The U6 screening: Ready for the 1st birthday?
The U6 screening is the doctor's favourite screening. Because at 10 to 12 months, the children are still cute and baby-cute and not yet so big that they can blow up the whole examination with a violent tantrum (yes, there's all that ...). In other words, the U6 is usually a very pleasant experience. How does it work?
As always: weigh, measure, head circumference.
We also do an eye test with a device called Plusoptix to make sure that the eyes are good.
Then, of course, the parents have time for their questions.
We talk about dental care.
We talk about vitamin D prophylaxis.
The topic of nutrition is also very important, because children are allowed and expected to eat from the family table as normal from the age of one.
We also point out that they can now drink normal milk and no longer need infant formula - but it is also very important that they don't drink too much milk. So 200 to 300 millilitres in the second year of life is completely sufficient.
Then we take a look: How are speech and language comprehension doing? How do the children react when you speak to them, how do they respond to a "no"? Do they understand what you want them to do? Of course, they don't have to do it yet. Most children can form double syllables such as Ma-Ma, Pa-Pa, Des-Da.
Motor skills are very exciting: many parents think that a child has to be able to walk by the age of one. But it doesn't have to by any means. Free walking is not actually "mandatory" until 18 months.
At U6, it is important to me that the children can sit stably - and it is very nice when they can pull themselves up and then stand.
What also happens at U6 is immunisation. What exactly depends on where you are in the immunisation schedule.
That was, roughly summarised, the U6.
Further interesting tips
Nutrition
Nutrition and healthy eating in a family with children is a really complex and demanding topic. And yet you can get quite far with just two basic rules.
What makes family easier
Many people already know that Doc is a big fan of Nora Imlau. So it goes without saying that he was delighted with her new book "Was Familie leichter macht". It's also clear that he read it straight away.
Social media
Media education and media literacy is a topic that keeps us busy - and will continue to do so. Digital media is playing an increasingly important role in our children's everyday lives. It is therefore becoming increasingly important that we adults stay up-to-date and keep thinking about what we need to do to support our children.