Children’s Health Specialist

The doctors at Boerne Family Medicine are truly honored to care for your children’s health from the day they’re born throughout their childhood, adolescence, and beyond. Parents can count on a team of experienced providers who know how to connect with children as we provide comprehensive well-child exams and sick visits. If you have any questions about your child’s health, call our office in Boerne, Texas, or make an appointment online.

Children’s Health Q & A

What should you expect during an annual well-child exam?

During the first two years of your child’s life, you schedule exams frequently so your doctor can be sure they’re gaining weight, growing correctly, and are healthy. During these visits, children may receive vaccinations and metabolic screenings as needed.

Beginning at the age of 3, children should receive an annual well-child exam. In addition to tracking height and weight, their doctor administers vaccinations and evaluates many childhood concerns, such as eating and sleeping habits, toilet training, nutritional status, hearing, and vision.

Your doctor at Boerne Family Medicine also evaluates your child’s emotional, social, and behavioral development. At every stage, their doctor assesses developmental milestones and uses those to determine whether your child is at risk for falling behind. If their doctor finds concerns, they can perform an in-depth developmental assessment.

What vaccinations are needed before your child enters school?

Children should receive the following immunizations before entering school:

  • Diphtheria
  • Rubella
  • Mumps
  • Tetanus
  • Hepatitis A and B
  • Varicella
  • Pertussis
  • Meningococcal
  • Poliomyelitis

That looks like a lot of vaccinations, but your child’s doctor gives them on a regular schedule throughout the first few years of life. If your child has come in for every scheduled well-child visit, they’ll be up-to-date with their immunizations in plenty of time for school.

What is a sports physical?

If your child wants to participate in sports or organized activities, it’s important to schedule a sports physical to protect your child’s health, even if one isn’t required.

Sports physicals, or pre-participation exams, are different from an annual well-child exam; they focus on whether your child is healthy enough to participate in physically demanding and competitive activities.

Sports physicals consider whether there’s an injury, illness, or medical condition preventing your child from participating in sports or that could become worse during athletic competition.

Your doctor at Boerne Family Medicine checks for past sprains, fractures, or concussions, then thoroughly evaluates bones, muscles, and joints for their strength and signs of inflammation or stress.

The team at Boerne Family Medicine looks forward to seeing children at each well-child visit. An essential part of a well-child exam is the doctor answering all of the parents’ questions, so call our office or book an appointment online for your child’s health care needs.