Questions For The Paediatrician, #4 Is A MUST!

Once you become parent, there must be a lot of questions in your mind regarding your children’s health, but when the time comes to meet the paediatrician, you tend to forget some of them. So, make sure you have a checklist of questions to ask the paediatrician when you bring your little one for his checkup.  

What can you expect from this article?

• A checklist of questions for the paediatrician and things to bring along
• Ways to ensure your child stays healthy including hygiene practices, nutrition, vaccination and more. 

The questions you ask the paediatrician should be relevant and beneficial to your little one’s health and development. Don’t forget, there are also some items that you should bring along to your paed’s clinic.  

Chill, we got you, mums and dads. Read along. 

Checklist of Questions for the Paediatrician for First-Time Parents

There are a few things to prepare and bring along before you head out to your paed’s clinic: 

• Your partner
• Your insurance card and hospital documents
• If your child has visited any other paediatrician before, make sure you bring along his medical history report and growth chart
• Baby items (change of clothes, diapers, wet tissues, etc.)

Now, off you go!

But what kind of questions should you ask your paediatrician? Let us share with you a list of useful questions for you to add into your own checklist!

Questions for the Paediatrician

This may be your first time bringing your little one for his checkup at the paediatrician’s clinic, and you might also have a lot of questions in your mind. But remember to only shoot the relevant ones. Avoid asking questions that are too common, that could be answered by just about anyone.

Here are some of the questions:

1. Questions about your child’s diet/breastfeeding/feeding¹ 

• Do I need to follow a schedule to feed my baby?
• How do I know if my child has eaten enough?
• What should I do if I don’t have enough milk supply?
• How to make sure my baby is latching correctly?
• How to reduce nipple sores from breastfeeding?

2. Questions regarding baby’s sleeping patterns²

• How many hours does my baby need to sleep in a day?
• Can I wake my baby up to eat?
• How do I make sure my child stays asleep?
• Can my baby sleep on their stomach?
• Can my baby sleep with blankets?

3. Questions about baby’s poo

• How many diaper changes should my baby go through in a day?
• How often should my baby be pooping in a day? 
• What is a normal poo colour and how do I know if my baby is constipated?
• Is it normal for babies to poo right after every meal?

4. Question about baby’s growth

• When will my child respond to sounds?
• When will my baby start lifting his own head?
• At what age should my child recognise faces and objects?
• When is the right age to place my baby on his tummy for tummy time?
• When can I start reading to my child and what are the best toys for a child at this stage?
• What can I do to help my baby's development?

5. Questions on how to comfort baby

• Is it better to comfort my baby or let him cry it out?
• How do I comfort my baby when he cries?
• Do doctors recommend using pacifiers?
• Do doctors recommend baby massages? What is the best way to do it?

6. Questions on baby’s health

• What should I do if my child has a blocked nose?
• How do I take my baby’s temperature?
• When is the best time to bring my baby out?
• What is the vaccination schedule for babies?

This may seem like a lot of questions, but you will be more assured when you know the details about the health and development of your little one.

Most importantly, in order to maintain your child's health throughout his or her growing years, parents are advised to practise good hygiene and seek advice on vaccinations from your doctor.

There are several types of vaccines that children need as they grow so that their bodies can produce adequate immunity.

Vaccination Is One Of The Ways to Keep Your Child Healthy. Pay Attention, Parents!

It is common knowledge that every individual’s immune system is unique, so it is every parent’s responsibility to protect their children from the very beginning.

Vaccines for babies are important because babies have weak immune systems³. By immunization according to a set schedule, this is one of the many ways to help protect your baby from deadly diseases such as⁴:

• Tuberculosis (TB) - Can cause serious infections such as pneumonia, meningitis and can continue to spread to other organs. 
• Diphtheria - Toxins released by bacteria may lead to blocked airways⁵.
• Pertussis (whooping cough) - Can cause whooping cough and lack of oxygen to the brain⁶.
• Tetanus - Bacterial poisoning that causes cramps in the muscles of the body and affects the ability to open the jaw (braces).
• Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) - This bacterium can cause infections of the lungs (pneumonia), respiratory tract and neuritis (meningitis).
• Hepatitis B - This virus can cause severe damage to the liver and increases the risk of the individual getting liver cancer in the future.
• Polio - This virus can cause paralysis and even death.
• Measles - This virus can cause infections of the brain (encephalitis) and lungs (pneumonia)⁷.
• Mumps - This virus can cause infections to the brain (encephalitis) and testicles (orchitis)⁸.
• Rubella - The rubella virus can spreads among humans, pregnant women, especially during the first three months of pregnancy and can cause miscarriage, fetal death, stillbirth or birth defects (congenital rubella syndrome)⁹.
• Pneumococcus - This bacteria can cause severe diseases like meningitis or milder infections like sinusitis or ear infections.
• Rotavirus - This virus can cause severe diarrhoea and dehydration.
• Human Papillomavirus - This virus can cause cervical cancer and genital warts.
• Varicella (Chickenpox) - This virus can cause a blister like rash and fever, which can also cause shingles later as adults if the virus reactivates¹⁰.
• Influenza  - This virus can cause epidemics of flu diseases or flu season¹¹.
• Meningococcal - This bacteria can cause deadly infections of the lining of the brain, spinal cord (meningitis) and bloodstream¹². 
• Hepatitis A - This virus can cause short term infection of the liver¹³.

