Your health service
Your health service
Once your child reaches the toddler stage, you probably won’t see so much of your health visitor but you don’t have to struggle on your own – there is still professional help and advice when you need it. Your first stop to check your little one is up-to-date on her jabs could be to check tot’s immunisation timetable. There are two routine immunisation and health check-ups during the toddler years. You will be told if the doctor or health visitor thinks your child needs any more.
Visit www.immunisationscotland.org.uk for information about the vaccines available to your toddler.
My toddler’s ill – who should I contact?
What questions will the health visitor or doctor ask me about my toddler?
What check-up and vaccination questions might I want to ask the health visitor or doctor?
12 TO 13 MONTHS
- MMR (mumps, measles and rubella vaccination)
- weighing
- observe how they walk if they are already on their feet
- discuss how you can keep your child healthy
- answer concerns about your child’s development, health or well-being
- review your family’s individual circumstances and needs.
THREE TO FIVE YEARS
- MMR vaccination
- booster against diptheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis) and polio (DTaP/IPV)
- weighing
- discuss how you can keep your child healthy
- answer any concerns you may have about your child’s health
- review your family’s individual circumstances and particular needs.
My toddler’s ill – who should I contact?
Your health visitor is still at the end of a phone, even when your child gets older – they probably left their number when you first saw them or you can find it in your child’s red book, if you have one. The red book is a record of your child’s health checks and immunisations and your health visitor should be able to supply you with one.
- The best time to call your health visitor is first thing in the morning or towards the end of the working day. They will usually have an answering machine, so leave a message if they’re not in.
- Weekly baby clinics are often held in the GP surgery and are a good way of reaching your health visiting team. You can also contact them through local parent and child groups, nurseries and children’s centres.
- Your family doctor is there to help you if your child is ill or if they have a chronic condition such as eczema or asthma. You won’t always come away with a prescription. Your tot’s illness may get better on its own and overuse of antibiotics can lead to them being less effective.
What questions will the health visitor or doctor ask?
Don’t forget to take your child’s red book and be ready to answer the following questions:
- How long has your child been ill?
- What are the symptoms – rash, coughing, diarrhoea?
- If there is a rash, where is it and is it itchy?
- Has your child been in contact with anyone with a similar illness?
What questions might I want to ask the health visitor or doctor?
- Can I expect any side effects from this vaccination and if so what can I do to
- ease them?
- Is my child walking properly?
- Can you explain the weight chart? Is my child the expected weight for their height and age?
- Do you think my child is developing normally?
- Are there any local support groups, networks or contacts that would be useful for me?
- When do you next want to see my child?
- Plus any questions you may have about food and nutrition, safety, looking after their teeth or anything else you’re worried about.
