What do you all think of "well child checkups"?

[mr_dove]

I'm sure there are alot of single guys on this forum but I have a question for guys with kids. My wife and I have been taking our kids for their yearly "well child" checkups each year. As my kids get older I'm less and less convinced that they even need a checkup. We're trying to keep their immunizations up to date but I get irritated by the Dr. poking and prodding and asking questions. I guess as a homeschooler and a freedom nut it just feels invasive to me.

So, do you think these visits are necessary? How can I talk my wife into skipping them?

[generalmeow]

My son had immunizations 3 days ago and hasn't stopped throwing up since. Also had a onesey full of potato salad last night that smelled an awful lot like shit. Pisses me off.

[HBARleatherneck]

how can a well baby check up work? in my mind taking your child who is healthy to a place where sick people go, is not a good idea.

i dont know how to talk you wife into it. my wife is against them too.

[sniper7]

Hard to say since they can also catch a lot of bad things that can only be caught at the doctor. I don't go to the doctor for anything other than my required yearly medical to keep my job.

[Circuits]

If you're not getting a regular physical, you probably should be. Same goes for your kids.

Best case scenario, is nothing happens, but any actual problems which get detected early more than justify the relatively low cost of scheduled, preventive medicine.

[waxthis]

If you're not getting a regular physical, you probably should be. Same goes for your kids.

Best case scenario, is nothing happens, but any actual problems which get detected early more than justify the relatively low cost of scheduled, preventive medicine.

^^^ This^^^^^^^^^ However, when it comes to the immunizations for the kids, beware, do your homework. The HPV vaccination for girls is one I have an issue with, there are plenty others that I feel are questionable, un-proven or downright unnecessary. Starting to feel big-bro is using us as guinea pigs for testing. Hell, I'm sure of it.

[Aloha_Shooter]

In theory, it's a good thing. The best time to treat any condition is early on before it becomes severe. My main objections are when a good idea becomes mandatory and when the government gets involved.

[brianakell]

Immunizations are an interesting one. Worth doing some of your own research into them, and what the folks against them have for data, and why not to get immunized. Im on the fence with the stuff.

Not on the fence with the questionaire asking all kinds of questions, think it was American Pediatrics or something. Tore that up in front of the doc.

Oh and shots cant give fevers over 100, love that one. Every single time kid hits 103-104 for 2-3 days. Every single person with kids Ive asked has had the same results. But it cant be from the shot, just coincidence doc says.

[Katastrophic]

We are pro well checks just because if there is anything wrong with my kids' development it's good to catch it before there are bigger issues. I like knowing that we have a relationship with our kids' doctor as well. When our son needed stitches, she already knew that he won't agree to treatment unless he knows what that treatment is.

Vaccines are controversial, yes, but I think they've helped more than harm. Polio is just one example of that. As long as the pediatrician knows where you stand on them, they can help guide you. I know I really hesitate on shots that aren't required.

I know that our pediatrician's office is organized so that the sick kids are segregated from well kids. I think more places should do that. Well checks should also be scheduled when its not flu season. We have yet to get sick from the doctor's office.

[Katastrophic]

Okay, I know I sound very trusting, but we did lots of research into our doc and I do trust her. I don't trust my hippie aunt who is convinced that her daughter got autism from the bad scary doctor and his evil shots. I think it was hers and my uncles drug habits.

[Snowman78]

If you're not getting a regular physical, you probably should be. Same goes for your kids.

Best case scenario, is nothing happens, but any actual problems which get detected early more than justify the relatively low cost of scheduled, preventive medicine.

I have 3 kids (ages 3, 10, & 13 ) and we have taken all of them in yearly. They all go to the same doc and we like her a lot. They all also had all immunizations and did very well with them. None of them got sick or had any side effects. I am not sure it is needed but if something came up and I had not taken them for a yearly I would feel very bad.

The 13 year old is a girl and the HPV vaccination is something we will need to look into more. For the record I trust there doc

[MarkCO]

^^^ This^^^^^^^^^ However, when it comes to the immunizations for the kids, beware, do your homework. The HPV vaccination for girls is one I have an issue with, there are plenty others that I feel are questionable, un-proven or downright unnecessary. Starting to feel big-bro is using us a guinea pigs for testing. Hell, I'm sure of it.

Not just for girls anymore...they give them to boys too. They try to slide them in there in a package.

We take our kids, but the Doctors are hawked.

