About two weeks ago I got a phone call from the public health nurse in the primary care centre. Matthew was due his developmental checkup.The public health nurses in Ireland are generally always behind with this kind of stuff. The checkup is normally between the age of 3 1/4 years and 3 1/2 years. Slight off at 4 years and one month. Even better for us though because it means he might have developed things that he didn’t develop at the time he was 3 1/2. He didn’t go to his 18 to 24 months checkup until he was 2 1/2 years.
A week later we received the letter in the post to confirm the appointment. Today was the day. I really wanted to bring him. It was scheduled for 2pm but unfortunately I couldn’t go so daddy brought him. Due to so many people off in work, I couldn’t take the afternoon off. There was not much point putting him in creche again for just two hours. I have learnt from the past also, once he has been collected from creche, there is no way he is going back in without any tears. To keep him sweet, just take the afternoon off.
You may remember that Matthew has been to speech therapy when he was three years old. He was discharged when he was three and a half. His speech really improved since but I was convinced there would be at least one thing the public health nurse wouldn’t be happy about it. How wrong was I…
They showed him different sheets and had to explain what he sees. He also had to tell the woman the colours. He may have got some wrong but that’s okay. Overall he did really well in the speaking exam. He was told that he had the speech of a five year old which was nice to hear. I didn’t expect that to be honest.
The second thing on the list was the weight and height. That didn’t go too well. He can be weird like that with strangers and especially in places that look like a doctor office. He hates doctors since he was in hospital at the age of two and a bit. Luckily though I only weighed him a few days ago and I also measured him as he has one hanging up in his room.
Funny enough I weighed him again this evening and he is heavier again. He now actually weighs 17.6kg. It’s great because only three weeks ago he only weighed 15.9kg. It’s mainly because when we were away in Spain, he barely ate. I blame the heat for that. But he surely picked up on the weight again.
He is up to date with his immunisations. The last one he got was in baby days. He doesn’t get another vaccine until he goes to school which will be next year. This will be the booster shot. I am dreading it slightly!
PHN asked if he was toilet trained. I am actually glad we accomplished that about a month and a half ago.
His next check up will be between four and five years of age. Before that happens, I think it will be Chloe’s turn between the age of 18 and 24 months.
sounds like everything is great! It is nice to go along to these check ups and for everything to be positive.
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That’s true. But they all get there.
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That is true and generally for these kind of things they never perform well. Doesn’t work with the press of a button.
Glad to hear he’s doing well. I found that a lot of these checks depend on how they “perform” on the day!
That’s great that his speech has come along so well. I think sometimes these checks can reassure us but also stress us too.
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I know what you mean. Generally it goes in one ear and out the other to be honest. I know my own children best. Xx
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Oh I know. I had to listen to that. Eliminate the soother. That was in February when he was discharged. Did I listen? No way. We got rid of it last night. No biggie in my opinion. Xx
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Oh I’m dreading that
Little J just had his pre school boosters and I was a wreck. He was fine but I cried lol
Lovely little update. Great news about his speech. We’ve an appointment I’m a couple of months time with a speech therapist. Just need to get the soother off him.
I always dread this kind of thing as I feel so judged, even if the kids are doing fine – if that makes any sense at all?! Glad to hear Matthew is doing well x
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I know but sometimes these kind of nurses can take a bit too extreme as well especially with small babies. xx
Matthew sounds like he is doing great! I find it so reassuring to do these updates. Xx