CTF Summary Table: Well Baby Care

Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care

Summary Table of Recommendations

Well-Baby Care in the First 2 Years of Life

Prepared by William Feldman, MD, FRCPC, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto

These recommendations were finalized by the Task Force in March 1994

MANEUVER EFFECTIVENESS LEVEL OF EVIDENCE <REF> RECOMMENDATION

Counselling to reduce risk factors in the home. Families counselled about risk factors for accidental injury in the home have fewer risk factors at follow-up visits than those not counselled. Randomized controlled trial <7> (I) Good evidence to include in periodic health examination. (A)

Anticipatory guidance for night-time crying. Families complying with appropriate counselling have fewer problems with night-time crying than those not counselled. Randomized controlled trial <5> (I) Good evidence to include in periodic health examination. (A)

Repeated examination of hips, eyes and hearing, especially in the first year of life.
Click here for 2001 update: Screening and management of developmental dysplasia of the hip in newborns
Outcome better with early than with late detection and treatment of congenital hip dislocation, amblyopia and hearing impairment. Cohort studies <2,3,6-8> (II-2); expert opinion <4> (III) Good evidence to include in periodic health examination on basis of good detection maneuvers, effective treatment and alleviation of burden of suffering. (A)

Enquiries about the achievement of milestones at each visit. Other than the prevention of phenylketonuria and hypothyroidism (usually diagnosed by screening in the neonatal period) few preventive measures are available for mental retardation; for environmentally deprived infants an enriched environment may enhance normal mental development. Cohort study <11> (II-2) Fair evidence to include in periodic health examination. (B)

Serial measurements of height, weight and head circumference. Treatment effective and efficacious for short stature due to hypothyroidism, hypopitutitarism, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Cohort study <2> (II-2)

There is fair evidence to include in the periodic health examination. (B)

The appropriate frequency of measurement is unclear. Expert opinion <2,12> (III)

Note: For recommendations on other pediatric issues see section on Pediatric Preventive Care and Immunizations of Children and Adults.

Link to Full Text of this review

Link to Structured Abstract of this review

Link to Selected References list of this review

Link to New Evidence-Based Rourke Baby Records

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MANEUVER	EFFECTIVENESS	LEVEL OF EVIDENCE <REF>	RECOMMENDATION
Counselling to reduce risk factors in the home.	Families counselled about risk factors for accidental injury in the home have fewer risk factors at follow-up visits than those not counselled.	Randomized controlled trial <7> (I)	Good evidence to include in periodic health examination. (A)
Anticipatory guidance for night-time crying.	Families complying with appropriate counselling have fewer problems with night-time crying than those not counselled.	Randomized controlled trial <5> (I)	Good evidence to include in periodic health examination. (A)
Repeated examination of hips, eyes and hearing, especially in the first year of life. Click here for 2001 update: Screening and management of developmental dysplasia of the hip in newborns	Outcome better with early than with late detection and treatment of congenital hip dislocation, amblyopia and hearing impairment.	Cohort studies <2,3,6-8> (II-2); expert opinion <4> (III)	Good evidence to include in periodic health examination on basis of good detection maneuvers, effective treatment and alleviation of burden of suffering. (A)
Enquiries about the achievement of milestones at each visit.	Other than the prevention of phenylketonuria and hypothyroidism (usually diagnosed by screening in the neonatal period) few preventive measures are available for mental retardation; for environmentally deprived infants an enriched environment may enhance normal mental development.	Cohort study <11> (II-2)	Fair evidence to include in periodic health examination. (B)
Serial measurements of height, weight and head circumference.	Treatment effective and efficacious for short stature due to hypothyroidism, hypopitutitarism, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia.	Cohort study <2> (II-2)	There is fair evidence to include in the periodic health examination. (B)
	The appropriate frequency of measurement is unclear.	Expert opinion <2,12> (III)