The visit to the pediatrician's office

Your child will visit the doctor shortly after birth and then at regular intervals. The pediatrician monitors your child's development, carries out early detection examinations, administers vaccinations and is the contact person in the event of illness. The visits are not always relaxed, e.g. if children develop anxiety. Read here how you can counter these childhood fears and help your son or daughter.

It is not unusual for your child to develop a fear of the pediatrician. After all, a stranger comes quite close to the child during the examination. Babies and toddlers in particular often feel strange and then start to cry, not to mention the fact that vaccinations are due during regular check-ups and the little prick hurts. Sometimes this experience is forgotten by the next visit, but it is also possible that your child will react suspiciously and anxiously from the outset the next time. After all, he or she is not yet able to assess what to expect.

Sometimes the defiant phase is also a reason for protesting when visiting the doctor. Your child may then fight tooth and nail against an examination, but fears also develop in the event of illness. If your child has to endure unpleasant examinations and painful treatments, they will remember them for a long time to come.

Parents should also not underestimate their own tension. Your child can sense this! It has fine antennae for when the mother or father is tense and nervous. This tension can be transferred to the child.

First of all, choosing the right pediatric practice is an important decision. In addition to professional expertise, you and your child should feel understood and in good hands. A high level of trust gives everyone involved the greatest possible security.

You can download a checklist for choosing a pediatric practice from the Kindergesundheit-Info portal of the Federal Institute of Public Health (BIÖG). It contains helpful questions that can help you make a decision.

If your child does not calm down at all before or during the visit to the pediatrician, postpone the appointment to another day. If you force it, everything will probably be even worse the next time.

If you or your child have had an unpleasant experience with a pediatrician, it is sometimes better to change practices and start "afresh". You will see: Things will get better with time.