Dreading 2 year check

[Lizbiz89]

My dd has her 2 year check this week and I'm dreading it. First of all they only gave me a weeks notice and one time they could do which is dd's nap time. My dd is a toddler that needs her nap so I know she's going really tired and irritable the whole session, which means that she's not going to be in the best humour to do what's asked. Can anyone let me know what these checks are like? I've heard they can be quite hard for toddlers to pass? Also is it compulsory? My dd is already at nursery and gets regular assessments with them.

Can you call and rearrange saying it's her usual naptime and she'll be cranky. If they can't just explain when you get there.

I think if she goes to nursery she'll be fine as she's probably used to the teachers directing play. At DSs they just had some toys in the middle of the room and they asked him some simple stuff like can you make a tower and can you thread this big bead for me. Think they also might have asked him whats your name and how old are you.

Then I think we just had a chat about eating/sleeping/have you thought about potty training.

It honestly wasn't anything scary (though mine was in the morning rather than at nap time!)

It’s not a pass/ fail thing so don’t worry about that. It’s purely to pick up on any issues so you can be directed to help early on or be monitored. Your nursery should give you a 2 yr check too so make sure they know about the appointment.

They look at motor skills mainly. Please don't be worried and if she plays up just explain that it's nap time. Can you reschedule the appointment?

If you're happy with DD's progress and have nothing you want to discuss I wouldn't go. It's not compulsory.
I stopped bothering when they tried to do the 12 month check at 18months .

You have a big questionnaire to fill in and they just mainly go through the answers with you - my son just played on the floor with another child while I chatted to the person doing the check up. I’m pretty sure if you child was asleep in her buggy it wouldn’t be a problem.

We don't even have them in our area now, they just tell you to contact them if you have an issue.
I'm sure it'll be fine, they'll probably just ask you questions if she doesn't want to speak or join in.

I don’t even think I took DS to his. I really wouldn’t worry

They don’t ask them to do anything, it’s a long winded question and answer you fill in before, they ask if you’ve any concerns which presumably you don’t.

Quite a lot of HV go into nurseries and do them there or let the nursery feed back as lots of 2 year olds are in nursery full time

I didn’t do ours in person - they just told me to fill the form out and send it in.

But I don’t see why you don’t just say you can’t do that time....they have more than one appointment!

DD had hers today. HV inputted the answers on the questionnaire, asked if DD had a dentist and spent the rest of it chatting about the new commissioners (we have some mutual colleagues).

She weighed and measured DD too. That was her only interacted with her.

I’d ask if it’s possible to reschedule, but if it’s not possible I’d just go anyway. Same thing happened to me - my son’s appointment fell right in the middle of his usual nap time. I just went anyway, and he fine.

I was keen to go because I’d been pushing for a referral due to speech delay and this appointment allowed me to officially set the wheels in motion for it. I’d definitely go if you/nursery have any concerns about your daughter’s development too.

Oh and in terms of the questionnaire we went through - it was the Ages and Stages 24 months - like this one:

www.iow.nhs.uk/Downloads/Health%20Visiting_School%20Nursing/ASQ-3%2024%20Month.pdf

I just called and cancelled mine. Didn’t want it. Had no concerns about my DS and was felt no need to go.
It was fine. No questions asked.

Just call and rearrange. They can't force you to see them at that time or, indeed, at all.

You should be able to rearrange the appointment - I changed mine as it was in the middle of the day and dd would've had tk be taken out of nursery and then missed lunchtime there

You just fill in the ages and stages questionnaire which just checks how their development is - not a pass/fail just to see if there is anything they may need help with. Questions are like 'can they jump' (dd was no) can they follow a simple direction, can they copy you touching your nose etc

The hv then just let dd play with lots of toys - building towers, threading onto string etc, chatted to her and then to me, attempted to unsuccessful weigh and measure her and that was it.

It certainly didn't feel like a test - dd asked to go back and play with 'the lady with the toys' the following week!!

Thanks for the replies. I think I might ring them to rearrange it and see how it goes. I don't have any concerns about her development and she's monitored at nursery for development milestones. Hopefully I'll be able to change it to an earlier appointment, if not I'll cancel it altogether.

Hope they will be able to change your timeslot. Just re-read your OP. Just wondered why are you dreading it, is it simply a case of worrying that your daughter will act up throughout the appointment if she’s tired?

@anothercuppaforme my daughter is very routine based and tends to act up around nap time or when she's tired, so I just know it'll end badly. I won't be so worried if I can get an earlier appointment as she's always on much better form earlier in the morning.