So, your child’s teeth just started to come in. We know that this can be an exciting milestone for parents. Of course, this also means considering your child’s oral health. Just as you brush and floss your teeth every day, you will now need to begin brushing your child’s teeth. While the techniques and practices will be a bit different and probably less time-consuming (seeing as your child probably only has one or two teeth at the moment), here are some tips for how to brush your child’s teeth properly,

• Even before your child’s teeth start to erupt it’s important to keep their gums healthy and clean by wiping them with a soft, damp cloth after each feeding and right before bedtime. Your child will get their first tooth between 6-14 months.
• Yes, even children’s teeth can develop decay. As soon as the tooth is formed it can develop decay, so it’s important that you start brushing it as soon as you see it.
• Purchase a child-sized toothbrush from your local drugstore and wet the soft-bristled toothbrush with water to brush your child’s tooth or teeth (at this point you don’t need toothpaste).
• Your child won’t start needing toothpaste until they are 2 years old. From 2-3 years old your child only needs toothpaste the size of a grain of rice in order to clean their teeth. After 3 years old, you can upgrade to a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
• Just as you do for your own teeth, you should also brush your child’s teeth twice a day (once in the morning and again at night right before going to bed).
• Use soft, circular motions when brushing the teeth and the gums. Again, just as you do your own teeth, you should brush for a minimum of two minutes. Don’t forget to brush their tongue and roof of their mouth, too.
• We know that your child may not fully understand the brushing process, so it’s a good idea to tell them what you are doing and the importance of brushing their teeth. Even though they can’t brush their own teeth yet it’s still great to show them how to brush so that when it’s time to start brushing their own teeth they understand how to do it.
• Most children can start brushing their teeth around 7-8 years old, but still need to be supervised by an adult until around 10-11 years old.

Have questions about caring for your baby’s developing smile? Keeping your child’s smile healthy is so important for their development and practicing good oral hygiene at home will ensure that your child’s smile stays healthy.

Naturally, children require more wellness visits when they’re younger since childhood is marked by a period of rapid changes and growth. Each wellness checkup entails a thorough physical examination performed by your pediatrician here at Southwest Children’s Clinic in West Jordan, UT.

During the exam, your West Jordan UT pediatrician assesses your child's development and growth to identify and/or prevent any issues. Vision, hearing, and other screening exams are part of these checkups.

What to Expect During a Child Wellness Checkup

Even for healthy children, wellness checkups are an excellent time to pay ample attention to their wellness. During these checkups, you can speak freely with your West Jordan Ut pediatrician about ways to prevent issues and improve care to keep your children healthy.

You can discuss things like your children’s sleep patterns, behavior, safety, eating habits, any illnesses, and what you can expect as your kids grow. Make sure to write down specific concerns and questions so that you won’t forget to bring them up during your discussion with your pediatrician. You’ll also discuss wellness topics including school, your children’s emotional health, and family relationships.

Your West Jordan UT pediatrician will likewise pay attention to your children’s development compared to standard developmental milestones. Your children’s head circumference, weight, and height are recorded for future comparisons. You’ll also learn about your child's BMI or body mass index curve, which is a crucial tool for preventing and identifying childhood obesity.

The Well-Child Checkup Schedule

Once your child is born, the succeeding visit will be about two to three days or a week after you’ve brought your baby home. Following this visit, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that wellness checkups occur:

• Every two to three months following birth until two years
• Every six months after age two
• Annually from age three until 21 years old

Your West Jordan UT pediatrician might have you skip or add extra visits depending on the health of your child. Take note though that you should consult with your pediatrician any time your child appears ill or presents concerning symptoms.

Also, you should consider visiting a pediatrician even before your child is born if:

• You have a high-risk pregnancy
• You’re a first-time parent
• You have any issues or questions about general child health problems, feeding, newborn care, and circumcision among others.

For More Details on Children Wellness Checkups, Reach Out to Us

Book a consultation with your pediatrician here at Southwest Children's Clinic in West Jordan, UT, by dialing (801) 563-1975.

Parents want nothing more than their children to be healthy and happy. This applies to every element of their well-being, including their eyes! Your pediatrician recommends that all children receive a comprehensive eye exam by the age of one. These tests detect any problems that require correction. Prolonging an exam can damage your child’s eyes for life. 

• At birth: this is performed right away on your child, as part of the newborn physical assessment.
• 6 months: your pediatrician evaluates your child’s eyes at their regular appointment. 
• 3.5 years old: at your child’s appointment, the pediatrician tests their eyes and also their visual acuity. 
• 5 years old: a standard assessment performed at a pediatric appointment. 

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that affects how a person views and interacts with the world around them, including other people. In most cases, differences become apparent by the time your child reaches 24 months. Mainly, parents notice behavioral differences and language delays. If you suspect that your child has ASD, schedule an appointment with your local pediatric office. We work with you to figure out what to do next.

• Your child doesn’t keep or make eye contact
• They don’t respond to your facial expressions or smiles
• Does not reciprocate facial expressions or have the appropriate ones
• Doesn’t respond to parent’s pointing 
• Has problems making friends
• Shows a lack of concern for others

• Your child hasn’t spoken by 16 months
• Repeats or parrots what others say
• Doesn’t feel the need or want to communicate 
• Starts missing language and social milestones after 15 months
• Doesn’t pretend play but does have a good memory for numbers, songs, and letters

• Has an affinity for routines and schedules and does not like altering them
• Likes to twirl their fingers, sway, rock, or spin
• Has strange activities that they enjoy doing repeatedly
• They are sensitive to sounds, lights, touch, textures, and smells
• They are more interested in the parts of a toy instead of the whole thing

If your child is planning on participating in a school-sponsored athletic activity next year, they'll need a current sports physical on file. You may wonder why, as your child is healthy and not likely to be injured. You may also be wondering how these examinations differ from a regular physical at Southwest Children's Clinic in West Jordan, UT. Here, we discuss the basic schedule of a sports physical and why they're so important.

What happens during a physical?

Your West Jordan pediatrician usually starts the appointment by reviewing your child's medical history, as well as any significant medical issues within your family that may indicate a pattern for chronic conditions. This process also includes going over any medications that your child takes regularly, both prescription and over-the-counter.

The physical examination itself involves documenting height and weight, blood pressure, pulse, and breathing. Your West Jordan pediatrician does this to make sure that your child's heart and lungs are operating properly and not displaying any abnormalities. Sports physicals also ensure that your child is an appropriate height and weight for their age group and that their reflexes, movement, and flexibility are suitable for the sport they're planning on playing. Any necessary vaccines or screenings will be discussed as well.

How does a physical help during a sports season?

Ultimately, a sports physical from your West Jordan pediatrician helps to maximize your child's experience as an athlete. These examinations pinpoint issues that may require some accommodations or treatment plans; examples include eating disorders, previous injuries, or obesity concerns. Although rare, a routine sports physical could also reveal life-threatening issues such as a heart condition. As kids grow rapidly, yearly physicals must be conducted in order to detect any changes.

Staying current with your child's pediatrician is much easier when you're visiting the office once a year for sports physicals. Contact Southwest Children's Clinic in West Jordan, UT, at (801) 563-1975 to make an appointment with one of our caring and skilled providers today!