Does her 12 month dr. visit need to be at 12 months?

[femalephish]

For those of you who do well-baby checkups: I couldn't get an appointment with our regular ped. (who I love) untill my DD will be almost 14-months old. My mum says this is a big deal and the Dr. needs to see her at 12-months. But I don't want to see one of the other physicians and my daughter is basically healthy so I don't think it's a big deal.

Will they chart her growth on a chart vs. other 14-month-olds? Or other babes at their 12-month appointment?
What do you think? What would you do?

Thanks,
-Courtney

[Magali]

Well, I don't do wbv's but since no one else has answered... I don't think it is a big deal at all. If I had a Dr. that I really loved (like you do) I wouldn't want to see another Dr. unless there was a specific concern that couldn't wait.

[2boyzmama]

The only reason it would matter is if you were vaxxing on schedule, or if you have concerns. Otherwise, yes the dr will plot her based on her real age, and the dr will evaluate her developmentally based on her real age, not 12 months. So no need to worry!

And FWIW, I would (and have!) wait for the good dr.

If you are vaxxing on schedule, then it still doesn't mean that you absolutely have to go in at 12 months exactly, it only means that she will be "late" for that round of shots, which in theory could leave her susceptible to an illness. That's if you believe that the vaccine schedule is set up to protect the infants at their most vulnerable times. However, the schedule has "fudge factor" built into it, because how long each individual child holds immunity is highly variable and estimated in many cases.

[EdnaMarie]

Mine had hers at 13 months because I forgot about it. We do vaccinate but there is room for error in the schedule. The bigger issue is the subsequent vaccines, because you need to have at least six months between some of them, which means that now her 18-month visit will be later OR we'll go in for the WBV and then do the shots separately later.

It was totally worth it to me, though, to go to the doctor I like.

[tracymom1]

My DD will have her 12 month check up at 14 months because I am going to do it as the same time as DS's 3 year check up. Ped said this was fine - I think he is just happy I am bringing her in because we tend to "miss" a lot of the well baby visits

[seagull]

Depends on your insurance. We are currently fighting to have a well-visit covered that the insurance is denying because it was 30 days after my child's exact birthday.

[texmati]

oooh... I didn't think of insurance! I'd check with them JIC. I wouldn't have a problem with this unless you have any concerns.