What's normal at a checkup? (babies, toddlers, appropriate, smart)

[Eresh]

My 5 year old was checked at her 5 year well visit (just pulled her underwear down). At that age they are taking care of their own toileting needs, and the doc checks for signs that she isn't wiping correctly. She gave her the talk about proper wiping and that it was only okay for her to look because mommy was in the room. I took a look at the age by age checklist (for vaccines and other things) that was on display and those talks were on it.

[Siggy20]

Yep, both kids have been checked, even from an early age. It is just a quick peek under the underpants. For my son, the doc has touched his genitals to see if everything is okay with the testicles. It is quick though. I would rather them be thorough than to miss something.

[glass_of_merlot]

Yes, happens everytime I take my son to the PD. You were in the room so I am not sure what the big deal is. I would be more worried if you were asked to leave the room, if you understand what I mean.

This is one of the reasons why I would not ant to work with children.

[Sonata36]

I asked my wife this and she said she had her genitals checked out by the pediatrician all the way up to 18 years old.

[ADVentive]

At my daughter's 5 year check, the doc pulled her unders down very slightly and looked and that was it. I would say they have done it regularly, but not always, at her checkups. The doc does tell her that it's only okay because she is a doctor and because Mommy is also in the room and that nobody else should be looking or touching there.

[Marlow]

My daughter's pediatrician has never done this.

[mm_mary73]

Just curious - if this was a check-up, what were your expectations? Maybe the child's distress was because her daddy was in the room ! I would have asked, nicely, "Mr ___ , would you please step out for a minute", respecting the modesty of this 5 y/o. Why did everyone have to be in the room with mom and 5 y/o? No wonder she was freaked out....

[purehuman]

Originally Posted by Hedgehog_Mom

Do pediatricians usually check the genitals at a well-child checkup? My 5 year old daughter went to a checkup today and the doctor (one we hadn't seen before for a checkup) had my daughter pull her underpants down, then used a gloved hand to take a quick look, front and back.

The pediatrician we went to before our move never checked anything that required underpants coming off, at least not once the kids were out of diapers. My daughter is very modest (she cried when they told her she had to take off her undershirt) and I wasn't expecting anything like this, so I didn't think to prepare her for it.

Is this a standard thing for the doc to do?

NO WAY would I ever put my daughters through anything like that.I would absolutely NOT let that doctor do that again....I mean wow, she's only 5...that's a great way to make her hate doctors, and totally unnecessary. None of my children went for "well" visits as they were always well...they only saw a doctor to set broken bones or to get antibiotics...that's all.

[Kibbiekat]

After reading the posts mostly saying yes, the doctor checks that, I'd be more worried if my doctor DIDN'T check. What if something was wrong?

also wondering how (and why) one can skip well visits completely. that's when they do the vaccinations that are required for school.

[Zimbochick]

Hopefully Kat will jump in here regarding what her practice does, but most doctors do a cursory check as part of a well-check. As far as I remember they are looking for signs of poor hygiene, warts, thrush, incontinence, and in boys they add the testicular check. It's amazing what some parents do not know about their children's nether regions.