And then she asked me if I had never actually bothered to read the booklet. (See why I stopped going to her?!? But I digress.) But I suppose she did have a point because right there on the cover, there was a list of time frames when these check-ups are supposed to take place, complete with a handy area for me to personalize those time frames for my kid.
Since then, I have seen that other pediatricians print out a label listing your personal dates for scatter-brained moms like me. Alas, in 2006, we were still in the dark ages.
You will receive the booklet at the hospital when your baby is born, or from your pediatrician if you moved here with a child.
So these check-ups are a big deal. Such a big deal, in fact, that if you don't have them performed on your child within the time span, you will get an official warning to do so (apparently there is confirmation sent by your pediatrician after you have them done). If you don't respond to that warning by having the screenings done, the Jugendamt (Child Services) may even contact you. And I'm sure that is something you don't want to go through.
Don't panic unnecessarily though, as there is a certain "tolerance" period if you are a bit late having the screen done.
Some helpful advice:
Keep your "U-Heft" handy. This booklet is super important when your child is a baby because it contains all of his/her developmental information. I took it with us on trips in case I needed to refer to the records, and when we had to use urgent care services when Rebecca was an infant, the doctor asked to see it. It isn't mandatory that you carry it around with you, obviously, but it is helpful to have in a time of need.
You might also need to provide it to register a child for pre-school or school.
Make your screening appointments early as these are long-ish appointments, and even pediatricians who will usually see you on short notice appreciate parents scheduling these early.
Ensure you have your immunizations booklet with you, as any necessary immunizations will also be given during the check-up.
Watch your math. Maybe you are all faster than I am, but I find the whole "second year of life" thing difficult. That is when your kid is 1, not 2, which is somehow counter-intuitive to me. So if the U5 is in the 'sixth - seventh month of life", your child will be 5-6 months old when it is performed. This math continues to blow my mind today, I am sad to admit.
Be prepared This is your chance to ask your pediatrician any developmental questions you may have, so make sure to note down anything you would like to mention. Comprehensive information about the screenings is available in this PDF leaflet so you can anticipate what the screening might cover.
These early screenings were introduced in 1991, which might explain the funky appearance of the booklets. The purpose is to detect any childhood illnesses or issues early, and they are free of charge (i.e. covered by all insurance plans without any co-pay). They screen for general health, movement, dexterity, speech issues, comprehension, social skills, dental health, obesity, and include 10 mandatory visits up to the age of six (school age), plus one during your child's teens (12-14 years of age).
Only those first ten will be covered in your booklet, and the picture above is actually outdated, as there is now a U7a screening between the 34th and 36 months of life. U7a is a little tricky since it was recently added, so some insurance plans don't cover it. Make sure with your pediatrician that yours will. Some insurance plans cover a modified, simplified version of the U7a.
There are also "optional" new screenings. Some insurance plans will cover them, and some won't. They focus on things you will probably be speaking to your pediatrician about anyway but have been developed to standardize the evaluations in these fields.
They include
U10 at 6-7 years old, screening for dyslexia and ADHD, motor skills assessment
U11 at 9-10 years old, checking school stress levels, social skills and the use of media
Fantastic info!
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