Sources
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“AAP Schedule of Well-Child Care Visits.” HealthyChildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics. December 18, 2015. Web.
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“Well-child visits.” MedlinePlus. U.S. National Library of Medicine. February 5, 2015. Web.
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Heiting, Gary. “Eye exams for children.” All About Vision. AllAboutVision.com. July 2015. Web.
