One Year Checkup

Alisa cried more than ever during her visit to the pediatrician. She didn't cry when we laid her naked on the scale to weigh her, but she cried from then on. She cried when they were measuring her height. She cried when 2 nurses came into the room to ask questions, go over the immunizations and measure her head. One nurse was in training and she had trouble measuring the circumference of Alisa's head. She kept trying and Alisa kept crying and squirming to get away. She did not like having her head wrapped tight with that measuring tape. It was weird. Before the nurse had started, she said babies don't like that part of the checkup. I don't remember Alisa having a problem with it before so I just thought "huh" after she said that...that is until Alisa started crying and proved her right. Anyway, she said the measurement and the nurse watching her said she thought the tape had slipped at the end and that the measurement wasn't accurate. So she took the tape and measured Alisa's head. She did it quickly but Alisa was wailing and had tears streaming down her face.

Alisa was fussy after they left the room and it was time for her to eat so we gave her a bottle. She cried when the pediatrician came in the room awhile later to examine her. She really didn't want to be lying down on the table so Craig got to hold her for some of the checkup (ears, eyes, etc). The pediatrician said we should use up the rest of the formula we have and then put away all the bottles and give Alisa 16-20 oz of whole milk in a cup each day. She said it doesn't have to be a gradual switch from formula to milk and from bottle to cup (her kids did it cold turkey).

I asked if there was any food Alisa shouldn't eat at her age and she said peanut butter, nuts and shellfish. Peanut butter is a choking hazard until age 4 or 5 because if they choke on a large glob of it, you can't do the Heimlich manuever to get it out. Nuts and shellfish shouldn't be eaten until at least age 2 because she could have an allergic reaction to them. I had read to wait until your child is at least 1 year old for peanut butter and nuts because of a potential allergic reaction so I was surprised by her answer.

I also asked what size the Tylenol dose is for her now. She asked if I had the chart and I said no one had ever told me about a chart before. She gave me one so now I won't have to wonder or call them to ask if she's in the next category on the dosage scale.

Alisa was still hungry and fussy after the pediatrician left the room so we gave her some fruit puffs and goldfish crackers. She became upset again when another nurse came into the room to administer the immunization shots. She screamed very loudly while being held down and pricked 4 times (2 times in each thigh). Since Craig was with me, we didn't wait for Alisa to calm down before leaving the room. Craig rushed her outside (she loves being outside) and I packed up the diaper bag and paid our copay. It took me awhile to recover mentally and emotionally from that appointment, with her cries still ringing in my ears. I dread going back in 2 months for her next shots.

On a happier note, she is in the 50th-75th percentile for weight, height and head size. She is 21 lbs 13 oz and 29 1/2 inches long with a head circumference of 47 cm (I think). Everything checked out just fine.