By the time the U6 check-up comes around, your child is almost no longer a baby. This is because your child develops into a toddle between the ages of 10 and 12 months. However differences in development can often be large at this age. Some children can already walk around the home on their own two legs. Others are just starting to pull themselves up to stand on their own or are still crawling on the floor.
What's happens at the U6?
The doctor will measure your child's height, weight, and head circumference again as well as test vision and hearing, and check how well your child moves. At the U6 check-up, for example, the doctor checks whether your child can already sit up on their own and stretch their legs out in front of them. Can your child pull themself into a standing position on their own? How do they crawl? The U6 is also used to observe how your baby reacts to you and to strangers, like a physician's assistant. In addition to examinations, the U6 is also about counselling. How long should your child eat baby food? How can you gradually introduce solid food? What can you do to prevent accidents? How can you help your child learn to talk? Most doctor's offices also use the U6 to check your immunisation record, make you aware of your child’s next vaccinations and make an appointment for them. The U6 is also about protecting against ricketsRickets Rachitis Rickets is a bone disease that can affect children if the mother does not consume enough vitamin D during pregnancy or breastfeeding. It is therefore important to eat foods high in vitamin D during this time. These include fatty sea fish, edible mushrooms, eggs, butter and milk. with the help of vitamin D and learning what you need to do to ensure your child develops healthy teeth.
Vaccinations when your child is 10-12 months
The vaccination program continues at the U6. The fourth partial vaccination completes the basic immunisations against diphtheriaDiphtheria Diphtherie Diphtheria is an infectious disease that used to be more common, especially in children. The bacteria that cause this disease spread through coughing, sneezing and talking, and the disease affects the respiratory tract and tonsils. People can be protected best from infection by getting vaccinated, which is already recommended for small children by the German Standing Commission on Vaccination., tetanusTetanus Tetanus is a disease that can be caused by bacteria in open wounds and is often fatal. A vaccination against tetanus is part of the basic immunisation programme and is recommended by the German Standing Commission on Vaccination starting from two months of age. This vaccination must be renewed every 10 years thereafter., pertussisWhooping cough Keuchhusten Whooping cough is an infectious disease of the respiratory tract. This very contagious disease is passed on by coughing, sneezing and talking. Because of the danger to children, the German Standing Commission on Vaccination recommends repeated vaccination of infants and young children against whooping cough. Vaccination provides the best possible protection against disease., HibHib Hib stands for the bacteria Haemophilus influenzae type b. This bacteria can cause various respiratory diseases, meningitis, inflammation of the heart muscle or blood poisoning. Since this bacteria mainly affect young children, they are vaccinated against Hib several times during the first year of life. This vaccination is part of the basic immunisation schedule and offers the best possible protection against disease. short for Haemophilus Influenzae type b, hepatitis BHepatitis B Hepatitis B is a viral disease of the liver. Transmission most often occurs through sexual or blood contact or at birth from mother to child. This disease is usually acute, but it can also become chronic. In a chronic course, the liver can suffer life-threatening damage. Pregnant people are tested for hepatitis B during their prenatal check-ups., poliomyelitisPolio Kinderlähmung Polio, short for poliomyelitis, is an infectious disease caused by a viral infection. The disease is spread by coming into contact with urine or stool, or when talking, coughing and sneezing. Polio mainly affects children between the ages of three and eight. The polio vaccine is licensed for use in newborns starting from two months of age. It is recommended by the German Standing Committee on Vaccination and offers the best possible protection for children and adults., and pneumococcusPneumococcus Pneumokokken Pneumococcus is a bacteria that can cause serious illnesses such as middle ear infections, lung infections or meningitis. The bacteria spreads through talking, coughing and sneezing. This disease mainly affects children, the elderly and people with weak immune defenses. The Standing Commission on Vaccination recommends vaccination for these population groups. It is approved for use starting from two months of age, and it is the best possible protection against disease.. This means that your child is now well protected against these diseases. Later, this protection must be refreshed by regular booster vaccinations. Vaccinations against measlesMeasles Masern Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It leads to inflammation of the respiratory tract, pink eye, and later to a rash all over the body. The virus spreads through talking, coughing, sneezing and direct skin contact. Vaccination can provide the best possible protection for children and adults. It is recommended starting from twelve months of age., mumpsMumps Mumps is a contagious viral disease. This infectious disease affects the parotid glands and other organs. The virus spreads through talking, coughing, sneezing and direct skin contact. The best possible protection for children and adults is getting vaccinated twice. It is recommended by the German Standing Commission on Vaccination starting from fourteenth months of age., rubellaRubella Röteln Rubella, also called German measles, is a contagious viral disease. This infectious disease causes swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache and rash. The virus spreads through talking, coughing and sneezing. Infection during pregnancy can lead to serious complications for the foetus. The best possible protection for children and adults is getting vaccinated twice. Vaccination is recommended by the German Standing Commission on Vaccines starting from eleven months of age., and chickenpoxChickenpox Windpocken Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral disease. It usually occurs in early childhood. Kindergarten and school children up to the age of 10 are particularly affected. However, unprotected adolescents or adults can also become infected. This disease leads to fatigue, fever and an itchy rash all over the body. The virus spreads through talking, coughing, sneezing and direct skin contact. Once the disease is over, the virus remains in the body and can lead to shingles years later with blisters that are also contagious. In rare cases, a foetus can also be infected via the placenta. This can put the pregnancy in great danger. Vaccination, which is recommended from the age of eleven months, provides the best possible protection for children and adults. are also due at the U6. In order for your child to be effectively protected against these diseases, they needs a second vaccination spaced at least four weeks apart from the first. This should take place following the U7 check-up at the latest. It is also important to have a single vaccination against meningococcus CMeningococcus C Meningokokken C Meningococcus C stands for meningococcus bacteria type C. This bacteria can cause meningitis or blood poisoning. About one in ten people are carriers of this kind of bacteria, which can spread through talking, coughing and sneezing. This disease mainly affects children, adolescents and people with a weak immune system. The German Standing Commission on Vaccination recommends vaccination for these population groups, which is permitted starting at two years old. Vaccination is the best possible protection against the disease. shortly after the U6. This is a kind of bacteria that can cause dangerous meningitis or blood poisoning. In the worst case, a meningococcus C infection can cause permanent nerve damage. The meningococcal C vaccination should be done as soon as possible after your child's first birthday. It’s best to make additional appointments for the upcoming vaccinations at the U6.
Use the opportunity to ask questions
You'll have yet another opportunity to ask questions at the U6. For example, if you feel that your child's development may be delayed or that there are problems with their feeding or sleeping. It is still quite a while until the next U-Check-Up, the U7. It takes place between when your baby is 21-24 months old. Still, you can already make an appointment for it at the U6.