Types of Vaccines for Children¹⁴

#1: Live attenuated vaccine

Live vaccines use a weakened (or attenuated) form of the germ that causes a disease.

#2: Inactivated vaccine (Killed vaccine)

Inactivated vaccines use the killed version of the germ that causes a disease.

#3: mRNA vaccine

mRNA vaccines make proteins in order to trigger an immune response. mRNA vaccines have several benefits compared to other types of vaccines, including shorter manufacturing times and, because they do not contain a live virus, low risk of causing disease in the person getting vaccinated. 

#3: Toxoid vaccine

Toxoid vaccines use a toxin (harmful product) made by the germ that causes a disease. They create immunity to the parts of the germ that cause a disease instead of the germ itself. That means the immune response is targeted to the toxin instead of the whole germ.

#4: Subunit, recombinant, polysaccharide, and conjugate vaccines

Vaccines are made from specific parts of a virus or bacterium by cloning the gene of a virus or bacteria, through a combination of DNA, a viral vector vaccine and an anti-idiotype vaccine.

#5: Viral vector vaccines

Viral vector vaccines use a modified version of a different virus as a vector to deliver protection.

Consult your doctors to learn more about the different types of vaccines.

Your paediatrician will bring you through the suggested immunisation schedule for babies beginning from your very first visit. There are a few immunisations that parents should consider for your child¹⁵:

• Rotavirus - One of the most important vaccines for your little one. Meningococcal - This vaccine is recommended to be taken by all ages.
• Influenza - This vaccine is highly recommended for children to be taken annually.

For your information, the National Immunisation Program has been carried out since 1950. It is aimed to help prevent 13 vaccine-preventable diseases caused by certain viruses and bacterias¹⁶. 

All vaccines used by the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) are registered with the Drug Control Authority (DCA)³.

Aside from asking your paediatrician the above questions, you can also discuss hygiene practices, nutrition and vaccination to help keep your child healthy.

Your paediatrician will  recommend the most suited vaccination schedule for your little one, okay mums?

Hope this helps!

MY-ROT-00220 Jul/2022

REFERENCES:

1. Association of Breastfeeding Mothers. Questions New Mother Ask. Available From: https://abm.me.uk/breastfeeding-information/questions-new-mothers-ask/. Last Accessed: 22 Jun 2022.
2. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Baby Sleep Questions, Answered. Available From: https://www.chop.edu/news/health-tip/baby-sleep-questions-answered. Last Accessed: 19 Jun 2022.
3. MyHealth. Immunisation: Facts and Myths. Available From https://www.myhealth.gov.my/imunisasi-fakta-dan-kemusykilan/. Last Accessed 02 Jun 2022.
4. UNICEF. Vaccines and the diseases they prevent. Available From: https://www.unicef.org/parenting/health/vaccines-and-diseases-they-prevent. Last Accessed 01 June 2022.
5. Mayo Clinic. Diphtheria. Available From: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diphtheria/symptoms-causes/syc-20351897. Last Accessed 10 June 2022.
6. National Health Services (NHS). Whooping cough. Available From: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/whooping-cough. Last Accessed 10 June 2022.
7. Mayo Clinic. Measles. Available From: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/measles/symptoms-causes/syc-20374857. Last accessed 09 June 2022.
8. National Health Services (NHS). Mumps - Complications. Available From: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mumps/complications/.  Last accessed 09 June 2022. 
9. World Health Organization (WHO). Rubella. Available From: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rubella. Last accessed 09 June 2022. 
10. MyHEALTH. Chickenpox. Available From: https://www.myhealth.gov.my/en/chickenpox/. Last Accessed 01 June 2022.
11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Types of Influenza Viruses. Available From: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/viruses/types.htm. Last Accessed 17 June 2022.
12. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Meningococcal Disease. Available From: https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/index.html. Last Accessed 17 June 2022.
13. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). What is Hepatitis A. Available From: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hav/afaq.htm#overview. Last Accessed 17 June 2022.
14. U.S Department of Health & Human Services. Vaccine Types. Available From: https://www.hhs.gov/immunization/basics/types/index.html. Last Accessed 12 May 2022.
15. Immunise4Life. 5 Additional Recommended Vaccines for Children. Available From:  https://immunise4life.my/5-additional-vaccines-for-children/. Last Accessed 13 Jun 2022.
16. Immunise4Life. The Malaysian National Immunisation Programme (NIP). Available From: https://immunise4life.my/the-malaysian-national-immunisation-programme-nip/.  Last Accessed 21 Jun 2022.