[MarkCO]

Okay, I know I sound very trusting, but we did lots of research into our doc and I do trust her. I don't trust my hippie aunt who is convinced that her daughter got autism from the bad scary doctor and his evil shots. I think it was hers and my uncles drug habits.

Unless you know here in depth, your trust is likely misplaced. Autism has been linked to several drugs, not just illicit ones.

[obisean68]

Just my 0.02 but as a Nurse Practitioner in training and as someone who values his own health, well child checks are just like changing the oil in your car, yearly tuneups, etc. Think of it as preventive maintenance. It is a way to catch things early and keep them from becoming a bigger problem in the future. But, as with anything, you have to trust that your healthcare provider has your best interest at heart and works in partnership with you.

[CO Hugh]

I think it is good to take the kids until they are older. As always be skeptical and their primary customers are neurtoic mothers who watch oprah and are scared all the time.

[cofi]

how can a well baby check up work? in my mind taking your child who is healthy to a place where sick people go, is not a good idea.

i dont know how to talk you wife into it. my wife is against them too.


100% agree! every time we have taken our daughter to the doctors the whole family is sick for a month [Rant1]

[centrarchidae]

I'm sure there are alot of single guys on this forum but I have a question for guys with kids. My wife and I have been taking our kids for their yearly "well child" checkups each year. As my kids get older I'm less and less convinced that they even need a checkup. We're trying to keep their immunizations up to date but I get irritated by the Dr. poking and prodding and asking questions. I guess as a homeschooler and a freedom nut it just feels invasive to me.

So, do you think these visits are necessary? How can I talk my wife into skipping them?

I'm going to keep taking my kids to their doc until Obamacare makes their healthcare free and thus unaffordable. There are just too many things that I (with a biology degree and an EMT certificate) would not catch or even know to look for, that a pediatrician could.

You can always tell a doctor that the answer to a question is none of her business, or ask her to explain what medical relevance it has. The way to tell if the doctor is any good is if she gives a straight answer when you ask something like that.

As for vaccines, the supposed link between preservatives and autism was based mostly on a study from Britain which turned out to be fraudulent. Well, that and a bunch of stupid shit from Jenny McCarthy.

[KestrelBike]

I say let nature kick your body's ass into shape. Then again, I almost died in Russia from a kidney infection and could possible have died until I let them treat me, soooo....

[Watermagnet]

Unless you know here in depth, your trust is likely misplaced. Autism has been linked to several drugs, not just illicit ones.


To say that his trust is likely misplaced is almost as generic and unreliable as "Autism has been linked to several drugs"...For every study that shows it has been linked there are 100 to say/prove that it hasn't...As a previous poster stated, the Polio vaccination received the same welcome, how did that work out? How many people do you know with Small Pox? With that being said, I do NOT agree with the whole mandatory vaccination program as it should be left to each parent to decide their child's well care. Informal question, how many of your kids have had mumps or measles in the last decade??? To each their own...

[motohooligan]

My son's 1 year checkup lasted all of 5 minutes... Doc came in, looked in ears/throat, listened w/ stethoscope, and said "Do you have any concerns?" Just got the letter to schedule the 18 month check.

[Kraven251]

The wife and I have recently had the vaccination discussion as we are really close to having our first. There are a handful of vaccines I don't really want him to get, but on the must have list is the polio vaccine. That disease is back on the rise, because people became complacent about it. It was never "eradicated," we were all just immunized.

The 3 I am not so sure I care about: measles, chicken pox, and HPV.

[Byte Stryke]

nothing wrong with popping the hood and checking things out every now and then. I think its a good idea for kids as long as the Doc doesn't go all Gestapo with the questions

[HBARleatherneck]

no, diseases are on the rise because our borders are wide open and the illegals dont get quarantined like they used to at Ellis island. They dont get their medical records checked. They just bring us disease, criminal behavior and every other vile thing. having the third world invader flood our country is the problem.


The wife and I have recently had the vaccination discussion as we are really close to having our first. There are a handful of vaccines I don't really want him to get, but on the must have list is the polio vaccine. That disease is back on the rise, because people became complacent about it. It was never "eradicated," we were all just immunized.

The 3 I am not so sure I care about: measles, chicken pox, and HPV.

[Kraven251]

no, diseases are on the rise because our borders are wide open and the illegals dont get quarantined like they used to at Ellis island. They dont get their medical records checked. They just bring us disease, criminal behavior and every other vile thing. having the third world invader flood our country is the problem.

That too.

[brushbelle52]

Yeah, ounce of prevention and all that.