Prepare or not, you lot're now the proud mama of a (gulp!) 3-year-old! You already know your kid is increasingly independent and clear and, depending on when his altogether falls, likely to be strapping on a (fiddling) backpack soon and heading off to preschool. There'll be plenty of fun and learning on tap along with a off-white amount of scrapes, bruises and sniffles for you lot (and peradventure the md) to deal with. With all that to expect frontwards to, here's a quick guide of what to expect during the doctor visit for your child'due south 3-year checkup:

What your child'due south medico is looking for at the 3-year checkup

Ane of the well-nigh important measures of your little one's health is his physical growth. The doc (or nurse) volition measure out and counterbalance him to make certain he's growing at a healthy and steady rate, check that his height and weight are proportionate and run into how his measurements stack up against other 3-yr-olds (to determine all that, the pediatrician volition use a pediatric growth chart). Here's another measurement milestone: This is the last doctor visit at which your child's caput circumference will be measured.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) growth charts, most three-yr-olds fall betwixt these 2 numbers (but don't worry, all kids grow at different speeds):

Weight:
Girls: 25.25 to 38 pounds
Boys: 26.5 to 38.v pounds

Pinnacle:
Girls: 34.75 to 39.75 inches
Boys: 35.75 to xl.25 inches

Caput Circumference:
Girls: xviii.25 to 20 inches
Boys: xviii.5 to twenty.five inches

Your pediatrician will calculate your child's BMI, or trunk mass index (a mensurate of body fat). BMI is based on tiptop, weight, age and gender; a child of any historic period whose BMI is betwixt the 85th to 94th percentile is considered overweight; a child whose BMI is in the 95th percentile or above is considered obese. If your doctor doesn't mensurate your preschooler'south BMI, ask for information technology.

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What your child's doctor will practise at the 3-year checkup

Unless your preschooler missed some immunizations at a previous well-child dr. visit (mayhap he had a slight fever that day), he shouldn't need to be stuck at his three-yr checkup. But if information technology happens to have place in October or November, he should get a flu shot (or opt for the flu nasal mist).

Your doctor may also bank check your kid's claret pressure; order blood work to examination for lead, anemia and loftier cholesterol; and practise an eye exam.

What your child's dr. wants to know at the 3-year checkup

To make sure that your shortly-to-be preschooler is physically salubrious, the pediatrician may ask:

  • How much and how oftentimes does your child eat? Is he eating a diverseness of foods?
  • How is potty preparation going? If your 3-twelvemonth-quondam hasn't shown whatever signs of being ready to toilet train, be sure to let the medico know.
  • Does your child have regular bathroom habits? Whatever signs that he'due south constipated or "property it"?
  • Is your child still taking an afternoon nap? (Near still need one.)
  • Is he left- or right-handed? (By age 3, near have a dominant manus — if not, your dr. may cheque for coordination problems.)

The medico volition also desire to evaluate your preschooler'southward behavioral development by asking questions near certain milestones. Children achieve these at different rates, and there'due south a wide range of "normal" — but the pediatrician will probably desire to know if your 3-yr-old can:

  • Form sentences with three or more words.
  • Ride a trike.
  • Walk up stairs with alternating anxiety.
  • Copy a circumvolve.
  • Dress and undress (with a petty assistance).
  • Brush his teeth, wash his hands, brush his hair.
  • Play make-believe.
  • Evidence an interest in other kids, take turns and share (at least some of the time).

What to ask your child'due south doctor at the 3-year checkup

Starting preschool a large deal — for you and your child. So think of this every bit an opportunity to inquire the pediatrician for tips that'll brand the transition go every bit smoothly as possible, especially if you lot think your picayune i volition have trouble separating from y'all. Also, preschool is a hotbed for germs, and then discuss ways to keep your child equally salubrious as possible. And remember, your pediatrician is at that place to answer whatsoever questions y'all might have, no affair how dizzy you remember they are. Only enquire.