Health Visitor coming to the house AFTER two year check

[DiamondSky]

Hi, I'm new here and wondered if anyone can advise. My son had his 2-2.5 yr health check a month or two ago, just after he turned 2. A community nursery nurse came to the house and although he would 'perform' on demand and build with her blocks when she wanted etc. I explained he does build with blocks, talks well (when HE wants!) and generally seems to be progressing OK. She seemed happy enough. Filled out her checklist that she took away with her and wrote that everything was generally fine in his red book. He is now 27 months old and I've just received a letter saying the health visitor wants to come to our house the week after next. It doesn't say why and I'm confused as I didn't know there were any more checks for a while yet. Has anyone else had experience of this? I'm going to ring and ask what it's about on Monday but am just really curious as to why there would be two visits so close together. Thanks.

[DiamondSky]

Sorry, meant to say wouldn't 'perform' on demand.

[ROARmeow]

it itsn't compulsory to see HV at any stage. if you're happy with his development then just a polite "no thanks, I don't want to see you" is enough.

she doesn't have a right to visit your home unless you give the nod.

I haven't seen HV since DD was 3 months old, and she's nearly 3 years old now.

[DiamondSky]

Thanks ROARmeow. I know I don't have to see the HV but I'm just curious as to why she wants to come now, when we've already had the 2 year review. I've never bothered with getting him weighed much but we had both the reviews that were suggested. I don't have a problem with seeing with her, but I don't know why she wants to come. The letter is completely vague. Just wondered if anyone else has been contacted soon after their 2 year old's review.

[lemonpuffbiscuit]

speech concerns?

[DiamondSky]

The nursery nurse didn't mention that she had any lemonpuffbiscuit. She wrote in his red book: "vocab 200+ words, strings together 4 - 6 word sentences". So I don't think it ought to be that. You'd think they'd say wouldn't they? Thanks though.

[Heyho111]

The hv probably has to visit all her families over a period of time and now it's your turn. I'm sure it's know more than that.

[MediumOrchid]

I got 2 letters inviting me to dd's 2 year check, so it could be an admin error - worth phoning to check?

[ApocalypseNowt]

Just phone them up and ask - it could be an admin error or if they raise something you're not concerned about you don't have to see them, so just cancel the appointment.

HV checks/appointments seem to vary from place to place from what i can see - maybe it's a new initiative or something?

[DiamondSky]

MiaowTheCat -that's exactly what I thought happened with our check. The community nursery nurse brought blocks and a puzzle, which ds was more than capable of doing, but he wouldn't 'perform' on demand. We discussed that he has done similar puzzles many times and regularly builds with blocks when he want to and she said that was fine. She saw him turn the pages of a book and said that would do for his motor skills and seemed happy enough. I rang this morning to see why the HV now wants to come and she said it was because the CNN wasn't able to tick off the boxes on the sheet. :(. I don't mind her coming but I have explained that the situation will be the same. I can't make him do things. He can build with blocks but he will only do it when he wants to. I'm a bit cross though that the CNN said it was all fine and now the HV wants to come back and check.

[LeapingOverTheWall]

DD1 refused to stack the blocks in her 2 yr check up and instead "cooked tea" with them in her toy kitchen. HV was a miserable cow and refused the plate DD presented her with .

[DiamondSky]

Thanks everyone. I got the letter on Friday so was just having to wait until Monday morning to ring and ask. Turns out the HV wants to visit because the Community Nursery Nurse, who came last time, wasn't able to tick all the boxes on her check sheet. I'm a bit surprised because we discussed the things ds wouldn't do on command and she seemed satisfied that he didn't have any problems and was happy to take my word for it that he builds with blocks when he wants to. Is it really that unusual for a 2 yr old not to perform a task on command? I'm surprised they're not too busy to follow up every single home visit with another home visit when it doesn't happen. Can't help thinking there's more to it that she's not telling me

[DiamondSky]

LeapingOverTheWall -that IS miserable :(! Your poor DD! Why do people do these jobs if they don't even like children?!

[LittleBairn]

If that's the case cancel the appointment and make it clear you have no concerns about his development.

[ElphabaTheGreen]

Why don't you ask for the appointment to take place in a clinic or centre away from your home? DS1 absolutely blitzed his two year review (pulling out words I'd never heard him use and threading beads like a pro when he absolutely refused to do it point blank for me, insisting I do it for him), probably because he was in a completely unfamiliar place and was on his best behaviour due to unfamiliar surroundings. I reckon he would have dug his heels in at home.

[Heyho111]

In defence to the hv's they need to check for a skill a child didn't demonstrate just in case there is a problem. 9 X out of 10 there is no problem just as the parent said. Just as in all your children's cases. But occasionally a parent distorts what their child can do as they desperately don't want them to fail or there be something wrong. It's for that child's sake they go back to check.
You obviously know your child can do every skill which is fantastic. I wouldn't worry at all. Take the opertunity to ask anything else you need to know to save you a trip to the clinic another day

[Obstacles]

Sometimes (and I repeat only sometimes) a two year old not wanting to perform and impress a smiley, interesting new adult at that age can be a sign that the child is not developing typically. Possibly the hv wants to check how well your ds interacts with people he doesn't know well.

Or maybe they simply are very regimented where you live and the hv won't sign off a checklist unless they have seen every skill with their own eyes. In your shoes is be so curious as to why the hv wanted to see my child that id accept the visit. But as others have said you are entitled to say no if you have no concerns and find it intrusive.

[Stripylikeatiger]

Could you video him building with blocks on your phone and send that to the HV? Seems a bit of a faff for all involved to have to have another appointment.

[Lindy2]

Around here we are offered a 2 year check but it is completely optional. The letter includes a checklist for development targets and basically if you have no concerns it pretty much tells you not to bother making an appointment.
If you are happy and you don't want them doing a second check tell them you are comfortable with how your child is doing and politely decline their appointment.

[DiamondSky]

Thanks Stripylikeatiger. I've agreed to the visit now, but I will try and catch him on video in the mean time as I've no confidence that he will 'perform' next time. However, I've been trying to get a video of him dancing (which he does all the time) to send to his uncle who lives away and still not managed in 6 months! I've never got the camera at the right time, or the minute he sees me, he stops! Good idea though, I'll try extra hard to keep it handy. It shouldn't be so important though should it?!

[DiamondSky]

Thanks Obstacles. I am kind of curious. Hubby is even considering taking time off work to be here too as he is also curious as to why this should be so important!

[BarbarianMum]

When they give your child a game to play / bricks to stack etc they are checking 2 things. 1 is the skill that the game/puzzle involves (eg matching, fine motor etc). The second is how a child engages with others.

As Obstacles said, in some instances a failure to engage except on their own terms can be a sign of a development delay (most times it is down to shyness, tiredness or being twoness).

I doubt that they are really concerned that your ds can build a brick tower. They may wish to give him a second chance to interact with them to see if he will.

[GertrudePerkins]

when dd1 had her 2 year check by a nursery nurse, she was "recalled" for being unable to copy a straight line, which seemed an utter nonsense to me. I declined to have this followed up.

dd2 was seen by a health visitor, who didn't give a monkey's about ticking all boxes, and just commented that she seemed to be developing fine. I wonder if the nursery nurses have less flexibility to sign things off given that they are not qualified HCPs?

[DiamondSky]

Thanks GertrudePerkins. I think you might be right there!