Baby health: compulsory medical examinations

Since March 1, 2019, a new schedule of 20 mandatory medical examinations for children has come into effect. Fixed by decree dated February 26, 2019, it includes some changes. Preventive follow-up, which until then involved carrying out 20 examinations until the age of 6, is now divided into 14 exams in the child’s first three years, three exams between grades 4-6, and three more in grades 7-18.

 Here is their detailed breakdown: 

• -Within the eight days which follow the birth;
• -During the second week;
• -Before the end of the first month;
• -Every month from the second to the sixth month (inclusive);
• -During the ninth month;
• -During the twelfth month;
• -During the thirteenth month;
• -Between sixteen and eighteen months;
• -During the twenty-fourth month or the twenty-fifth month;
• -During the third year;
• -During the fourth year;
• -During the fifth year;
• -During the sixth year;
• -Between 8 and 9 years old;
• -Between 11 and 13 years old;
• -Between 15 and 16 years old.

What are the compulsory medical examinations for babies?

During the first six years, our child will experience significant growth, but at this age, it is also more fragile. To ensure your health, it is important to ensure regular medical follow-up. ”  During these key meetings, it is better to choose a pediatrician or in any case a professional who is used to following the youngest, advises Dr Brigitte Virey. Because depending on age, there are specific screenings to be carried out.  »

The doctor does not only focus on the medical side, he also ensures good psychomotor development, language skills … And as these visits last about thirty minutes, we take the opportunity to ask all the questions that concern us regarding his food, sleep, hygiene … Good to know: they are 100% reimbursed by Health Insurance.

0-6 months, close monitoring

From birth, our baby is examined under a magnifying glass by the maternity pediatrician to assess his state of health (breathing, heart rate, etc.), to identify any malformations or abnormalities (dislocation of the hip, congenital torticollis, jaundice. …). Then, another even more extensive medical appointment is scheduled before returning home. This is the famous “8th day examination” during which the pediatrician performs a complete check-up (neurological examination, verification of vision and hearing, etc.). A blood test (the Guthrie test) may also be done to check for five diseases, including cystic fibrosis and hypothyroidism.

But, in practice, due to increasingly early exits, this so-called 8th day examination is in fact carried out around the 2nd or 3rd day. “ It’s a little too early, notes Dr Brigitte Virey, because some heart defects are not yet detectable. Likewise, infections may appear later and jaundice may worsen in the days that follow.. » To avoid missing out on certain pathologies, the Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS) therefore recommends that children who left the maternity hospital early undergo a medical examination between the 6th and 10th day after their birth. An examination during the 2nd week of the infant’s life is also mandatory.

Then, during her first six months, baby must have a monthly medical examination. Each time, it will take place according to the same ritual. The doctor weighs it and measures it to plot its growth curve. It also controls its muscle tone, motor and sensory development, vision, and hearing. He does the vaccines. Moreover, so that our child does not have too much pain during the injection, we can give him the breast, bottle or pacifier. Many studies show that sucking in toddlers or distraction in older children helps reduce the sensation of pain. Anesthetic patches, to be applied in advance, can also be used on the advice of the doctor.

6-12 months, follow-up every three months

For this age group, three visits are compulsory – at 6, 9 and 12 months –, and they take place in the same way as the previous ones: weight gain and height, control of psychomotor capacities… But there are nevertheless some peculiarities according to age. The 9th month visit is important because the doctor fills out a health certificate to give to the PMI services (this certificate is in the health record that was given to us at the maternity ward). This is a logbook in which all information relating to the health of our child is kept (height, vaccines, particular diseases, etc.). A precious tool that allows a health professional, who has never seen our child before, to quickly know his medical history. Better then take your health card every time whether you go on vacation, or if you give it to your grandparents for a few days.

During this 9th month appointment, the doctor pays more attention to hearing and visual screening. Using simple tests and materials like “Sensory baby-test”, For example, he observes the reactions of the child to listening to low-pitched and high-pitched sounds. In case of suspicion of hearing problems, he will refer us to a specialist. It is also one of the advantages of this regular follow-up: detecting disorders as early as possible in order to better treat them. As for the 12-month visit, it is more focused on language skills (the child begins to interact through speech by pronouncing a few words such as “mum” or “dad”) and motor skills, because he is in the process of acquiring language. walking, you have to make sure in particular that it does not limp.

1 year-2 years, visits that are spaced out

After his first birthday, we space out the inspection visits a bit. Three medical appointments are set at 13 months, then between 16 and 18 months, and finally around 24 or 25 months. There is always a clinical examination (weight, height, etc.), questions of sleep, food, etc. are addressed. It is also an opportunity to perform the various injections of vaccines at the ages recommended by the vaccination schedule. The pediatrician also ensures good psychomotor development. At 16 months, for example, the step must be well installed. At 20 months, he must be able to climb the stairs … Likewise, language is the center of attention during these medical visits. Then, during the appointment of his 24 months, the doctor again fills out a health certificate which must be submitted to the maternal and child protection (PMI), as during the visit of the 9 months. In addition, he performs extensive auditory and visual screening. And he insists on setting up brushing twice a day. He also ensures his psychomotor development (does he know how to name pictures? Does he associate two words? Etc.). 

After 2 years, an annual meeting

During this period, the control visits must be carried out once a year: during the 3rd year, then in the 4th, 5th and 6th year. You always do a physical examination, and then you have to target certain points based on age. First of all, the 3-year-olds visit often just before entering kindergarten. It is ideal for taking stock of the child’s socialization capacities, appreciating his autonomy (is he clean? Does he know how to dress himself? Etc.), his language, his sight and his hearing. The doctor tests his fine motor skills by having him unscrew and screw a cap, draw a closed circle, build a tower of 8 cubes, a bridge of 3 cubes, as well as his gross motor skills (Can he ride a tricycle? there on one foot?). Finally, it calculates the body mass index (BMI) to detect any excess weight, underweight or stunted, and he draws the curve on the health record. A calculation that should be redone at least once a year. Another important assessment: that of 4 years. It focuses on hearing screening and a language test (ERTL4), which makes it possible to take stock of linguistic capacities (pronunciation, vocabulary, memorization). Finally, the last essential visit: the one made just before entering CP, generally around 5 and a half years old. The pediatrician performs another language test (ERTL6) to assess the child’s ability to acquire reading, mathematics, his ability to digitize, his graphics, etc. 

In principle, these visits can be carried out within the nursery school by the school doctor, or also by the services of the PMI (maternal and child protection).

Note that three other compulsory medical examinations are now fixed between the child’s 7th and 18th birthday, distributed as follows: between 8 and 9 years old, between 11 and 13 years old, then between 15 and 16 years old.

Baby’s health monitoring: so that the visits go well

We explain to our child that he is going to be weighed and measured, that he is going to have a vaccine, that the doctor will use different devices to control his sight, his hearing… To get him in the mood, we reads a book about his favorite hero who just goes to the doctor. And we avoid sentences like: “ Do not be afraid ” or “ It does not hurt », Because that gives him something to worry about!

To reassure him, bring his blanket and his favorite toy, or a book to occupy him and change his mind. We give him food beforehand and change it if necessary. He will feel better and have less reason to be grumpy.