[Balto1]

Ran into an acquaintance and I mentioned DS was having his six month shots tomorrow. She wished me good luck and said her babies would always scream as soon as they got into the waiting room as they recognised the place. I said I hoped DS would not recognise the waiting room as the needles place as he had only been there twice before- both times for his shots.

She was a bit horrified and said she always took her babies to the doctor for check-ups between rounds of shots, just to make sure they were developing ok. She said she usually took them twice between each round of shots.

Now, I would of course take DS immediately if he was sick or if I had an issue to ask about but this hasn't happened. I regularly weigh him myself at my communityy health centre and he has always steadily put on weight.

Is my attitude normal or am I too blase?

[Jemstar]

You're fine, your acquaintance is weird, but maybe she just needed that reassurance. I'm not sure why she wouldn't attend a Child Health Centre though rather than a Doctor to get that reassurance.

[3_for_me]

Nope she sounds pretty full on to me. If your baby is developing normally and you have no concerns then a check up at the shots and none between is very reasonable. At her rate the baby would be at the doctors about once a month which is pretty paranoid if you ask me unless there is a specific concern.

[spersephone]

My girls are older, but I've only ever taken them to the doctor when it seems necessary. Otherwise, they've had their immunisations at the local senior citizen's centre, where the local health centre sets up each month. And they have their standard check ups at the health centre.

So they've only ever been to the doctor when there has been a pressing medical matter to attend to.

[Mrs Manager]

That's sounds a bit weird to me.... I have never taken my children to the doctor unless they are sick or for there shots

[Carmen02]

that is a bit unusual of your friend. Child health nurse seems like the better place to go rather then a place full of sick people. Unfortunely my 17mth old has seen the doctors to often due to his older siblings and himself.

[Bluenomi]

I took DD to the standard check ups are 6 weeks, 6 months and 1 but that was it. And that wasn't to the doctor, that was with the MACH nurse. She was well over 1 before I took her to the doctor for anything

[duckasorus]

I check dds weight and developmental milestones myself, only when shes sick or needing needles does she go (i have a cert 3 in childrens services and the beginnings of diploma if that matters)

[Balto1]

Thanks pps. That reassures me. I didn't know what was normal here and am glad to see that what I am doing seems to be usual for a well baby.

[Princess.cranky....]

No it's not necessary. I think what your friend is doing is a little extreme. Why would you want to take a well baby to a DR all the time and sit in a waiting room full of sick people? And she is taking up appointment times that could be used for people who really need them.

I have 3 kids. When they are really little I get the checks done in the baby health book but even the health checks in the book are not as frequent as what your friend is doing. After 12 months my kids only see a DR when they are sick.

They don't do check ups at the council immunisation clinic. DD3 got her 18 month needle last week at the clinic. She is doing well and there is no need to see a DR.