HEDI - U8 Check-Up: 46

At the U8 check-up takes place when your child is almost four years old, between 46 and 48 months after they were born. At this point, your child can probably already answer most of the paediatrician's questions and do tasks on their own. Of course, you’ll stick around for support and to make your child feel secure.

What happens at the U8?

The U8 is a very comprehensive check-up. Your child will be measured, weighed and have their heart, abdomen and lungs listened to. The doctor will check your child's teeth and ask what progress they are making with potty training. Lab tests will also be done on your child's urine to check for bacteria, sugar, protein, and blood components. This can be useful, for example, in detecting if a child has diabetes or if they have a urinary tract infection. However, it can be difficult to get a urine sample from some children. Some refuse to go pee at the doctor's office. If you can foresee that this could happen to your child, simply let them go to the bathroom at home shortly before the doctor's appointment and take a sample yourself. For this purpose, it is best to use a clean container that closes with a screw cap and bring the urine with you to the doctor’s office. It's important that you catch your child’s urine mid-stream if possible. That means you shouldn’t collect the urine right when your child starts to pee, but rather do it when mid-stream when your child has already begun to urinate. The urine sample you bring to the doctor should not be older than one hour.

Dexterity, independence and language

The doctor will also test your child's mobility and dexterity at the U8 check-up, as well as whether they can keep busy on their own, and how well they speak. Can your child stand on one leg? Can they cut paper? Can they dress and undress on their own? How is your child’s vocabulary? Can they talk about their own experiences or even tell a joke? These are important for the doctor to observe during the check-up.

Behaviour with family, at play and in groups

The U8 is also a time to look at how your child behaves towards other children, adults and strangers in different situations. Can your child fit in well with a group? Is it sometimes hard to set boundaries for your child? Or are they rather shy? What are their habits, strengths and interests? How well can they concentrate? The goal is to find out whether there are any behavioural problems that should be investigated further and perhaps treated. To do this, the doctor will with you, and also a little with your child. Don't worry if your child doesn't do all the tasks perfectly. Children are all very different. Your doctor will tell you if something is particularly abnormal in your child's development. Your doctor will also let you know if you’ll need special and how you can get it.

When are the next vaccinations?

Has your child gotten all the recommended vaccinations so far? If so, your child is now well protected and does not need any further vaccination for the time being. But maybe some of the vaccinations are still missing. Then it's important to catch up and get them now. You can either have this done at the U8 or at a separate appointment. The next and last U examination, the U9, should happen in a year's time, when your child is between 60 and 64 month old.

U8 Check-Up: 46 - 48 Months

What happens at the U8?

Dexterity, independence and language

Behaviour with family, at play and in groups

When are the next vaccinations?

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