Doctors Urge Early Monitoring for Child Developmental Issues

Child specialists are urging parents to prioritize consistent monitoring of their children's growth and development from an early age, stressing that many developmental disorders are not obvious in the initial stages. Dr. Isvarani Devana Irawan from Bethsaida Hospital highlighted that regular check-ups are essential for parents to track their child's progress against age-appropriate milestones.

“

Not all child developmental disorders can be clearly seen in the early stages.

"So that if a delay or specific risk factor is found, treatment can be done faster and more optimally," Dr. Irawan stated on July 23, 2026. She noted that parents often only realize developmental delays or incomplete immunization schedules after a child encounters specific problems. However, proactive monitoring and timely vaccinations can help identify and prevent numerous health issues early on.

“

So that if a delay or specific risk factor is found, treatment can be done faster and more optimally.

Developmental issues can present in various forms, including delayed speech or walking, motor skill impairments, and difficulties with social interaction. Unfortunately, these conditions are frequently only recognized when a child reaches school age and fails to meet expected developmental benchmarks. Beyond developmental monitoring, ensuring children receive vaccinations on schedule is vital for protecting them against serious infectious diseases like measles, polio, hepatitis B, diphtheria, and pertussis.

“

The family must be educated, second, they must be screened more often, and third, vaccinated. These are three main programs in preventive care.

Indonesia's Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, echoed this sentiment, outlining three primary programs for preventive care in children: educating families, increasing screening frequency, and ensuring vaccinations. Dr. Regia Sabaraty Sinurat, also a pediatrician at Bethsaida Hospital, reinforced that developmental monitoring and immunization are critical for a child's early health. "Immunization not only protects children from various infectious diseases but also helps reduce the risk of serious complications that can affect a child's future development and quality of life," she added.

“

Immunization not only protects children from various infectious diseases but also helps reduce the risk of serious complications that can affect a child's future development and quality of life.