Child development
Beginning of life
Even before conception, the parents must prepare for bringing a healthy child into this world by following all medical recommendation in this respect, continuously assuring the best paediatric care before and after the child is born. Afterwards, the parents should consult a Paediatrician on a regular basis, until their child reaches the age of eighteen and becomes an adult patient.
The SOS professional medical team will provide all the care needed throughout the entire process, the Gynaecologist during the preconception and conception stage and the SOS Kids Paediatricians after birth.
Although the Paediatric services are considered to be addressed only to the newborn babies and preschoolers, they are also addressed to school children and teenagers. All of these age categories have specific development stages during which the child must be closely supervised.
After birth
The baby must be examined by the Paediatrician immediately after being discharged from the hospital, on the first day at home. The parents will then receive advice or any other information they might need in order to help them take care of their newborn. During the first year of life, the child must be examined on a monthly basis by the Paediatrician, at home or in the clinic. This is necessary in order to enable the assessment of the physical and psychological development, which must fit the normal parameters.
Age 1 to 2 years
Between one and two years, the number of necessary paediatric consultations for a healthy child decreases, examinations being recommended only once every three months. These consultations enable the Paediatrician to oversee the child`s normal development of vision, movement and speech.
During this period, the parents should also prepare for “the terrible twos”, a child developmental stage that usually begins at the age of two and lasts until the age of four and is characterised by toddlers being negative about most things, often saying “no”, having frequent mood changes and temper tantrums.
Although many parents do not expect the terrible twos to start until their toddler is two years old, it is important to note that it can begin anytime during the child’s second year and, unfortunately, sometimes even before. The Paediatrician will offer the parents advice on how to manage with this normal stage in the child’s development and will refer the child to a psychologist for the appropriate treatment.
Age 2 to 4 years
Healthy children between the ages of two and four should be examined by the Paediatrician once every three or even six months. This is a phase in which the child must also be prepared for admission into creche, a separate examination which will be needed every time they join an educational institution, in order to ensure, among others, that they are not carriers of germs and parasites.
Age 4 to 6 years
Between the ages of four and six, the children should be examined by the Paediatrician for admission into nursery. During this period, the Paediatrician also begins to notice the appearance of certain deficits which can be treated in early stages.
Age 6 to 14 years
From the age of six to fourteen, children must be further checked at the admission into school.
Age 14 to 18 years
After the age of fourteen until the final stage of development at eighteen, teenagers go through the puberty stage and they are likely to be exposed to sexual issues, addiction or any other issues like hormonal changes, acne, obesity, etc. Paediatricians can prepare them for this phase or, if it is necessary, treat common complications. Major cases will be referred to another specialist, according to the type of complication.
For each age category mentioned above, the mandatory immunisation schedule must be strictly followed, in order to ensure the protection of the child against major infectious diseases.
